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	<title>All Freelance Writing &#187; magazine writing</title>
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		<title>Writing For Print: Why Local Relationships Matter</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2012/02/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/writing-for-print-why-local-relationships-matter/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2012/02/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/writing-for-print-why-local-relationships-matter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:14:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Catherine L. Tully</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[queries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing for print]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=13471</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are a writer, chances are good that you already understand that relationships in this industry matter. If you want to write for print, this can actually be a subject that is even more vital. When you write for &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you are a writer, chances are good that you already understand that relationships in this industry matter. If you want to write for print, this can actually be a subject that is even more vital.</p>
<p>When you write for an online publication it is fairly typical to never meet the person you are working with. Most contact is established via e-mail and subsequent information/instructions usually follow in the same manner. With print, this is not necessarily the case&#8211;especially if you start local as so many print writers do.</p>
<p>Getting clips usually means working for smaller publications in the beginning&#8211;such as newspapers, local magazines and possibly even writing PR or marketing collateral for area businesses. While this may not mean you meet the editor in person, they are often close by&#8211;giving you an opportunity to reach out and sit down with them face-to-face. Whenever you are able to do this; do it.</p>
<p>In the greater publishing world, editors bounce from one magazine to another with astonishing speed. You can get an article accepted by a newsstand publication and not have the same editor by the time you are done writing the piece. Sometimes you may even get a query accepted, only to find out that the new editor has decided they don&#8217;t want to publish it after all. It&#8217;s tough to keep up!</p>
<p>Local publications tend to retain their personnel a bit better. Sometimes the editor at a local magazine is also the publisher or owner. Those who work at a newspaper may leave to go to another, but not at the pace of people who work for larger magazines. It can be well worth your time to cultivate these relationships a bit so that you become the &#8220;go to&#8221; gal or guy.</p>
<p>Now this doesn&#8217;t mean you have to take the editor out for a fancy lunch, but I would encourage you to try for a cup of coffee. Don&#8217;t just drop by their office with a last-minute invite either&#8211;feel them out about their schedule and see if they have interest before going for &#8220;the ask&#8221;. Keep it casual and close to where they work if at all possible, and by all means, pick up the check. After all, if the time spent results in regular work, it will be well worth it.</p>
<p>Here are a few solid ways to build a relationship with a local editor without being too pushy&#8211;and yes, I&#8217;ve done them all:</p>
<ul>
<li>Send a quick e-mail every month or two just saying hello and reminding the editor you are available for assignments. Include a little banter, such as asking them how they are doing and commenting on the weather. In other words, be polite&#8211;don&#8217;t just ask for work.</li>
<li>Remember them during the holidays and on or around their birthday if you know when it is. If you don&#8217;t know their birthday, put that on your &#8220;to do&#8221; list.</li>
<li>Send a brief note regarding something you wrote for the publication. For example, &#8220;I picked up the latest issue of <em>My Local Magazine</em> and was really pleased with the way my article on local shopping looked. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to write it for you.&#8221; Keep it simple and sincere.</li>
<li>Send pitches on a regular basis so that your name stays fresh in the editor&#8217;s mind.</li>
</ul>
<p>Do you have any tips for establishing or maintaining a good relationship with the editors at your local publications? Feel free to share!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>5 Great New Year&#8217;s Goals For Print Writers</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2012/01/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/5-great-ny-goals-for-print-writers/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2012/01/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/5-great-ny-goals-for-print-writers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:16:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Catherine L. Tully</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[print writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resolutions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=9251</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Happy New Year to all of you out there! May 2012 be fruitful! Today we&#8217;re going to talk about setting some goals that relate directly to a career in writing for print. Starting the NY off right can set the &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Happy New Year to all of you out there! May 2012 be fruitful!</p>
<p>Today we&#8217;re going to talk about setting some goals that relate directly to a career in writing for print. Starting the NY off right can set the tone for the entire year, so it pays off to do a little &#8220;leg work&#8221; on the front end of things. Here are five great goals to pencil into January that will help you get set up:</p>
<h2>1. Re-tool your resume(s).</h2>
<p><strong></strong>Freshen up all of your resumes and include any print writing credits you haven&#8217;t yet added from last year. In print writing, staying current is important. Most editors will ask you for <em>recent</em> samples, so be sure you have them handy to send out. This also means checking in on your LinkedIn content, Facebook presence and any other online &#8220;resume-type&#8221; sites you belong to so that you can update them.</p>
<h2>2. Reach out to editors.</h2>
<p><strong></strong>This time of year most editors are just settling back into their routine, so it can be a good time to touch base. Shoot a quick e-mail to those you have already worked with and wish them a wonderful New Year. Then let them know you are available for assignments. You can also contact editors at publications you would like to write for&#8211;this works especially well for trade magazines.</p>
<h2>3. Brainstorm and start a &#8220;tickler&#8221; file for the year.</h2>
<p><strong></strong>A &#8220;tickler&#8221; file is a big list of possible article topics that you can flush out when you have the chance&#8211;or check for ideas when you are thinking about queries. Brainstorm a big list of ideas and keep them in one spot for times when you need some creative inspiration. Add to it as the year goes&#8211;when you have an idea, just pop it in there for future reference. It&#8217;s a very helpful tool!</p>
<h2>4. Set a few goals and order subscriptions.</h2>
<p><strong></strong>Choose a few publications you would like to land an assignment in for 2012 and order a subscription to them. Begin to get a feel for what types of articles they run, what their unique &#8220;voice&#8221; is like and what you might be able to contribute. Reading a publication on a regular basis is one of the best ways to get ready to pitch a query. You won&#8217;t duplicate what they&#8217;ve already run, and you will come across as having a thorough understanding of the magazine. Believe me when I tell you&#8211;editors really love that.</p>
<h2>5. Set up your system for keeping track of queries.</h2>
<p><strong></strong>No time like the NY to do this, and it really is necessary. Web writing typically does not have the kind of lead time that print writing does. You can send a query and the follow-up time can be as long as a whole year. If you have something that is already working for you&#8230;great! If not, think about what might help you stay on top of this organizational challenge and set it up. Outlook has a calendar feature that might work for some people, smartphones do as well. I use a big desk calendar so I can see the whole month at one time. It doesn&#8217;t really matter <em>what</em> you do, but having a plan is crucial.</p>
<p>Do you have any suggestions for print writers who are going into the New Year? Drop a comment below!</p>
<p>On a personal note&#8211;I really believe in taking the time in January to do some extra legwork and log the long hours. Getting things off to a good start has been one of the keys to my success as a print writer. I can&#8217;t emphasize enough how important I think it is to swing into the NY strong. And I wish you all the very best!</p>
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		<title>Promoting For Print: Social Media</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/10/06/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/promoting-for-print-social-media/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/10/06/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/promoting-for-print-social-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:39:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Catherine L. Tully</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[promotion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[self-promotion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web presence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing for magazines]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=8971</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Writing for print isn&#8217;t just about writing for print. What? What I mean by that is this&#8211;you have to promote yourself and your work if you expect to make a dent in the print publication market. These days, a big &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Writing for print isn&#8217;t just about writing for print.</p>
<p><em>What?</em></p>
<p>What I mean by that is this&#8211;you have to promote yourself and your work if you expect to make a dent in the print publication market. These days, a big part of this has to do with social media.</p>
<p>Social media may seem like a strange thing to think of in terms of self-promotion&#8211;especially if you haven&#8217;t jumped on the bandwagon yet. Even if you have&#8211;using it to your full advantage can take time and effort.</p>
<p>Let me ask you this&#8230;do you know how to get more work in print by using social media?</p>
<p>That&#8217;s what we are going to deal with today.</p>
<p>First of all&#8211;and this is huge&#8211;social media isn&#8217;t just about you and your agenda. It&#8217;s about doing for others and developing relationships with people. In other words, if you are constantly just promoting yourself and your work, you might as well pass on using it at all as a tool. People will tune you out.</p>
<p>Take an interest in the conversations going on out there in the field. What are some of the &#8220;hot&#8221; issues? It pays off to do a little bit of listening before you jump in with both feet. See who&#8217;s talking, what they are talking about and why. When you have a feel for things, then start to connect a bit.</p>
<p>Here are some social media tips for promoting yourself on the web&#8211;without annoying others:</p>
<p><strong>Do  </strong>feel free to talk about what you are working on now. Just keep it professional and brief. This can be a great way for people on social media to get a feel for what you write about and the types of projects you take on.</p>
<p><strong>Do </strong>build relationships with people who are influential. Magazine editors and other people in print have Twitter accounts and nearly everyone has a Facebook presence of some sort these days. Add some people and pages each week and do a little legwork to make sure your network is reaching out to those who could give you an assignment or help you find work. It pays off.</p>
<p><strong>Do </strong>post helpful information, such as links to great websites, videos or podcasts that you have found interesting or useful. It&#8217;s a great way to build goodwill.</p>
<p><strong>Do </strong>your best to be polite. Thank those that follow you, re-tweet you or comment on your Facebook page or blog.</p>
<p><strong>Do </strong>try to have conversations with others on social media when you have time. Let them get to know you a bit. The personal touch makes such a big difference.</p>
<p><strong>Do </strong>post things regularly and keep up on your account.</p>
<p>Now, here are some things you will want to avoid doing:</p>
<p><strong>Don&#8217;t </strong>be overly self-promotional. Think about how you feel when others are constantly Tweeting or posting about themselves. It&#8217;s irritating. Some promotional posts are fine&#8211;just make sure you mix them in with other things.</p>
<p><strong>Don&#8217;t </strong>ask for work. Think of it this way&#8211;you wouldn&#8217;t just walk up to some editor that you never met before on the street and ask him/her for an assignment, right? The same guidelines apply here.</p>
<p><strong>Don&#8217;t </strong>underestimate the power of commenting on things you like on Facebook or re-tweeting content you enjoy on Twitter. (Commenting on blogs counts too.) It might not get you a job immediately, but it can get you on the radar for a particular editor/publication.</p>
<p><strong>Don&#8217;t </strong>mix business with pleasure. If you want to use social media to promote yourself and your work&#8211;don&#8217;t get too personal on the account. Finding the right balance is key. Think of it this way&#8211;when you tweet, imagine the editor for your dream assignment is reading it. If you wouldn&#8217;t say it to them directly, don&#8217;t post it.</p>
<p>This isn&#8217;t an all-in-one primer on social media, but I&#8217;m here to tell you that I&#8217;ve gotten work &#8211; paying work in print &#8211; from having social media accounts and being active on them. Yes, it takes time, but you have to promote yourself anyway, and this is a great way to do it. I would suggest the following &#8220;big three&#8221; for those who are looking to break into print, or get more assignments from magazines:</p>
<p><strong>Twitter.</strong></p>
<p>Twitter is powerful. You can directly connect with magazine editors and those in the print field in a way you never were able to before. Build your network slowly and listen before you jump in. Include a web address so people can find you if they want to get in touch.</p>
<p><strong>Facebook. </strong></p>
<p>You&#8217;ll need to decide how to handle this&#8211;if you want to use your &#8220;personal&#8221; page for business, or create a page for your writing presence. It&#8217;s up to you&#8230;just make sure to keep it professional. Make sure you include some information about your background and experience, as well as a way for people to contact you.</p>
<p><strong>LinkedIn.</strong></p>
<p>Many people consider this a &#8220;resume&#8221; site. It&#8217;s a great professional resource, and you can also join related industry groups on this site. Make sure you complete your profile, and try to gather some professional recommendations so you can showcase yourself in the best light possible.</p>
<p>Have you gotten work through social media? If so, I&#8217;d love to hear about it!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Magazine Writing: Tools Of The Trade</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/09/06/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/magazine-writing-tools-of-the-trade/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/09/06/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/magazine-writing-tools-of-the-trade/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:39:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Catherine L. Tully</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[queries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing for print]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=8857</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Writing for print has a lot in common with writing for the web, yet they are also quite different. Today I&#8217;d like to share some &#8220;tools of the trade&#8221; that have helped me navigate my writing career&#8211;especially when it comes &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Writing for print has a lot in common with writing for the web, yet they are also quite different. Today I&#8217;d like to share some &#8220;tools of the trade&#8221; that have helped me navigate my writing career&#8211;especially when it comes to magazine writing. That said, many of these can also be used for freelance writing in general. Here goes:</p>
<h2><strong>Desk Calendar</strong></h2>
<p>There&#8217;s nothing quite like a big desk calendar to keep things front and center in terms of queries out, contracts due and deadlines. Although you can use your computer to keep track of these things as well, I find that for magazine writing it is helpful to have everything right in front of me. Since you often work way ahead of holidays (6 months to a year for many print publications) it can be good to jot down notes or query ideas in the appropriate month. For example, my June month has ideas for the New Year written in the margin.</p>
<h2><strong>Standing File For Desk</strong></h2>
<p>I keep hard copies of my contracts in a standing file on my desk. That way I have an easy reference when it comes to  the terms of a contract, and if my hard drive crashes, I have a backup copy as well. Why is this suited to writing for print? Many times you will sign a contract that has specific rights information, and you&#8217;ll want to have that handy in case you can re-sell a piece down the line. I find this to be true more with magazines than things I write for the web, although it doesn&#8217;t hurt to keep that information on file either.</p>
<h2><strong>Clip File/Folder</strong></h2>
<p>When you write for print publications you wind up with hard copies of the pieces you get published. I keep a &#8220;clip file&#8221; of the best ones and scan them into the computer when I have time. They are in a folder on my desktop called &#8220;clips&#8221;. This is handy since many times an editor will ask you for samples of your writing before granting you an assignment. Instead of frantically looking for related pieces, simply check your clip file and attach. (Just remember not to send attachments without permission.)</p>
<h2><strong>Receipt Box</strong></h2>
<p>Call me old-fashioned, but I keep a small box on my desk for receipts. When you write for magazines, you will need to keep up on the industry and read publications before you pitch them. You can go to the library and flip through publications, get a subscription, or buy individual copies. If you purchase periodicals that are related to a pitch you are putting together, you should be able to deduct them as a write off at tax time. (Be sure to consult your tax professional for the guidelines and requirements for doing this so you are sure the purchases qualify.) For me, the box is a simple way to make sure I have the receipts when I go to pull tax information together.</p>
<h2><strong>Razor Blade/Utility Knife</strong></h2>
<p>Although I hesitate to recommend anything this sharp, it simply is the neatest way to remove pages from a magazine without ripping them. (Do so at your own risk&#8211;and please be careful!) Don&#8217;t press too hard, and don&#8217;t go to close to the binding of the publication. I also remove the cover of the magazine to scan and file, so I have a reference of what issue the piece appeared in. You can also do this with scissors, but it typically doesn&#8217;t come out as easy.</p>
<h2><strong>Writing Group</strong></h2>
<p>Again, this could apply to all freelance writers, but I have found it especially useful for magazine writing. Joining a group of writers not only gives you some support, but the networking opportunities are excellent. I have landed a few great jobs simply by letting other writers know that I am looking for additional work in the print field. It works.</p>
<p>Do you have any &#8220;tools of the trade&#8221; that have helped you stay organized or get more work in the world of print? If so, please share here!</p>
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		<title>How to Keep Magazine Editors Coming Back</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/08/03/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/how-to-keep-magazine-editors-coming-back/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/08/03/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/how-to-keep-magazine-editors-coming-back/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:30:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[editors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=8770</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The following is a guest post from Denene Brox.  Freelance writers work hard to build up a solid portfolio of clips. It can take months or even years to build strong working relationships with editors. When a new editor or &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>The following is a guest post from <a href="http://www.freelance-write-now.com">Denene Brox</a>. </em></p>
<p>Freelance writers work hard to build up a solid portfolio of clips. It can take months or even years to build strong working relationships with editors. When a new editor or client gives you that first assignment, it’s important to nail it so that the editor is eager to work with you again – hopefully month after month.</p>
<p>I have written regularly for a number of publications – many of them approach me with regular assignments. In fact, my biggest client last year, which accounted for about 50 percent of my income, was a client I&#8217;ve never pitched once (other than an initial introduction letter). How did I get to the point where I don’t have to query certain editors?</p>
<p>Here is all you need to know to keep your editors coming back.</p>
<h2>Meet Your Deadlines</h2>
<p>At one time I found this hard to believe but there are many unreliable writers out there who turn in late assignments or just go M.I.A. on their editors. The good news is this makes it easy for the rest of us to get and stay on an editor’s go-to list of writers. Be that writer who turns in assignments on time. Score extra points if you submit your assignments ahead of deadline.</p>
<p>The last thing an editor wants to do is scramble to replace a writer. So maintaining communication is vital. If you’re going to be late or can’t complete an assignment for any reason, be sure to communicate with your editor.</p>
<p>My editors know that when they give me an assignment it will be in their inbox by the deadline. And I know that by being consistently reliable I am greatly increasing my chances for future assignments.</p>
<h2>Don’t Fuss Over Edits</h2>
<p>Busy editors don’t want to put up with ego-driven writers who fight them about every small editing request. Whenever one of my editors asks me to make changes to an article, I gladly do it. I have no creative attachments to the articles that I write, so editing is a breeze. Besides, I’ve never had an editor make an unreasonable editing request.</p>
<p>Take my advice: Stay on the editor’s favorite writer list by making editing a no-fuss affair.</p>
<h2>Follow Directions</h2>
<p>Don’t take creative liberties with article assignments. Most of my articles are for trade magazines and I must follow the specifications given by my editor for the article. Writers who turn in stories off-topic and miss word counts don’t get offered future assignments. Editors like to do minimal edits. If they have to totally rework your story every time, don’t be surprised if they stop calling.</p>
<h2>Know Your Reader</h2>
<p>Always keep your readers in mind when writing articles. When writing for consumer publications things like age, race, geographical location, and income are all important reader characteristics to keep in mind. If you’re writing for a business audience, what are their business problems and how will your article help them overcome them?</p>
<p>If you can write specifically for the publication’s audience, you’ll be an editor’s dream. A trade editor recently told me that a writer who understands her publication’s target reader is more valuable than a writer with lots of experience.</p>
<p>Keep these tips in mind as you’re building your portfolio and you’ll soon have lots of repeat business from happy editors.</p>
<p>How do you maintain relationships with editors for repeat assignments? What tips would you give a new freelance writer to help them make a long-lasting impression with editors?</p>
<h2>About Denene Brox</h2>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-8773" title="Denene Brox" src="http://allfreelancewriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Denenes-Digital-Camera-016-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Denene Brox" width="115" height="131" />Denene Brox has been a freelance writer for more than six years. She’s based in Kansas Cityand specializes in career development and health topics. She is also the webmaster of <a href="http://www.freelance-write-now.com/">Freelance-Write-Now.com</a>, a site that teaches beginners how to get started in freelance writing. Download her free step-by-step guide, <a href="http://www.freelance-write-now.com/how-to-write-a-magazine-article.htm">How to Write a Magazine or Online Article</a>, for more tips on writing winning articles.</p>
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		<title>The Print Industry: Realistic Expectations</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/05/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/the-print-industry-realistic-expectations/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/05/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/the-print-industry-realistic-expectations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 May 2011 18:02:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Catherine L. Tully</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=8357</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is going to be a different kind of post. Call it a sharing post. I&#8217;m going to talk a bit about what my expectations were when I got into the magazine industry&#8211;and also about the reality. I was pretty &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is going to be a different kind of post. Call it a sharing post.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m going to talk a bit about what my expectations were when I got into the magazine industry&#8211;and also about the reality. I was pretty surprised at how different those two things are, and I&#8217;m going to throw my experience out there for you&#8211;just in case I can help clarify the difference between what people lead you to believe will happen&#8211;and what actually does.</p>
<p>Here goes:</p>
<p><em>The expectation</em>: Breaking into the magazine market means you should start small, build clips and work your way up to a big publication.</p>
<p><em>The reality</em>: While starting small can be helpful if you need to sharpen your writing skills a bit, there&#8217;s no reason to pass on sending queries to larger magazines too. Some of you may know that my first sale was to Boys&#8217; Life, which is a huge publication. Don&#8217;t limit yourself right out of the gate&#8211;but do your homework. Study the publication and make sure you craft a good query&#8211;don&#8217;t shoot off ideas willy nilly.</p>
<p><em>The expectation: </em>Writing for magazines is very similar to writing for the web.</p>
<p><em>The reality: </em>Nope. Not at all really. The similarity is that you have to write well for both. Other than that, there are a ton of differences. Writing for the web is more &#8220;punchy&#8221; &#8211; you need to create shorter sentences and break up the text more. Although this is changing in print, it still is more paragraph-oriented.</p>
<p>Writing for the web is great for those who enjoy instant gratification. When you write for print, it takes forever for an article to come out in the magazine. In addition, print publications tend to follow an editorial calendar that requires you to pitch six months or more ahead of time. The web tends to be more timely.</p>
<p>When you write for print publications, you may be asked to track down your own photography. This means you&#8217;ll need to know how to send large files&#8211;as you need high resolution to print them. This can be a little complicated. When sending images for the web, the resolution caps at 72 dpi (dots per inch), so they are small and easy to send without clogging up an editor&#8217;s inbox.</p>
<p>I could go on, but you get the idea&#8230;these are definitely two different animals, so to speak. Writing for one doesn&#8217;t automatically qualify you to write for the other.</p>
<p><em>The expectation: </em>The editor will get back to you with an answer on your query within the time-frame specified in the guidelines.</p>
<p><em>The reality: </em>Everything moves slow here. Very slow. Typically, either I hear back right away (within a week), or I have to follow up a few weeks after the end date the guidelines state. Also, with print, sometimes editors will hold on to ideas for a future issue and get in touch with you long after you&#8217;ve thought they didn&#8217;t want your piece. This rarely happens to me when I write for the web.</p>
<p><em>The expectation: </em>You will get a free copy of the magazine when your article appears.</p>
<p><em>The reality: </em>Be sure to ask about this. Some publishers do it automatically, where others don&#8217;t. Some will do it if you ask for one, but not offer it otherwise. Don&#8217;t assume you will have it show up in your mailbox&#8211;or that it will be in the issue that you were told. Sometimes an article gets bumped, appearing in another issue, and other times it may get pulled entirely. Checking in on this is the best course of action.</p>
<p>Writing for print has its own peculiarities. Even as I was writing this, more were popping into my head, so you&#8217;ll probably see another piece like this down the line. I wish I had known more about how the industry worked when I started out. That&#8217;s one of the reasons I write this column&#8211;to try and pass that knowledge along to you.</p>
<p>By the same token&#8211;if you have something you can share with fellow readers/writers about this subject that you think will be helpful&#8211;by all means&#8211;ring in!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Magazine Writing: The Travel Piece</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/02/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/magazine-writing-the-travel-piece/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2011/02/07/specialties/magazine-writing-specialties/magazine-writing-the-travel-piece/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 11:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Catherine L. Tully</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel article]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=8096</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let’s face it—almost every writer would love to land the coveted “travel article” in a glossy magazine. Writing about a destination is considered one of the most glamorous things you could do as a writer—but how do you break in? &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let’s face it—almost every writer would love to land the coveted “travel article” in a glossy magazine. Writing about a destination is considered one of the most glamorous things you could do as a writer—but how do you break in? Competition is fierce, and there are some pretty established pros out there doing it, so knowing where to begin is important.</p>
<p><strong>The Good News</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>It is possible for even a newbie writer to break into this market—<strong>if</strong>—they have a unique angle and compelling story to tell. This is one reason I often suggest people write about where they live. That way you can share something about the area that others are not likely to know. Finding the right angle is everything, and if you can come up with one, you’ve got a shot.</p>
<p><strong>The Bad News</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Finding a unique angle isn’t as easy as you might think.</p>
<p>I live in a city that is known for its Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. I generally avoid pitching that as an idea, because it has been done to death. I did, however, land a travel piece in a major art magazine by pitching a piece on our local arts district, which has some interesting art and artisan stores. Most people outside of the area have never heard of it—which is part of what makes it so interesting.</p>
<p>As for “angle” – I did write about the Frank Lloyd Wright district in my neighborhood, but I avoided pitching the play-by-play of what buildings are there and how to take the tour. Instead I wrote a first person piece on how my parents and I used to take a drive through the district when I was a child to look at all the architecture—and how many years later I still found it comforting.</p>
<p>Think outside the box.</p>
<p><strong>Tips for the Pitch </strong></p>
<p>Here are some suggestions to help you fine-tune your idea for a travel piece in a magazine:</p>
<p>+ Ask yourself if you would be interested in reading the article you are pitching. If you have read anything like it already, scratch the idea—or find a more compelling angle.</p>
<p>+ Brainstorm. A mega list helps open up the possibilities.</p>
<p>+ Let the artwork lead you. If you already know of a source for great photography, it may be an idea worth pursuing. Remember that glossies need high-resolution photos, and if you can provide them (or a contact for them), it can help sell your idea.</p>
<p>+ Make sure you let the editor know why this idea is unique. Capture their interest with your query letter by providing a fascinating statistic or an amazing anecdote.</p>
<p>+ Match the style of the travel article with the magazine you are pitching. Don’t send an idea for an overseas vacation to a publication that only runs weekend trips. Don’t pitch a first-person piece to a magazine unless you have seen an article like that among their pages. Do your homework. This is one area where writers make major errors. Don’t be one of the casualties.</p>
<p>+ Make sure you mention it if you have photos (or access to photos/artwork) when you make the pitch.</p>
<p>+ Avoid the “I went here and did this and that” approach. It&#8217;s easier to write this way, but the vast majority of magazines are not looking for a laundry list of places. Concentrate instead on developing a sense of place and some highlighted moments.</p>
<p>+ Read. Read travel stories. Read travel writers. Read the travel pieces in magazines you’d like to pitch. Read all kinds of styles, voices and publications. This will help you learn what is interesting, what the current style is and how to craft your query for a particular magazine.</p>
<p>+ Write. Pick a travel writer you like and try to mimic a short piece that they have written. This can help you develop your voice and it will also assist you in learning how to select details that might interest your reader. It’s good practice.</p>
<p>Getting a travel article accepted by a magazine is possible&#8211;you just have to have a solid approach and the willingness to learn how to craft the query in a way that will catch the editor&#8217;s eye. Hopefully I&#8217;ve shared some things with you here that will help set you on your way&#8230;</p>
<p>If anyone else has a tip to share&#8211;please feel free!</p>
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		<title>Getting Started in Magazine Writing With Linda Formichelli</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2009/11/30/freelancing/business-career/getting-started-in-magazine-writing-with-linda-formichelli/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2009/11/30/freelancing/business-career/getting-started-in-magazine-writing-with-linda-formichelli/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Mattern</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business / Career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[getting started]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[getting started guide]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[linda formichelli]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing for magazines]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3450</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This week our &#8220;Getting Started&#8221; series post is a bit later than usual due to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the U.S. We&#8217;re kicking things off with a bang though, as we welcome Linda Formichelli! Linda will talk about getting &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This week our &#8220;Getting Started&#8221; series post is a bit later than usual due to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in the U.S. We&#8217;re kicking things off with a bang though, as we welcome Linda Formichelli! Linda will talk about getting started as a freelance magazine writer. It&#8217;s a topic we don&#8217;t touch on very often here at All Freelance Writing since my own career is built on a cross between Web writing and commercial writing, so I&#8217;m excited to have Linda share some of her thoughts and experiences with us.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s what she had to say:</p>
<h3>On How She Started Writing for Magazines&#8230;</h3>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I had always wanted to become a writer but ended up getting my Master&#8217;s degree in Slavic Linguistics.  I decided I didn&#8217;t want to continue with the PhD program and thought I might like to get into publishing instead. I did informational interviews with several publishers and realized that working at a magazine or book publisher wasn&#8217;t for me&#8230;but wouldn&#8217;t my experience with informational interviewing make a great magazine article! I whipped up my very first query and sent it to a magazine I saw listed in Writer&#8217;s Market. A while later, I received an acceptance in the mail. This was in 1996. After that, I started pitching and writing for trade and smaller magazines, such as <em>AKFCF Quarterly</em>, the magazine for KFC franchisees. In 1997, I moved to Massachusetts and went full-time freelance, and in 1999 I started breaking into national magazines like <em>Redbook</em> and <em>Family Circle</em>.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<h3>On Needing Specialized Education or Experience Before Starting&#8230;</h3>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;No! As I mentioned, my Master&#8217;s degree was in Slavic Linguistics. I was always a good writer, but I had no formal education or even experience. I just took a chance, and my first query sold for $500! Also, I wrote for publications that were way outside of my ken&#8230;for example, I certainly don&#8217;t have any inherent knowledge of KFC issues. But through writing for a wide variety of magazines, I developed specialties in several areas, including business and health.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<h3>On How Writers can get Started in Magazine Writing&#8230;</h3>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;When I was first starting out in 1996, I had a 1,200-baud modem and as far as I know there weren&#8217;t any groups for writers online. Now, I advise new writers to take advantage of the wealth of support out there, from writers&#8217; forums to online classes to online magazine directories like <a href="http://tradepub.com">tradepub.com</a> and <a href="http://writersmarket.com">writersmarket.com</a>.</p>
<p>I started writing for print magazines, but now there are a lot of online options as well, such as online magazines and blogs. Just be sure that wherever you pitch, the market looks professional and has credibility. You won&#8217;t get much benefit out of writing for those sites that pay $4 per article and anyone and their dog can post pieces.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<h3>On Things Prospective Freelance Magazine Writers Should Know&#8230;</h3>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;1. Be persistent! This is so important. So many writers send out one query, don&#8217;t get a reply or get a rejection, and give up. You need to get as many queries and letters of intro out there as you can. It&#8217;s a numbers game. Eventually, you&#8217;ll be more well-known in the industry, will be in a number of magazines&#8217; &#8216;stables,&#8217; and won&#8217;t have to pitch so much.</p>
<p>2. Value your skills. Many writers brag that they&#8217;re making hundreds per month on sites like Associated Content&#8230;but when you look, you see they&#8217;ve posted something like 1,200 articles. Your time and skill are worth more than that. Pitch places that pay, whether they be online or print. And don&#8217;t forget that everything is negotiable. If an editor approaches you with a puny rate, ask for more.</p>
<p>3. Be confident. Fear holds so many writers back. What if the editor hates my article? What if the editor thinks I&#8217;m stalking him if I follow up? And so on. Instead, think: What if the editor loves my article? What if I follow up at just the right time and land a assignment? (This just happened to me!) Also, don&#8217;t let the fear of making a mistake hold you back. An imperfect query in the hands of an editor has an infinitely higher chance at acceptance than one that sits on your hard drive forever as you &#8220;perfect&#8221; it. One of the assignments in my Get Unstuck! for Freelancers course is to send out a query with a typo in it. One of my students did this, by accident as it turns out, and the editor wrote back within an hour expressing an interest in her idea.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<h3>On Linda Formichelli&#8230;</h3>
<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3452" style="margin-left: 9px; margin-right: 9px;" title="Linda Formichelli" src="http://allfreelancewriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Linda-Formichelli-199x300.jpg" alt="Linda Formichelli" width="100" />Linda Formichelli is the co-author of <em>The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success</em> and <em>The Renegade Writer&#8217;s Query Letters That Rock</em>, and has written for more than 120 magazines, including <em>Redbook</em>, <em>Health</em>, <em>USA Weekend</em>, <em>Writer&#8217;s Digest</em>, and <em>Woman&#8217;s Day</em>.  She teaches an e-course called &#8220;Write for Magazines,&#8221; about how to write a killer query, and one called &#8220;Get Unstuck! for Freelancers,&#8221; which is about boosting your motivation and productivity. The next session of both starts on January 11, 2010; you can get more info at <a href="http://www.writeformagazines.com">http://www.writeformagazines.com</a>.<br />
.</p>
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		<title>How to Write Feature Articles</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2009/11/30/specialties/how-to-write-feature-articles/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2009/11/30/specialties/how-to-write-feature-articles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Bibey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Specialties]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[article writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chris bibey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feature articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feature writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to write]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[linda formichelli]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[writing for magazines]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3443</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most lucrative projects for freelance writers is writing feature articles. Of course, this is not always true. There are some clients that don’t pay as much as the industry average; this is to be expected. But overall, &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the most lucrative projects for freelance writers is writing feature articles. Of course, this is not always true. There are some clients that don’t pay as much as the industry average; this is to be expected. But overall, I have found that writing feature articles is a great way to increase income while having a great time along the way.</p>
<p>For the sake of this post, let’s consider feature articles for print publications only, such as consumer and trade magazines. Most freelance writers who I speak with really want to break into this market, but have no idea how to get started or what to do if they ever land a gig.</p>
<p>These five details will help you become better acquainted with feature articles and what you should be thinking about:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Who is the audience? </strong>When you pick up a feature article project you must first know who you are writing for. Is it a sports publication focused on basketball? A wedding magazine for brides? Finding the audience is usually as simple as picking up a back copy of the magazine or heading to the appropriate website for additional information.</li>
<li><strong>Length.</strong> The length of the feature will be specified by the editor. While most feature articles are at least 500 words in length, the editor may decide that they need something a bit shorter due to page layout. Also, don’t be surprised if some of your features end up being 2000 words or more. The best thing you can do in this area is take advice from the editor you are working with.</li>
<li><strong>Facts are important.</strong> In most cases, a feature article is going to be full of facts and not much opinion if any at all. For this reason, it is important to make sure all of your information is 100 percent accurate and backed up by reliable sources.</li>
<li><strong>Interviews. </strong>Speaking of reliable sources, most feature articles that are assigned to me come with the specification of interviewing at least one authority on the subject. This is not always the case, but be ready to conduct at least one interview. Not only will this please the editor, but it will round out your piece.</li>
<li><strong>Revisions.</strong> I cannot remember ever writing a feature article and getting it perfect the first time around. With most features you will be asked to complete at least one revision, if not more. There have been times when I worked with an editor for days on end, revision after revision, until the article was perfect. If you are going to get involved with writing feature articles you should be ready for revisions and plenty of them.</li>
</ol>
<p>Think you&#8217;re ready for feature article writing? Then start networking with editors and preparing some pitches. And check back later today for our &#8220;Getting Started&#8221; series interview with established magazine writer Linda Formichelli.</p>
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		<title>The Biggest Misconception About Freelance Writing for the Web</title>
		<link>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/27/specialties/web-writing/the-biggest-misconception-about-freelance-writing-for-the-web/</link>
		<comments>http://allfreelancewriting.com/2009/10/27/specialties/web-writing/the-biggest-misconception-about-freelance-writing-for-the-web/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:00:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jennifer Mattern</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Making Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Web Writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance web writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freelance writing for the Web]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[magazine writing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web content writing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://allfreelancewriting.com/?p=3017</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to writing online &#8212; specifically Web content writing. Many of these misconceptions come from the print writing side of the fence, where (while things have improved dramatically over the &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are a lot of myths and misconceptions when it comes to writing online &#8212; specifically Web content writing. Many of these misconceptions come from the print writing side of the fence, where (while things have improved dramatically over the last few years) there&#8217;s still occasionally a feeling that Web writing just doesn&#8217;t measure up.</p>
<p>That sentiment definitely played a role in what I&#8217;d consider to be the biggest misconception about freelance writing for the Web &#8212; that you can&#8217;t earn good money in Web content writing. What&#8217;s worse is that this particular myth has unfortunately led to people justifying taking extremely low rates just because they consider projects to be quick and easy.</p>
<p>Now don&#8217;t get me wrong. If you&#8217;re happy with $10 for an article, by all means take it. I&#8217;m not in the mood to debate it as a business decision (blah, blah, blah &#8212; been there, done that). What concerns me more is that there seems to be an underlying assumption that if you charge significantly more then you must have to spend hours upon hours writing to earn those rates.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s not true.</p>
<p>You can earn ten times that much (and significantly more) writing Web content without having to spend hours on a single article. We&#8217;re not talking magazine features here &#8212; just SEO Web content. It also isn&#8217;t that difficult to do. You need to focus on your specialty area and position yourself as an authoritative source (just like you&#8217;d do in copywriting, PR writing, technical writing, medical writing, etc.).</p>
<p>The real beauty of these gigs is that clients rarely want one piece (making the &#8220;content sites will give me lots of work so they&#8217;re better&#8221; argument moot). They usually want content for all-out SEO campaigns (often meaning regular monthly contracts), and more and more companies and even bloggers are looking for writers who can add expert content with SEO flair. They&#8217;re also willing to pay well for it.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m not really worried about the Web writers who choose the low paying route for themselves. More power to them (and less competition for the better gigs!). What I <em>would</em> like to explore more here though is the role Web content writing can play for those print writers who perhaps used to shun it.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m going to be working on a new free report in coming weeks, where I&#8217;ll be talking to both freelance magazine writers and reasonably well-paid freelance Web content writers about how print writers can position themselves to land these decent Web writing gigs in the interim (between projects or as they&#8217;re waiting for query responses).</p>
<p>If you fit into either of those groups, and you&#8217;d like to answer a few questions or take part in some other way, feel free to contact me at jenn@allfreelancewriting.com. We&#8217;ll be reaching out much more to freelance magazine writers through the New Year, and I&#8217;m hoping this report will serve as a fun and useful tool to show print writers and Web writers how similar they truly are in some ways, and how a magazine writer dabbling in Web writing is anything but &#8220;selling their soul.&#8221;</p>
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