| Do you want to make money writing articles for | | | | new writer, most of your ideas will be ignored. Don't |
| magazines? This is a great way to get started as a | | | | take this personally, editors are very hard-working, and |
| writer. Let's look at an easy process you can follow to | | | | don't have the time to respond to people they don't |
| get published as soon as possible. | | | | know. |
| 1. Choose Small Publications to Get "Clips" | | | | As you keep sending queries, editors get to know you. |
| When you're starting out, realize that you need writing | | | | they'll assess your writing style, see that you're serious, |
| credits. These are often called "clips" (because you've | | | | and will start to pay attention to you. Finally, they'll |
| clipped an article you've written out of the newspaper | | | | approach you to write for them. Therefore when you |
| or magazine which published it.) When magazines | | | | first start out, be patient. |
| offer their guidelines for publication, they will tell you | | | | 3. Magazine Writing Is About Targeted Ideas |
| what clips they want to see. | | | | Never write for magazines you don't read. Unless |
| This seems like a vicious circle: you can't get published, | | | | you're being approached by a publication, it's impossible |
| until you've been published. However, look at it from | | | | for you to get writing jobs for magazines you haven't |
| the point of busy editors: they just want to know what | | | | read cover to cover, and preferably read cover to |
| you can do, so they ask for clips. | | | | cover for some time. |
| When you're starting out, the best way to get clips is | | | | Each magazine is different, even though magazines |
| to write for small publications, like Sunday newspaper | | | | for certain groups may seem the same. You need to |
| supplements, trade magazines, and even free | | | | read a magazine to get onto its editors' wavelength. |
| publications. | | | | You also need to know what they've published in the |
| Once you've got clips in small publications, you can | | | | past -- referring to previously published articles can be |
| work your way up until finally you have the credits to | | | | a way to get your own article accepted. |
| be published in major magazines. | | | | For example, let's say you want to write for a |
| 2. Be Patient, Success Comes when Editors Know | | | | particular cooking magazine. The magazine has |
| Your Name | | | | previously published an article about sausage-making |
| You get magazine writing jobs by writing queries -- | | | | at home. You propose an article on making genuine |
| that is by sending editors your ideas. When you're a | | | | farm-style sausages, with recipes you've tested. |