Writing for Magazines: A Great Start for Freelance Writers
The truth is that many magazines rely on contributing (i.e., freelance) writers for much of their content. So if you’re looking to make a name for yourself as a writer, perhaps approaching a magazine is a great way to start. The pay is more supplementary than significant, but writing for a high-circulation magazine gives you a lot of exposure. We all have to start somewhere.
And that involves making editors aware of your abilities. Of course, it’s a great help to have a friend within the industry (that’s how I got my start). But it’s possible to get attention even if you’re unknown. You’ll need a body of work to highlight your skills, a plan to focus on relevant targets, and of course, persistence.
There are many ways to build a portfolio. You can either write for free, or simply make use of your experiences. If you’ve been invited to a fashion show for example, you can write about that. Or narrate what happened at a sci-fi convention.
Whatever you do, keep in mind that you’ll have a great chance of suceeding only if you approach relevant publications. Or making yourself relevant. If you’re a bona fide geek, Cosmopolitan may be interested in your article about how girls can attract those tech-obsessed cuties.
Don’t expect instant success. Even if your proposals go unanswered (or politely refused), your portfolio is with a potential employer. And if one day he needs what you can provide, he’ll come knocking. In short, don’t give up, because the more you try, the less chance you have of failing.
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POSTED IN: Freelance Writing
5 opinions for Writing for Magazines: A Great Start for Freelance Writers
Terrell Johnson
Mar 26, 2007 at 6:49 am
Great ideas, especially because magazine freelancing (when done well) can train a writer in several essential qualities for success as a solo consultant/writer: how important meeting deadlines is, how to write in different styles for different publications, how to interview, and especially how to gather information on subjects the writer knows nothing about beforehand.
It’s also important to note that depending on the city in which you live, there will likely be a wide range of publications that a budding freelancer can target. It’s a good idea to start with local and regional publications first, get some great clips under your belt, and then shoot for bigger fish (= national publications).
Just my two cents!
Rico
Mar 26, 2007 at 7:24 am
That’s a great point I missed: starting small also increases your chance of success. Thanks for filling up the blanks Terrell. :)
Contract Worker - The Key to Making an Offer They Can’t Refuse
Apr 7, 2007 at 8:02 am
[…] needed. To make this obvious to whomever you’re proposing to, you’ll have to adapt. What attracts a magazine editor is definitely different from what appeals to a gaming website’s […]
Raquel
Feb 5, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I have a question. i didnt quite understand….Is the pay good? i mean, id hate to do something i love for nothing… i dont want to write if im not going to get paid well
Rico
Feb 5, 2008 at 10:12 pm
If you’re a contract worker, and not a regular employee, of a magazine, then the pay won’t be that high. The point of writing for magazines is to get your name out as a writer. And as Terrell says, it’s a great way to learn things.
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