Get Published In National Magazines

Get Published in National Magazines!


Getting published can seem overwhelming, confusing and even impossible at first. However, it is none of these things! Take a deep breath, and read this out loud: I can get published! It does take plenty of hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of luck. Not only can you get published in magazines you want to write for, but you can get published in national magazines. Some national magazines include Parenting, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, and Women's Health & Fitness. It may seem like a fantasy having your name printed in one of these great publications, but it can be reality. Someone has to write the articles and essays published in them, why not you?

Steps to Getting Published:

1. Know Your Markets
Research magazines that you would be interested in writing for. Look through the magazines on display at your local grocery and book stores. Search the web for magazines that catch your interest. Browse through your library's stash of various magazines. Once you have read through some of them, choose which ones you would like to write for. Make a list of them, and then locate their writer's guidelines. If you can't find their guidelines, contact them via phone or email asking for a copy of them, or where you can find them. Start with one magazine, and study their guidelines until you can practically recite them word for word on cue. Memorize the do's and don'ts of getting an article or essay accepted into their magazine. Read through several issues of that magazine to get an idea of what exactly they publish, the writing style, and what they have already published in the past months.

2. Brainstorm an Article Idea
Think about what types of articles the magazines typically publish, and start brainstorming your own idea for an article. Take a notepad with you wherever you go and write down any idea that comes in to your head no matter how it sounds. It doesn't have to be perfect. This is only the brainstorming phase. Once you have a pretty good sized list of about 5-10 ideas, sit down and really think about them. Cross some out, come up with better ones, and revise others. With the ideas you have left, choose the one that you feel the strongest about and write an article based on it.

3. Draft Your Proposal
Writing a query becomes less difficult with time. This, more or less, is a sales letter. This is what you will send the editor of the magazine. It will either bring you an assignment to write the article, or a rejection. You must prove to the editor that your idea is right for their magazine, and that you are the right person to write the article. It should be no more than a page in length, and usually just two or three paragraphs. The first paragraph should sell the idea, the second should sell you, and the third should close politely. Keep a standard letter format, even for email proposals. Remember to include all of your contact information.

4. Assignment or Rejection
The waiting game can sometimes be the hardest part. Check the writer's guidelines for the usual wait time for a response. Remember that editors are very busy people, and be patient for your response. There are three possible outcomes: you could get the go ahead to write the article, a rejection, or no response at all. If you receive an assignment make sure you know about the rights they buy, how much they pay, when they pay, when you need to complete the article, if you need to site your sources, etc. Then complete the article on time, and do everything you said you were going to do in your proposal. The editor will appreciate you following through on your word, and getting the article done in time. Send another article idea soon after. The editor will more likely remember your name, your skills and professionalism, and be more apt to pay attention to your proposal.

If you get a rejection, be happy you got a response! Not getting a response can be the most frustrating thing for a writer. If you receive any constructive criticism with the rejection, appreciate that this is rare. Try your best to heed any advice the editor is giving you. If the letter feels rude to you, wait a couple of days, then go back and read it again. Being open to criticism can get you published faster!

Remember that the most important thing to getting published is to write, market, and sell! You now have a new mantra!

Resources:

http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jun03/bell.htm

http://www.writersdigest.com/GeneralMenu/

http://www.right-writing.com/basics.html

http://www.writinghelp-central.com/income.html

http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/articles/gettingstarted/magazinearticlefaq.htm