Getting Your Foot In The Door With Fillers

Breaking into the magazine market isn’t easy. That said, there are a few tricks you can use to slide on in without doing a full-length feature. One of the things you can do is send fillers. A filler is basically what most people would call a blurb–a bit of information that readers will find interesting or educational. Many magazines have them, and those that do

About Clips…

Today I’d like to talk about magazine clips. Getting them and caring for them. Ok. First things first. Getting clips is the key to getting more clips. Sound like a crazy circle? It kind of is. As you get more clips it will become easier to get assignments. Starting is the hardest part. At first you won’t be writing for much, if anything. Many people

Getting Past Query Rejection

Today we’re going to talk about rejection. Sensitive subject, I know. Truth is—if you want to write for magazines, you’ll get rejected a lot. Be prepared for this. The Good News Much of this won’t be your fault. Sometimes you’ll submit an idea that they just assigned to someone else. Other times the editor may have a backload of things to publish and won’t even

The One Quality You Need Most To Make It In Print

I’m about to let loose with another big secret. You know—the quality you need most to make it in the magazine market. Any guesses? It might not be what you think it is… That you have to be a superior writer? Nope. That you have to know someone? Nah. (But it can help!) That you have to have a totally amazing idea? Uh-uh. The quality

When It Comes To Magazines, Guidelines Are Rules

Well. What I’m about to tell you is one of the most important things you will ever learn in terms of writing for print. Ready? Here goes: Follow the guidelines. Sound deceptively simple? Seem like common sense advice? Guess what? In terms of the magazine editors I know, this is the most common complaint. Writers don’t follow the guidelines. Those that do—they will get more

Sending Your Query

Writing a query is one thing, but it definitely isn’t the only thing. You also have to format it well and know where it is going. Who Gets It? One thing I had a lot of questions about when I started freelancing was who to send my query to once it was complete. Most people directed me to Writer’s Market to find the proper e-mail

What Magazine Should I Pitch?

When you begin trying to turn an idea into an article, part of the process involves determining what publication you will pitch. With all of the magazines out there, how can you choose the right one? Actually, early in my career I heard a great piece of advice that I would like to pass along to you…start with magazines that you already read. If you have a

4 Smart Tips For Studying A Magazine

When it comes to writing for print you will often hear people say “study the magazine” before you submit. So what exactly does that mean? This is a big issue for many new writers, and I know that I did it totally wrong when I first began freelancing. Let me help you avoid some of the pitfalls, by pointing out how to use your time efficiently when reviewing a

An Introduction To Writing For Print

First let me take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Catherine–and the plan is for me to share some information with you about my experience with writing for print. I have been a full-time writer for many years, and have had my writing published in national, regional and trade magazines, as well as newspapers, books and custom publications. I have also written text for calenders and