Having enjoyed reading your
biographical, They
can't take that away from me...
I would love to post your article (for
my) course for seniors entitled Autobiography and Journaling ... and
let them read your article as a good example of what I call the
reader's writer, clearly expressed and easy to read. (Howell)
The French language has always
appealed to me ... so I enjoyed Lavinia's experiences
en France! (Di
Sullivan, Perth, Australia)
I am an American and an expat here
since 1990. I have been a subscriber to Writing Tip for a few years
now and look forward to the
Friday editions.
I archive by creating topics of the tips relevant to me and often
refer. (Mary, Lagos, Nigeria)
WRITERS!
Write Your Own
Best Seller!
This year, don't
just read a best-seller ...
Write your own using the software program that works in the
same way J K Rowling writes her Harry Potter novels!
Who said Aussies
would bet on two
flies crawling up a wall? Now I know better! (Bill Denham,
Chicago, USA)
I enjoy reading your page every week,
Jennifer, it's never boring and there's
always something
to bring a smile to my face! (Kenny Dima, Tenerife, Spain)
Great newsletter - originally found
this site after searching for clarification on a
contentious point
amongst work colleagues. Just had to look at old issues and now look
forward to Fridays (Juliet Wallace, Manchester, ENGLAND)
Tips on Selling Your Work to
Magazines
by Laura Backes, Publisher, Children's Book Insider,
the Newsletter for Children's Writers
Getting published in a magazine requires more than just the
ability to write well. Here are some tips for raising your chances
at success:
Find Your Focus: Magazines are extremely niche-oriented, and
acceptable submissions need to fit that niche. Suppose you just
returned from a snorkeling trip in Hawaii, and want to write a
piece for kids on your experience. First, determine the age group
you want to reach.If you're interested in detailing actual
snorkeling techniques, the middle grade audience would be more
appropriate than younger children. Next, go to a library and look
at some recent issues of magazines for this age group, and also
page through the Magazines section of Children's Writer's
&Illustrator's Market. This step is vital for shaping the focus
of your piece. Boys' Life is a possibility, and would probably
appreciate a how-to focus. Dolphin Log might want you to
emphasize the marine life you encountered. Did your nine-year-old
daughter accompany you on your trip? Do a profile of her
snorkeling experience for American Girl.
You can also use your research and snorkeling know-how to write a
short story. An adventure story, laced with scientific facts,
might appeal to a general-interest magazine like Highlights. Or
suppose your main character learned a valuable lesson about
respecting the sacredness of all living things. Such a story
might fit a non-denominational Christian magazine like Pockets.
Research the Magazines: Once you've determined the specific
slant of your work, zero in on several magazines that look like
possible markets. Try to read at least three recent back issues.
Note the tone of the articles. See how much factual information
is included in the body of each piece, and what's relegated to
sidebars.
For fiction, notice whether the stories have an underlying
lesson, or they're vehicles for presenting facts. Send a self-
addressed, stamped envelope to the each magazine asking for
writer's guidelines. Many magazines now have a web site with
their guidelines posted online. You'll need to know the word
limits of articles, whether or not there's a theme for each
issue, and if the material needs to be geared toward boys or
girls, or if either is fine.
Research Your Topic: Now's the time to do any additional research
on your subject. Don't rely exclusively on secondhand sources,
such as encyclopedias. Always gather more information than you
think you'll need. Even if you're writing fiction, it's a good
idea to gather some facts about the setting and any skills or
knowledge your main character possesses that factor into the
story.
Put Together the Package: If you've already sent for writer's
guidelines, then you know what the editor requires as far as a
proposal. For articles, this often consists of a query letter
(with a synopsis of the article, a bibliography of resources and
brief information on your expertise on the topic). The query will
tell the editor how you plan to approach the subject and convey
the information to your audience. Often a query is enough for an
editor to assign an article. For fiction, the author usually has
to submit the complete story. In either case, be sure your
submission carefully follows the magazine's requirements as far
as word length, subject matter, and what needs to be included in
the package. A sloppy presentation will be automatically
rejected.
Writers often turn specific research and expertise into several
magazine pieces, targeting different markets with each one. If you
learn how to create exactly what an editor wants, that snorkeling
trip could result in several bylines.
Laura Backes is the author of "Best Books for
Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read" from Random House. She's
also the publisher of Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for
Children's Writers. For more information about writing
children's books, including free articles, market tips, insider
secrets and much more, visit Children's Book Insider's home on
the web at http://write4kids.com
