• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Tricia Goyer HomepageTricia Goyer

Living God’s Word One Step at a Time

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About
    • My Testimony
    • Online Archives
    • My Family
    • Professional Bio
    • Adoption
    • Homeschooling
    • Mentoring
    • Speaking
    • Close
  • Blog
  • Courses
  • Books
  • Media
  • Podcast
  • Write that Book
  • Shop
  • Contact
You are here: Home / articles and blogs / How to Write For Magazines: 8 Keys to Getting Published!

February 19, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 17 Comments

How to Write For Magazines: 8 Keys to Getting Published!

Teenage Girl Reading Magazine

How to Write For Magazines: 8 Keys to Getting Published!

Years ago I took a workshop on writing for magazines. I took the best tips I learned there, and I’m sharing them with you. Following these tips I sold thirty articles to national publications in one year. Maybe you can do the same!

My start as a writer came through writing articles. There are magazines that target thousands of audiences and markets, and they are on the lookout for writers who know their audience and their style and have a good story or idea to share! Magazines go to press regularly, and they are always looking for fresh talent.

More than that, magazines give you credibility as a writer. Have a book proposal on being a better parent that you’re trying to pitch? Your proposal might be great, but I guarantee you’ll get more interest from the publisher if you have some nice magazine spreads with your byline on it. This proves to publishers that your topic is relevant and desirable, that you know how to work with editors, and that you can write!

Get your articles published! @TriciaGoyer shares her expert tips for #writing for magazines:

Click To Tweet

Do you have ideas that would make good articles?

Here are eight keys to getting published!

1. Pick Your Topic. Consider what you want to write about. What are you passionate about? What do you find yourself talking about often?

2. Target the Publications. Pick a few magazines that publish articles about topics you’re interested in. Look through the magazine racks and ask yourself, “Who would be interested in my topic?”

3. Study the Magazines. Get a copy of the magazines you’ve targeted and study them. The majority of publications have online articles for you to look at. Look at the length of the articles. Check out how they start (statistics, personal story, fact, hook?). How can you angle your topic to fit into their style?

4. Become Best Friends with a Market Guide. Look through the Christian Writer’s Market Guide. Find information about the magazines you want to write for. This guide gives you detailed facts about the publication, who to contact, what they are looking for, and if they’d like to see a query or the completed article first. You can also find new publications that might need exactly what you want to write!

5. Scrutinize the Layout. Ask, “How are the articles laid out?” (With sub-headers? With bullet points? With stories or quotes from others?) If you read through the publications’ articles, a style will start to come through.

6. Tailor-Fit Your Piece. Instead of writing one article, look at numerous magazines and figure out how your topic could fit for each of them. Think of this as knitting a sweater. Instead of knitting a simple sweater and sending it around to see what publication it will fit, think about each magazine as an entity who wants a sweater, BUT they want one that will fit them perfectly. The style, fit, form, etc., is unique to each publication.

Looking to improve your #writing resumé? Try publishing some articles in magazines! @TriciaGoyer

Click To Tweet

7. Study Writers’ Guidelines. Each publication has writers guidelines. Find them, study them, follow them. Magazines will let you know exactly what they want to see. Give them what the want and you’ll go far! You can search for thousands of guidelines here.

You can also search each magazine online and look for writer’s guidelines. Here is an example from Better Homes and Gardens:

Example: BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FREELANCE FACT SHEET
Only about ten percent of our editorial material comes from freelance writers, artists, and photographers; the rest is produced by staff. We read all freelance articles submitted, but much prefer to see a letter of query than a finished manuscript. The query should be directed to the department where the story line is the strongest. See appropriate editor and department below. (More)

8. Writer a Killer Query or Article. You can do all the behind-the-scenes work, but nothing beats good writing. There are great books on how to write well . . . read them! Here’s a great article, too, with some important points on magazine writing.

Ready to get started? I guarantee if you take these tools and follow them you’ll soon find yourself published in magazines, too!


Did you hear the good news? My book The Swiss Courier (that I co-write with Mike Yorkey) is on sale! My new book Balanced is available now via Amazon and Barnes & Noble for only $2.99 (digital only)!

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram. 

Filed Under: articles and blogs, Words Tagged With: articles, freelance, how to, how to write for magazines, magazines, publish, Writing


Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my newsletter, check out my podcast, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Instagram.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly Blackwell says

    February 19, 2014 at 10:15 pm

    Thank you for the great tips! I am pinning this article. You are a so dear!

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      February 19, 2014 at 10:22 pm

      I’m glad it can help!

      Reply
  2. Michele-Lyn Ault says

    March 3, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    I’ve actually been considering this for a few months, now. I wasn’t quite sure where to start. You gave some really great tips here! Thank you, Tricia. 🙂

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      March 15, 2014 at 6:34 am

      You’re welcome Michele-Lyn!

      Reply
  3. alli says

    March 3, 2014 at 10:11 pm

    Thanks so much

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      March 15, 2014 at 6:34 am

      You’re welcome!

      Reply
  4. Alma Marisol says

    March 14, 2014 at 9:28 pm

    Thank you for the article is wonderful ,Ive always dreamed with being a writer , english is not my native language wich kind of complicate things for me , even though spanish is my native language I find it more difficult because unfortunately I feel people does not have the same habit of reading in hispanic culture as they do in other countries like USA or Europe , but I will keep on trying becuase this reminded me what has been one of my biggest dream in life ,thank you so much for the inspiration !!!

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      March 15, 2014 at 6:35 am

      I know you can be used in wonderful ways, Alma. Keep going!

      Reply
  5. Cynthia Terherst says

    March 26, 2014 at 8:11 am

    I just wanted to say thank you! I first heard of you while participating in a homeschool expo, where you were one of the speakers, about five years ago. You have always been an inspiration to me. I recently came into contact with one of your articles and your website that reignited my love of writing. I used to write children’s stories (never having any of them published) but shelved that dream more than twenty years ago. When I recently read one of your articles, it gave me a sort of confidence in which I thought I could write again! And this time I would get published! Oh and the other day my husband and I were in Wal-Mart in the book and magazine aisle. I looked down and saw a book that you authored (sorry I don’t remember the name of it but I believe it was with four other authors — perhaps several books in one?) and told my husband, “See this is the lady that I was telling you about!” I told him all about you and your background and how you inspired me to write again. I also told him that you are in Little Rock (we live about three hours north of you near Harrison.) So, again, thank you!

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      March 26, 2014 at 11:11 am

      Cynthia, do it. Do it!! It sounds like God is TELLING you something! I love that! I’m so glad he’s using me to inspire you!

      If you’re interested in writing fiction check out ACFW.com … they’re an awesome Christian organization dedicated to helping fiction writers.

      The book you saw was, “An Amish Garden.” Yes, it was written with three other authors.

      It was great hearing from you! Keep me updated!

      Reply
      • Cynthia Terherst says

        March 26, 2014 at 11:43 am

        Yes, that was the book! I do like to write fiction and I will check out that website. I also have this idea rolling around in my head regarding my life experience of infertility and adoption. After adopting our son at birth eight years ago, I found out that I was FINALLY pregnant (for the first time) and by the time our daughter was born I had been trying to conceive and have a baby for over 17 years! Now, seven years later and trying for over 23 years, at the age of 41, I’m still wanting another baby. But again haven’t been able to have another one (had an ectopic almost five years ago and lost my good tube) so we are considering private adoption again. But, I’m just not sure how to go about it or what angle to write it. Trying to figure out if it’s something that needs to be a book or an article in a magazine. Or wondering if it’s even anything anyone would have an interest in. Needless to say, I have a lot to figure out! LOL!

        Reply
        • Tricia Goyer says

          March 26, 2014 at 11:52 am

          God will show you the way!

          You might want to start with a blog … to get all the words out!

          Reply
          • Cynthia Terherst says

            March 26, 2014 at 11:56 am

            I’ve always been intrigued with blogs, but I don’t have the faintest idea as to how to do one! 🙂 Perhaps it’s something to look into! Thank you for the idea!

  6. Betsy de Cruz says

    February 19, 2015 at 12:54 am

    Thanks so much, Tricia. This is excellent, inspirational, and practical. I shared it on Twitter and with an on-line writing group I belong to. . I’ve been blogging for about a year and a half, and am just starting to explore the magazine market. I appreciate your sharing your expertise and experience

    Reply
    • Tricia Goyer says

      February 19, 2015 at 10:22 am

      You’re welcome!!

      Reply
  7. Ariel says

    May 12, 2015 at 8:51 am

    As a budding blogger and aspiring writer, thank you for this post! These are all such useful tips, I can’t wait to utilize the resources you’ve suggested! 🙂

    Reply
  8. freelance writing says

    September 4, 2017 at 3:38 am

    Great source for writing magazines.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Tricia Goyer Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© Tricia Goyer | Privacy Policy

Made with by SA Designs