Scott Oldford Site

Tag: write for magazines

  • Want to Write for Magazines? Pitch This Section First

    Want to Write for Magazines? Pitch This Section First

    Flip open any print magazine and what do you see? Before the in-depth feature articles, you’ll find a collection of news briefs and short articles known as the “front of the book” or “FOB” section.

    Packed with short articles, it’s a freelancer’s best friend. This is the place to break in and prove your writing chops at a new-to-you print publication.

    What is the “Front of the Book?”

    Placed before a magazine’s feature articles, you’ll typically find a note from the editor or publisher, letters to the editor, and maybe a behind-the-scenes peek into making the issue.

    You’ll also find an array of short articles. They could be news briefs, book reviews, infographics, or a wide range of other short pieces. These articles are the “front of the book” sections you’ll want to pitch.

    Editors are always looking for content. A single issue’s FOB could have 10-15 short articles (or even more). Compare that to the handful of feature articles in a typical issue, and you’ll see why the FOB holds so much opportunity.

    It’s also a great place to break in because editors are much more willing to try out new-to-them writers on short pieces. If a writer flakes, they have a 100 or 200-word hole to fill instead of pages and pages of blank space.

    The FOB can also be a great gateway into larger, more in-depth (and often better-paying) parts of the magazine once you prove to your editor you’re reliable, dependable, and can deliver the content they need.

    You may even find yourself fast-tracked to writing feature articles.

    How do you break into the FOB?

    Break into the FOB just as you would any other section. First, find the publication’s writers’ guidelines. These are often found online, but sometimes you’ll have to call or email to get your hands on a copy.

    Be sure to read these carefully and follow them. They will often note the best places to break into the magazine and which sections are open to pitches. You may also pick up on some important clues, like whether certain FOB features are written by staff members for every issue.

    If staff always writes a particular section, it’s often not worth your time to try to pitch that section. It might not be in the budget or they might have a specific reason for having a section staff-written (such as a staff roundtable selecting the most pertinent news items to cover in each issue).

    Pay attention to these details.

    When you locate the correct editor, send a well-crafted, well-researched, well-written pitch. Sure, it might take a bit of work to craft a pitch that could ultimately end up being longer than your 100-word story, but it’s worth taking the time to do it right.

    Articles in the FOB can pay quite well, sometimes a dollar per word or more. Check Who Pays Writers to see if you can find some clues about the particular publication you’d like to pitch.

    And don’t forget, these short pieces are often a gateway to writing longer articles.

    How to examine a publication’s FOB

    Once you’ve identified the magazine you’d like to break into, pick up a few recent issues (the library is great for this). FOB content can change frequently, so you want to make sure you have current issues.

    You’ll also want to look at several issues to get an idea of the kind of content the publication wants to use over time. They may only include certain types of FOB articles (such as book or gear reviews) in every second or third issue.

    It may be helpful to grab a notebook to keep track of what you notice about the FOB features in the issues you review.

    Observe:

    • What types of articles are in the FOB?
    • What regular sections are included?
    • How long are the articles?
    • Who writes them? Are there freelancers’ names (they may be listed as “contributors”), staff writers’ names or a combination?
    • What topics are covered?
    • What kind of tone is used in different FOB features?
    • How “newsy” are these articles? Are they mostly breaking events, or do they also run evergreen content up front?
    • Which FOB sections seem to work best with your ideas?

    What to do with this information

    Once you’ve gathered plenty of information from your favorite magazine’s FOB, use this information to target a few pitches.

    When you pitch, make it obvious to the editors that you are familiar with the magazine and its contents. If you want to write a 150-word article on a certain topic for the “News Brief” section, be sure to mention those details.

    Editors like working with people who have taken the time to do some homework.

    Have you ever been published in a magazine’s FOB? What was your experience like?

  • Want to Write for Magazines? Do This First

    Want to Write for Magazines? Do This First

    Everyone says to read a publication before you pitch it, but what exactly are you supposed to be looking for?

    Below are a few things to examine in order to help you figure out what your dream magazine is looking for and tailor your pitch for that title.

    First, grab a few issues of the publication you’d like to pitch.

    These might be hard copies, web flip books, or stories on its website. Ideally, you’ll have a handful of issues to look through, including back issues and the most current issue available.

    I often go to my local library and grab a variety of issues of a magazine to study. I try to make sure I have as many regular issues as possible, though special issues (such as “best discoveries of the year” or “holiday shopping guide”) can also be useful to examine.

    Once you have these copies in hand (or up on your computer), take a look at each issue, page by page, to gain some valuable insights.

    Keep an eye out for these areas in particular:

    Cover

    With a print publication, start by looking at the cover. Even if there aren’t a lot of words, you’ll learn a lot from a quick scan of the cover.

    What is the main image? Which articles are promoted? How many articles are promoted on the cover? Does the issue have a theme that’s mentioned on the cover?

    Noting these details will give you an idea of the topics the editors hope will appeal to the publication’s target audience.

    What type of imagery is used? Is it a model in a swimsuit or a wholesome family picnic? Is a celebrity on the cover? Whatever the main image is, the publisher is hoping it will catch the eye of their target demographic passing newsstands, so keep that in mind while pitching.

    After taking a careful look at the stories and images promoted on the cover, take a look at the nitty-gritty issue information.

    You’ll often find this on the cover, spine, or inside the magazine. Find out how many issues are published each year and when they’re published. Are there special issues or themes such as “holiday special” or “buyers’ guide”?

    If there are clear editorial-calendar themes,  look at the magazine’s website to see if you can determine upcoming themes  — and target your pitches to those topics.

    Masthead

    The masthead is where you can find out who edits each section of the magazine; you can suss out who to pitch and maybe even find out how to get a hold of them.

    When examining the masthead — typically found on one of the first pages inside the magazine —take a look only at the most recent issue you can find.

    You won’t want to waste your time pitching the wrong person or someone who is no longer with the magazine, so be sure to look at the latest issue for the most up-to-date information possible.

    You might also want to take a look at the contributors. Who is writing for this magazine? Do you know any of the writers listed? Would they be potential contacts to help you break into this market?

    The publication’s website

    When you’re looking at a physical magazine, it’s still important to also take some time to check its website.

    See if you can find writers’ guidelines on the site or an email address to ask for detailed writer’s guidelines, since many publications do not put these online to avoid a deluge of submissions.

    The website may also contain an upcoming editorial calendar, calls for specific pitches, and other valuable information.

    But be aware that print and online versions of the same publication often pay vastly different rates (with print often earning much higher rates), so be sure you’re looking at the information for the market (print or online) that you want to write  for.

    Advertisements

    While you’re probably not planning on writing ad material for the publication, the ads are a huge component of the magazine.

    Are the ads offering  fancy watches, ultra-lightweight backpacking gear, or classic fishing gear? Do you see ads for family vacations in Montana or luxury cruises in the South Pacific?

    Studying the ads can tell you a lot about who the magazine is looking to appeal to, whether it’s high-end clientele, families, athletes, or others. Being familiar with the target ad group helps you craft your pitches to the right audience.

    Photos and images

    Just because you’re a writer doesn’t mean you should skip over the images.

    Take a good look at the photographs and images used to accompany articles. Are they edgy? Traditional? Do they look fresh and new or a bit dated?

    Also consider where the images come from. Do you see a lot of stock photography or does it appear that the publication contracts with photographers for most of its stories?

    Hiring photographers for custom shoots can be quite expensive, so this can also give you a general idea about the kind of budget the publication might be working with.

    If the publication uses almost all stock photography and amateurish photos, it might have a fairly low budget or use its resources in other ways. But if it’s packed with top quality professional images that are obviously shot for that particular publication, it might be a more established publication with deeper pockets.

    It’s all speculation, but it’s possible to pick up clues by examining the photography in a magazine.

    “Front of the book”

    When you flip open a magazine, the first thing you see is almost never the cover story. Before getting to the features, most magazines typically offer short pieces in the “front of the book” (FOB) section.

    While it generally won’t be labeled “front of the book” in the magazine, pros know these small pieces in the front of the publication are a great place to break into a new market.

    A magazine will often have small recurring items in this section, such as news briefs, book reviews, roundups, and other regular short sections.

    If you’re looking to get into a publication for the first time, pay special attention to this section.

    Which section headings are used in the first few pages of every issue? What tone do they use?

    Use this information to craft your pitches for this section. Magazines often need a lot of fresh content for the front of the book since they need so many short pieces for each issue.

    Features

    Now, we’re at the meat of the magazine: the feature section. These are the long articles that entice readers to pick up the magazine and start reading.

    What topics do you see featured in each issue? How long are the feature articles?

    What tone is used? Does each author have a unique voice or is it tailored to the voice of the publication? How many sources are in each article? Are these articles more timely or evergreen? Do they incite controversy?

    The features are the showcase pieces that the magazine uses to entice both readers and advertisers.

    They also typically pay the best out of all the pieces in a publication. Take a close look at these and catalog the information in your mind for when you’re pitching features so you can tailor them to the magazine. Consider taking notes to review in the future when you’re ready to pitch.

    What do you do with this information?

    Now that you’ve asked yourself a bunch of questions and spent some time poring over several issues, it’s time to turn this information into action.

    You likely have a few ideas in mind for pitches. Now you can find out what sections of your dream pub they might work well in.

    If you have an idea about a neighborhood restaurant and see a magazine with a great “Restaurant Corner” section at the front of the book, you’ll know to tailor it to that. See how long it is, what kind of information is included, and use that information to tailor your pitch.

    Editors want to make sure you’re familiar with their publication. Don’t just say you want to write about the restaurant. Say you want to write a 250-word piece for the “Restaurant Corner” section. Doing so shows you’ve done your research and are familiar with the publication.

    You can also use the information gained from studying the publications to make sure your pitching and writing tone fits with the magazine. If the publication is very serious, refrain from snark. If it uses a lot of buzzwords and trendy lingo, throw in a few similar phrases of your own.

    It’s also helpful to, check and see if the publication has recently published anything similar to your pitch ideas.

    Once you have a good idea of what the publication likes to feature and what kind of reader it’s trying to appeal to, you’ll know where you can fill in the gaps and can now pitch accordingly.

    What are your tricks for studying publications — and turning your research into pitches that sell?

    Download the Pitch Checklist!
  • Want to See Your Byline All Over Town? Make Your Name in This Magazine Niche

    Want to See Your Byline All Over Town? Make Your Name in This Magazine Niche

    Everyone always says to write about what you know.

    What could you know better than your own backyard? Regional magazines are a great way to break into magazine writing.

    They’re also a great way to break into a writing niche. If you can write about local dining, why not send those clips to break into a larger market? I used regional magazines to bulk up my portfolio to break into national magazines, but I also still write for some regional publications.

    Regional magazines can range from tiny booklets focused on a small local niche to magazines that cover entire states or regions. What they have in common is their focus on a particular area. Some of these are travel magazines focusing on tourism in a region, while others are local dining and foodie guides, and others are focused on outdoor activities or family activities nearby.

    Next time you go out to eat or out to the grocery store, take a look at the free magazines on the racks nearby. These magazines need writers. Specifically, writers who are familiar with the local area or the topic of the magazine.

    For the last three years, I’ve edited a regional lifestyle magazine, and I’ve also written for a variety of other regional publications. Even in a small mountain town, I have been able to find plenty of publications to write for.

    Read on for tips on how to break into the regional magazine market.

    Why regional magazines?

    If you’re fairly new to freelancing, regional magazines are a good place to get a feel for magazine writing.

    These publications generally have fewer writers competing to work for them than most of the big-name newsstand publications you’ll see around town.

    If you live in the region, you’ll typically already have the basic familiarity needed to write for these magazines. If you’re a parent, music lover, or foodie, you may have the qualifications to write for the specialized magazines you’ll see targeting local families, music fans, and diners.

    Let’s talk about money

    Pay can vary widely from publication to publication. Some of these magazines will pay very little while others will pay decent magazine rates. If you’re just breaking into the world of freelancing, writing for local magazines is a great way to get some clips to use as a steppingstone for other publications.

    Even experienced writers can make good money working for regional publications. If you know the local area well and are asked to write about, say, the local music scene, an experienced and knowledgeable local writer may be able to crank out a well-researched piece in just an hour or so. If you earn $100 for that article, you’ve just made $100 an hour. Not a bad rate at all.

    Check out the typical rates for a few regional parenting and regional travel magazines:

    • Chicago Parent Magazine pays $25 to $100 per article
    • Metro Parent (focused on Southeast Michigan parents) pays $35-350
    • Raising Arizona Kids pays $50-300
    • Western New York Family Magazine pays $40-150
    • Hana Hou! Magazine pays $50-175 for most Hawaii-related travel pieces
    • Oregon Coast Magazine pays $100-650

    Where can you find regional magazines?

    Look for free magazines out on the street and by the entrances to local restaurants and businesses. Many of these are looking to hire freelance writers. If your town has a free weekly paper, check it out and see if they’re looking for writers. These publications are typically funded by advertising dollars, so they’ll generally be able to pay freelancers at least a little bit.

    Freelancewriting.com also offers a pretty good roundup of some of the larger regional magazines. Many of the publications on this list are subscription-based and sold on newsstands, and they’re often a little more difficult to break into than free publications. But they’re definitely worth a try.

    How should you approach and contact regional magazines?

    Regional magazines generally don’t have bustling editorial rooms staffed with full-time writers and editors. More likely, they’re run by a team of freelancers who work for the same publisher.

    Sometimes, publishers put out multiple publications with the same theme or region. Once you write for a publisher and build a good rapport, you may find it easier to break into some of its sister publications.

    Some regional magazines offer detailed freelancer guidelines online. If you’re able to find submission guidelines, be sure to follow those closely.

    But many regional magazines don’t have submission guidelines available. Many times, you’ll just find a single email address in a publication. Oftentimes, it’s for a publisher or advertising salesperson — not even the editor you were hoping to reach! It can be a bit tricky to find out who to contact, but it’s worth taking a bit of time to find out.

    If there’s an email address or phone number, drop a note or give a call and inquire about freelancing. Once you track down the right email address, send a letter of inquiry along with three or so relevant clips.

    And be sure to follow up if you don’t hear back. You might be inquiring when the publication is in the final throes of production. If you don’t hear back, send a polite follow-up two to four weeks later.

    What If you don’t have relevant clips?

    So, what if you found a regional publication that looks like it’s right up your alley, but you don’t have any relevant clips to send?

    As an editor, I want to see that people can write in the style of the publication. The magazine I edit consists mainly of personality and business profiles, so I need to make sure people can conduct interviews and put together a solid profile.

    If you don’t have any clips remotely related to what the magazine publishes, you may want to consider writing a sample piece. Most writers don’t like to write on spec and the sample piece may or may not be published, so keep that in mind. But it’s a great way to show an editor your writing chops as well as your dedication to writing for the publication.

    I’ve had several writers approach me and offer to write a sample piece. It’s a much better technique than sending in a paper you wrote in college or a blog you write on a completely unrelated topic. While editors like to see that you can write for diverse markets, the one most editors want to see is one that proves you can write for their specific style of publication.

    And, even if one regional magazine doesn’t end up being the right match, don’t give up. You’ll likely find many other options in your area. Keep reaching out to your local writing community and you’ll likely find traction before too long.

    Have you ever written for regional magazines? What did you like about it?