Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Magazine writing tips part 2


vintage typewriter
Originally uploaded by H is for Home

This is fun sharing some tips with y'all on freelance writing for magazines, and I love reading your comments.

Contacting magazine editors.

I recommend that you do not call editors unless they ask you to call them. In their magazine's guidelines, editors will say "email queries only" or "no email queries, snail mail only." Often they say "no phone calls" and they do mean that!

When to follow up.

The writer's guidelines for the magazine usually give a time frame of how long it takes for them to reply. Some reply with a form rejection in one day, yes, that has happened to me. Sob, cry me a river.

Others say "6 weeks to reply." If you hear nothing within the 6 weeks I suggest that you send the same query again, with a note that "Here is a query I sent you on [date], and I wonder if you have had the opportunity to look at it." Sometimes the editor answers "thank you for sending this again, I somehow didn't see it."

Sim subs.

This is the abbreviation for "simultaneous submissions." Often in the guidelines it says "sim subs ok" or "no sim subs." If you believe there are several magazines that might like your brilliant article on "how to brush your teeth" and they say "sim subs ok" go ahead and send it to them all.

If you send a sim sub to more than one magazine and more than one wants the article, you can sell it to one of them, and tell the other interested editors that you offer to write an original article with a different slant on that topic specifically for them.

8 comments:

Sonia said...

Such useful information...I would love to write an article about gardening someday and have it published! Miss Bloomers

DaniseDelights said...

These are great tips... I have never written for a magazine before. I am working on a book and just started blogging a little over 2 months ago... your post got me thinking!!??!!
Thanks, by the way for taking the time to comment on my "organize" post. I appreciated hearing from you. :)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I write children's books but I'm thinkin'...... Thanks for all the info.

Ya'll have a super day! :o)

Arlee Bird said...

Thanks for some good tips. I will be submitting articles to magazines in the upcoming year.
Lee
http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

Helen Ginger said...

Very good tips, Terra. Thank you.

Helen
Straight From Hel

The Duchess said...

Hey, Terra! Thanks ever so for visiting our blog! We haven't written in a long, long while. You have inspired us to consider dusting off the writing desk and perhaps scribbling a line or three. 8-]

Have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^

Joyce said...

Hi Terra,
When I get a few "spare" moments and can concentrate...I am going to read your blog very slowly and absorb it better. I have skimmed it and think it is very insightful!
I appreciated hearing from you....

4 Life said...

OKay, Terra, you are quickly becoming a favorite. Love this info, thanks for sharing!