So I picked up a copy of Writers Market a couple weeks ago, and I've been having way too much fun going through it. There are so many possible venues for publication it can be intimidating. Like, super intimidating. Not only are there the traditional literary magazines for all our short stories, but there's also a magazine for Christian truckers if I decided I wanted to write something for that venue.
So as I've been going through I've thought of a strategy I want to try and use with this book. See, while I have my own big projects that I'm working on (i.e. novel, screenplay, or short stories) I also think it would be a great idea to start pitching articles to magazines and trying to work on getting some publication credits that way. I think it would be great to have articles in all sorts of different magazines.
So what I'm thinking of doing is this: I am going to make a list of 10 or 15 magazines to start. I'll go through Writers Market and find 10 magazines I think would be fun to write for. Then I'll start going down that list, doing some research, reading some past articles and seeing if I would be a good fit. With smart phones, I can do that research anywhere I have a spare minute. Once I've decided on a magazine I'll work on crafting an article and a pitch and send that off. Then I'll just keep going down the list and see what happens!
Basically I want to use Writers Market as idea inspiration. I feel like tailoring a pitch or story to specific magazines is a good way to come up with ideas in the first place. Researching a magazine and reading past articles can easily be the catalyst for your own great article and story ideas.
Anyway, that's my little idea for the day. Do you guys use Writers Market in any way?
Sarah Allen
You always have a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI've never used it, but that's a good idea. I heard there were hundreds of options for articles and short stories. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. I learned quite a bit from a writer at Midwest Writers Conference who wrote non-fiction how to books and magazine articles. He was always looking to write the next thing, and he crafted a series of magazine articles which he later used as research for one of his own books. Crazy. I was thinking only novel writing but he opened my eyes to writing a whole bunch of other stuff.
ReplyDeleteHaving your articles published is really easy, at least in Belgium. It's definitely worth considering.
ReplyDeleteDon't think I've ever read it but any source of inspiration is a good thing.
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Moody Writing
Sounds like good strategy.
ReplyDeleteSeems you've discovered a gold mine. I say go for it. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like an awesome plan! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAlex Hurst, fantasy author in Japan, participating in Blogging A-Z April Challenge.
Articles are a great way of getting your name out there. I've tried it - but I came to the conclusion I am not a non-fiction writer. Good luck with it :-)
ReplyDeleteI love your plan and can't wait to watch and hopefully read all about it. My fingers are crossed for you.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very exciting idea. :-)
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
I used to do this when I was a freelancer, too! I only got a few published in the magazines I intended them for, but I mostly managed to place them. I would aim for the best paying or most prestigious venue and work down the list of similar zines. Sometimes I'd get into my second or third choice. In those days, we had to buy magazines, though. We couldn't read them on our phones. In fact, we would have thought such an idea was hilarious.
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