Publish a Magazine Article

Posted on February 25th, 2008 in Opportunities by Ruby Hawk
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If you have and idea for a magazine article, go for it. Follow these instructions to get your article to the right magazine editor.

When submitting an article to a magazine, consider the specialty and personal taste of the editor, the format and educational focus of the magazine, subject, content, reader response, and authorship. Here are some pointers to get the editors attention when submitting a query letter or an article.

  1. Develop a strong idea or premise. Know your subject, whether it’s an area you study and work in, or current events. Do research to see whether articles with the same theme have already been published. Make your article original as possible in view point and presentation.
  2. Write a query letter. Present your article in a desirable way to the editor. Call to find out which editor to send your query letter to if you don’t find it in the magazine publication. Ask for a copy of any submission requirements. Don’t overwrite. Editors receive thousands of query letters. Explain your idea for the article, your background and qualifications. Be straight forward, concise, well-written, and appropriate for the magazine.
  3. Target the right publication. Study your subject and match it with the right magazine. Consult” Writers Market” (in libraries and supermarkets) to find publications potentially interested in your idea. Get a recent copy and read it carefully. Consider the length and complexity of articles in the magazine. Approach only magazines your article fits. Don’t waste time and money on an unlikely market.
  4. Call to follow up. Allow about three weeks for the editor to receive and read your query letter. The editor may call you during that time or send a response. If you have not received a response, call the editor to make sure your letter was received.
  5. If your article idea has been accepted, find out the articles due date, the desired length of the article, the pay, and the research materials available to you. Contact the National Writers Union for their guidelines on contracts for journalists.
  6. If you are rejected, don’t be discouraged. Try another publication immediately. This may cause you to modify your idea slightly to suit a different editorial style.
  7. If you get no response after six weeks it may be time to try another publication. Simultaneous submissions are allowed in this instance. Never, however, agree to write the same article for more than one magazine.
  8. However, you may want to send a manuscript you have already written. Instead of a query letter, send the article with an introductory letter explaining what it is about and why the magazine should publish it. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
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14 Responses to “Publish a Magazine Article”

  • Dee Huff
    February 25th, 2008 at 4:49 pm

    Very sensible and helpful advice Ruby. Thanks.

  • Joe Poniatowski
    February 25th, 2008 at 9:01 pm

    This is something I dearly hope to do, so thanks for the information.

  • Lucy Lockett
    February 26th, 2008 at 1:02 am

    This is a very useful article, thanks for the tips.

  • Anne Lyken-Garner
    February 26th, 2008 at 3:42 am

    Good article and exactly what should be done. However, even if this advice is followed to the letter, it is not easy to break into writing articles for magazines.

    They’ve got their own people and seldom take on new writers. They look for the ‘celebrity’ columns where they can put a celebrity’s face on the page and pretend that they wrote every word. At least in Britain, this is what it’s like.

    I challenge any magazine editor to prove me wrong. I would like to know if there are any editors out there who have read something sent to them by an ordinary unknown writer seeking to do any article on a particular subject.

    I know this because I’ve been in this position…If I sound a bit bitter it may be because I am.

    Great article Ruby

  • ranfuchs
    February 26th, 2008 at 3:43 am

    good advice. How has it worded for you so far?

  • Ruby Hawk
    February 27th, 2008 at 10:40 am

    Thanks to you guys for the comments, and the interest you have shown to all my (stuff.)

    You are so right, Anne. It is an almost impossible business to break into but the only chance you have is to keep the query letters going. You don’t sound bitter just truthful. Best luck to you.

    Good luck to you too, Joe

    ranfuch, I have had almost no luck. I have had articles published in the college, and church mags and some poetry. If I did it for the money I would starve. I write becuse I like to do it and if I made some money that would be icing on the cake.

  • Alexa Gates
    February 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    great ideas!

  • Amos
    March 1st, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    I have always wanted to be a writer but I’m afraid I missed the boat. I can’t sit still long enough to type a letter. Probably just as well with my talent. Ruby,I like your articles, but especialy your poetry. I haven’t seen much of that lately.

  • quiet voice
    March 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pm

    ..very good information for
    the novice. Thank you.

  • ranfuchs
    March 5th, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    Starving would have been my share as well :)

  • Ruby Hawk
    March 7th, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    ranfuch, if you love writing as much as I do you would pay to do it if you had to. May we never lose the use of our fingers.

    Amos, I’m sure you could write if you wanted to.Maybe you just have other things you would rather do.

    thank you, quiet voice, for stopping by. Good luck to everyone, and happy writing.

  • Artful
    May 25th, 2008 at 10:17 pm

    thanks for the information, may God go with you.

  • Allison West
    July 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    Thanks for this great article! I’ve been writing for websites for just over a year, and starting to make some money at it. But still, it’s only a small income.
    I really want to write for print publications but it seems so hard to break in. I think that keeps me writing for websites, because I make money online and it seems easier for a new writer to break into content writing.
    Thanks for the info! Well done!

  • Liane Schmidt
    September 3rd, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    Wonderful article Ruby!

    Best wishes & blessings.

    Sincerely,

    -Liane Schmidt.

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