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.

I’ve been honored over the years to interview hundreds of people for articles, blogs, and books! A few of my non-fiction projects are Life, In Spite of Me and Plain Faith. Throughout the years I’ve learned how to create a better interview—one that will make the subject comfortable and help me as a writer. Here are my tips!

Hey, #writers! @TriciaGoyer shares her tips for creating better #interviews.

Click To Tweet

Prepare. Have a short list of questions you want to ask, but don’t be afraid to follow rabbit trails. Sometimes the best stuff comes from windy, unfocused answers.
Meet face-to-face if you can. There’s nothing like sitting across the table from someone to start a good conversation.
Be at ease. When you first meet, start with small talk. Talk about the weather, the latest news, or about what happened so far in your day. Be friendly to loosen things up.
Start with a brain dump. When I’m working on a longer project, I don’t slam the person with questions right away. Instead I ask question that will bring about a “brain dump.” Questions like, “Tell me about your childhood” or “Where did you grow up, what was it like?” Details can be nailed down later, but it’s always interesting how someone explains the narrative of his or her life. What the person chooses to tell (or to hide) is very revealing.
Use a digital recorder. I record all my interviews, and I take very few notes. Make sure you always have extra batteries.
Keep eye contract. Using a recorder allows me to keep eye contract with the person I’m interviewing. It lets the person know I’m not only interested, but I’m willing to build a connection.
Use a notebook or pen for brief notes. I’ll jot down dates, important people, and sometimes the beginning of a quote. It just gives me an idea of what to watch for later when I’m transcribing the interview.
Keep “off the record” off the record. If the person wants to tell you something—but doesn’t want it public—honor that. Turn off the recorder and just listen. Even if you can’t use those words, you’ll receive context.
Don’t fill in the silence. If the person you’re interviewing pauses, don’t rush in with words. Give him or her time to think. The best stuff comes out of what’s hardest to say.
Debrief yourself. When you return home ask yourself, “What impacted me most?” “What made my cry?” “What made me laugh?” Then ask why.
Tell someone else. Find someone you trust and relate what you learned. If it’s important enough to repeat, it’s probably important enough to make it into the article or book. Then ask that person, “What stands out to you about this story?”
Focus on universal themes. The people we interview have interesting lives, but what part of his or her story will resonate most with others? Considering this will help you ask more-detailed questions as you progress.
Look for breath and depth. As you interview, don’t focus solely on the book or article. Get to know the person’s heart, message, and passion.
Create a character sketch. After the interview, create a character sketch of the person. What stands out? What are his or her life themes?
Write what’s compelling. When you sit down to write, focus on what’s compelling. Will part of the story bring others to change . . . or help them see a situation in a different light?
Consider your audience. What will they appreciate most? What details will mean a lot?
Write from your gut. You’ll have time to edit later, but write from your gut. Create scenes—like on the movie screen—and take your reader with you. You’ll be amazed by what you come up with. Your subject will be amazed, too!

How about you? Have you interviewed others for your writing? What tips do you have?

How to #interview for non-fiction books and articles: tips from @TriciaGoyer

Click To Tweet

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