Archive for April, 2007
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Ask a group of aspiring magazine writers what editors are looking for when they read article queries and I bet most of them respond "Good article ideas."
Well, sort of. What most publishers want to find in queries are ideas very good article writers who have an edge over other writers appealing. Contrary to what most freelancers beginning think that need advanced not be writing talent. Many other qualities, some of which do not occur in a query, make a valuable writer for a publisher.
Always hopeful yet skeptical editors read queries proof that the writer has not only an idea section concerned, but also one or more of the following qualities:
1. Research capacity. The writers who can turn up little known, very interesting truths, stalk difficult to find statistics and answer difficult questions of fact can easily accumulate magazine assignments as they are also making an issue related to some readers publication. Build your queries about the equipment and you can soon have a good number of editors as regular customers – especially if your bid navigate through the fact-checking process.
2. First-hand knowledge. Pilot and flight instructor Mal Gormley found himself in demand as a writer for Business & Commercial Aviation, Aviation Week and other aviation magazines, which have all got burned by freelancers who were decent writers and researchers but not included simply not fly. Leisure languages you speak, where you live or have lived and family situations such as a parent of twins can each sometimes add to your appeal and you gain placements and repeat business editors, if you play your cards shrewdly to propose and write articles.
3. Access. Did you used to be an assistant wardrobe in Hollywood or a trainer of leaders of Fortune 100 business leaders? If you can not legitimately claim access unusually difficult to reach groups of people, you will find them easily in May to land allocations. Debra Wallace, who interviewed movie stars such as Dustin Hoffman, Glenn Close and Lauren Bacall says that fame writing business is "difficult and not the weak of heart. " She advises novices to prove their ability to get first access, small local magazines before approaching publications national.
4. Expertise. Degree employment references are not as valued by publishers like many well-educated people wait. Unfortunately, many experts can not explain what they know how to capture the attention of readers of the magazine. But those who can write in a popular style has a great opportunity to make love to the editor.
5. Controversy. If you're one of those people who have a knack for making people sit and talk for or against what you say, some editors believe that the strength commendable. What is generally accepted point of view you can passionately – And credibly – conflict? Just do not launch an attack that will inspire death threats or make you untouchable when you want to write about other questions.
6. Dependability. The editors may not know how reliable you are from a query, of course, but with had a weekly column or writing regularly for a publication strongly implies that you adhere to the journalistic standards and meet deadlines. Because an editor to get a finite number of time no matter what, this quality is particularly important. "When I said that the drafters Chief I had written for Crain's Chicago Business weekly for fifteen years, she has impressed them the camp, "says Joanne Cleaver. "Wow – fifteen years: their tone of voice changed." Once you demonstrate reliability to a publisher, you're racing for mission rehearsal.
7. Quick. Thanks to their publication schedule ruthless editors also value writers who can hit a readable article in no time. If you have ever had a job writing with daily deadlines, be mentioned as one of your qualities. It could get you a opportunity to come to the rescue when another independent worker fails to deliver what was promised and an editor looks at a hole in the question the close.
8. Catchy phrasing. Consider these sentences that suddenly entered the language, which seems to arise from nowhere, like "mom track" "Chick lit" or "alpha male." Show the ability to forge such concepts in your application, and an editor might think "Cover history! "
Make one of these eight qualities of your calling card, and you will find many magazines Opening doors for you as a freelancer.
About the Author:
Veteran magazine writing coach Marcia Yudkin is the author of Freelance Writing for Magazines & Newspapers, articles in Ms, Psychology Today, New York Times Magazine, Yoga Journal, Business 2.0 and more. Learn about her magazine writing home-study courses:
http://www.yudkin.com/breakingintoprint.htm
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – What Magazine Editors Value From Freelance Writers
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