Forthcoming

I’m quite excited about articles I have in upcoming issues of Self, Ms., and Spirituality & Health. They’re all going to be out before the end of the year, and what’s making me walk around in impatience is that for the first time, I’m actually going to be able to buy an American magazine that I’ve written for.

I typically get editors to send me copies, and since I mostly write for foreign publications, I don’t often have the satisfaction of seeing magazines with my byline in them available for sale (except Elle India).

This changes soon.

I’ve seen those magazines—heck, they’re sold at the grocery store down the road. And soon enough, they’ll have my byline.

For some reason, even after several years of doing this, I feel giddy about seeing my name in print again.

AMOM: Day 16: Go Bio Hunting

There are possibly several dozens of writers who specialize in the same issues that you do. Once I made it clear what that I worked on women’s and cultural issues, and broke some stories on the same, you won’t believe how many (very successful) writers wrote to me and said, “Hey, wanna do lunch?”

I shared contacts and sources with some, ideas with others, editor and publication details with almost all, but mostly we just talked as colleagues, and people in the same industry. It’s nice to talk about writing with people who “get” what do you do and why you do it.

Most of the time, these people came to me looking for a friend, not a contact. Indeed, most of them are more successful than I. It’s not about mooching information, it’s simply about interacting with people in the same industry so that you can learn, share experiences, and grow together.

But since this is indeed, a marketing tip, take a look at the bios of writers who’re working in the same field as you. What magazines have they written for? Do they have very specific specialties or do they cover multiple issues? Would the publications they write for be accepting of your ideas?

AMOM Day 8: Find Specialty Markets

Today, we’re going to try and sell reprints again, but this time with a twist. Instead of a bulk marketing effort, I want you to note down the name of each article in a spreadsheet if you haven’t already, and next to each one, write down three specialty markets for it. For instance, I once wrote a piece for a women’s magazine on the ladies’-only train in India. It’s a great women’s story, it’s also a very good general-interest piece. You know who else I sold it to? Trains magazine.

A piece on a unique project for breast cancer survivors, along with going to women’s interest magazines or newspapers, could also go to cancer research newsletters or magazines that deal exclusively with cancer topics. Similarly, that piece on taking one day at a time that you wrote for the parenting magazine could also be a great fit for a magazine for practicing Buddhists.

AMOM Day 3: Check in With Your Regulars

If you’ve been writing and selling for more than three years, make a list of all your clients in an Excel sheet. Delete the ones you no longer want to work with. Of the remaining, next to each, write down the number of assignments you’ve done for them, and categorize them as:

* fewer than 3
* 3-5
* 5-10
* 10+

The “fewer than three” clients are either one-offs or people you should be pitching again. The 10+ are your regular clients, and you likely already have good relationships with them. But look closely at the 3-10 range, and figure out how to turn these into editors who’ll give you work regularly.

One way to do this is to simply pitch an idea: “Hey, it’s been a while since we communicated. Here’s an idea I thought might be perfect for you.”

You could also send a polite e-mail to remind them that you’re there, what you’re up to (any recent accomplishments?), and let them know you’re open to assignments and willing to send some queries their way.

If you have a free schedule, you can also tell your clients that you’re available for quick-deadline work in case someone’s run out on them. This can be a brilliant way to get work, especially if the editor is actually on a deadline and needs help, you’ve already worked with them before and they trust your skill.

How Much to Charge for a Reprint

I just received an offer from a magazine editor who wants to print an article that was first published last year. Since it’s a reprint, what should I charge?
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As much as you can OR as much as they’re willing to pay.

Sometimes, I’ve ended up earning more from a reprint than I did for the original piece. If you can, check out the pay rates of the magazine online or by asking their other writers and quote accordingly.

If you’re really stuck though, 50% of the original amount that you were paid would be fair.

QLTS: 3.1 – Know The Market

Would you wage a war without knowing what lies in enemy territory? Head off to a job interview without any background research on the company? Propose a teddy bear line to Burger King? Nope? That’s because you know Burger King sells hamburgers and isn’t likely to show interest in your talking teddy idea. Why then would you assume that Bride’s will buy your “How to access Internet on your mobile” piece or PC World your fiction?

Dumb, isn’t it?

And yet, many writers do the same thing every single day. Editors are bombarded with query letters day after day that would never fit into their editorial line-up. And after a while, they become tired of looking at letters from writers who never bothered to check out their publication. That’s why it’s so important to research a publication.

That doesn’t just mean reading through the content, but really getting to know the audience. You have to know the reader’s motivations, what he or she aims to get out of the magazine, what age group he belongs to, and how much she earns.

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Zoning In

Studying a magazine isn’t all that it’s made out to be. You don’t have to make extensive tables, check the names of contributors or spend hours coming up with reasons why the magazine is “different.” That’s the editor’s job, and if she’s doing it well, you’ll immediately be able to see the similarities and dissimilarities in competing magazines.

Try to focus on those differences.

Most publications in the same category tend to cover similar material. The advice is usually the same, it’s the packaging that’s different. So that’s where your focus should lie, too. On how to present the material.

Answer the following questions to get started.

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Which departments are open to freelancers?

There are some sections in every publication that aren’t open to freelance submissions. Querying for those sections can be a huge waste of time, so it’s best to know before you take the plunge.

Product and book reviews are usually done in-house. Frequently, the news sections, short pieces and profiles, and most of the celebrity interviews are handled by magazine editors. If this information is not mentioned in the writers’ guidelines, look at the contributor’s bylines. If there’s no byline, it’s likely a section that you won’t be getting into. The same goes for sections that regularly feature editor bylines.

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How long are the articles?

There’s no point in researching and proposing a 1,000-word fitness piece to an editor who accepts only 500-word shorts in her health and fitness department. Keep in mind how long the articles run before you pitch for that section.

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Which type of articles are reader favorites?

Each magazine has one kind of article it gives preference to over others. For instance, even among magazines that love lists, some like them longer, and others like them shorter and in-depth. This may seem unimportant, but it’s what helps you decide whether to pitch “9 Ways to Keep Your Home Organized,” or “45 Quick Tips for an Organized Home.”

Some magazines love long drawn-out scientific detail pieces with no sidebars, hardly any subheads and zero pull quotes. Others will run one page articles that are accompanied by two sidebars, a short quiz, a large graphic display, and an important quote prominently placed in the middle of the page.

What you propose, and how you propose it, should depend on the kind of magazine you’re writing for and the format they prefer. If you know a magazine likes quizzes and sidebars, make sure to suggest some in your query letter.

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How does the magazine read?

Some magazines are informal, relaxed, even bordering on eccentric. There are others that read like college textbooks. Even among similar target audiences, you’ll find varying styles.

Read the magazine. Really read it. Pay special attention to the tone of the articles. Do they read like a formal lecture or a conversation with a friend? Are the articles straightforward and to-the-point or do they take amusing twists and turns? Are their undertones of sarcasm or humor?

Having your query letter read in the same style and voice as the magazine will help the editor see that you understand his target audience, and are a good fit.

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What topics do readers love?

There are some evergreen topics that publications feature month after month. In women’s magazines, you’ll often find weight loss tips given in many variations. Dating, friendships, and fashion are high on the teen magazine agenda. No personal finance magazine would be complete without a reference to credit cards somewhere on its pages, and career magazines will regularly print article on how to smarten up your resume.

The reason these magazines keep commissioning articles on these topics is not because they’ve run out of original ideas (hardly!), but because they know these subjects tend to be popular among their readers. They probably get the most response, or the most questions.

Editors will often want to feature new developments and trends in these topic areas before their competitors do.

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How do the articles begin?

This is very important. Taking the time to read articles in the publication and how they begin will help you tremendously in securing an assignment. That’s because by starting your own query letter in a similar format, you have the opportunity to show the editor not only that you’ve read her publication, but how your own article will begin.

Some publications like to begin with scene-setting. Some like first-person. Others begin with facts. Read several of the articles in the magazine to figure out which leads are the most popular.

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