Of all the forms of writing, articles are probably the easiest to both write and sell. But writing an article isn't a simple matter of putting the parts of an article together. First there are two parts, writing the article, then selling it. Each one has it's own techniques which you need to know. I have had writers who want to write what they want to write without thinking about where they can sell that article. Often these writers work for years without selling anything. Yet writers who put the two disciplines together can often sell their first article and many more. Now here are the parts we are going to cover in this course. Master these and you will have the keys to placing article after article.

1.      Master how to study markets

2.      Learn to know your reader

3.      Slant for a particular market

4.      Become your own salesman

5.      Find dozens of ideas for story material

6.      Research and gather material

7.      Organize and write the story

8.      The finer points that make a story come alive

Writing as a business

You may want to write as a form of expression.  That’s great.  Most psychiatrists agree writing is wonderful therapy.  However, in this course I will approach writing as a business.  My aim is to teach you to write for your readers.

There are thousands of magazines on the market today taking freelance material. Most of these magazines are a business or part of a business. Their object is  to inform, to influence or to make money serving the reader.   Whatever the object, the editor always keeps his magazine’s readers in mind and tries to make sure he reaches them effectively. As a result he is interested only in material that will serve that purpose.  The editor is not an ogre, an angel, a sadist, a thief, or a saint.  He/she is a businessperson with a job, and the job is to buy good, interesting articles that are suited for the magazine’s readership.  If you can supply this need you will get a check.

A writer (in business) should:

1.      Work hard and keep with it.  Discipline their time.

2.      Set up a filing system.

3.      Keep records of business transactions:  manuscripts sent out, when, returned or sold, reprinted.

4.      Keep bookkeeping records of expenses.  If you can prove writing is not just a hobby expenses are deductible from income tax. Investment is nominal to set up a writing business.

Tools of the trade

1.      Computer.  Editors can’t waste their time trying to translate strange hieroglyphics.

2.      A good dictionary.  Spell checkers help, but sometimes you are going to have to look up a word.

3.      Plenty of 20 pound weight white paper for the finished manuscript. Today, many editors will let you e-mail your article in. You need to find out which they prefer.

4.      Always keep a backup file of your article.

5.      Mailing envelopes and plenty of disks.

6.      A writer’s trade publication, such as Writer’s Digest.

Principle market references

1.      The 2004 Writer’s Market

Books for recommended reading

1.      Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles

Sheree Bykofsky, et al Alpha Books, June 2000.

2.      How to Write Articles for Newspapers and Magazines, Dwan B. Sova

July 2002. Arco Publishing

3.   Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $85,000 Year, Robert W. Bly.    

      August 1997. Henry Holt  

4.   How to Write Articles That Sell. William E. Blundell. November 1998. Jon Samsel

5.      The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write it, Peter P. Jacobi, Indiana University Press. March 1997

6.      Writing Articles from the Heart: How to Write & Sell Your Life Experiences, Marjorie Holmes, Writer's Digest Books

7.      Leads & Conclusions (Elements of Article Writing), Marshal J. Cook, Writer's Digest Books.

What magazines should you write for?

           The average new writer wants to write for Reader’s

           Digest,  Playboy, Redbook or Woman’s Day.  So do all           

          the top ranking professionals.  Your chances of selling your 

          material are far greater if you try the smaller magazines and  

          the specialty groups.  Time enough for the big ones later.  First 

          try some of these:

1.      Newspaper features

2.      Religious magazines

3.      Juveniles

4.      Business and trade publications

5.      Home and family

6.      Specialized publications such as camping, trailers, farm, retirement

 After making your selection, study several issues of the magazines before you try writing for them.  If you don’t have a copy of a magazine you want to write for, here is what you do.  Send a postcard and ask for a sample copy.

Magazine addresses are listed in the Writer’s Market, or on the publisher’s page of the magazine.  Address the card to the editor or just to the editorial department, followed by magazine and address.

On the message side of the postcard simply say, Dear Sir:  Please send me a sample copy of your magazine and editorial requirements if available.  Then sign you name and address.