7 Magazines and Tips to Make Money With Writing

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Is writing your passion? Would you like to use your talent to earn more and eventually become a full-time author?  Writing novels or non-fiction books is a rather lengthy way of earning money with your writing skills. However, there are lots of possibilities to leverage your talent and your research much faster.  Often even parts of your manuscript can be re-used for writing articles – in a huge variety of magazines and newspapers, here are just a few, there are thousands of English-language magazines out there: 


Seven Magazines Who Pay for Your Writing:

REAL SIMPLE
Real Simple is the magazine for women who are very busy and want ways to simplify their lives. Magazine is particularly friendly to freelancers in the front of the book area to include "Health" (1,500 words) and "Money" (1,000 words). Features are harder to obtain, but they are 1,000 to 3,000 and open to freelance pitches. "Food" and "Fashion" are difficult to obtain. If pitching to "Life Lessons," you must have ample magazine publishing experience or a couple books to your name. There is a light chance of obtaining a gig online in the Work and Life area. Pays up to $2/word.
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/technology/about-real-simple-00000000007419/index.html#contact

ROUTES  
Routes is distributed in the foothills region and some south Calgary, Canada, suburbs. Primarily a lifestyle magazine, Routes showcases local business, history, people and events, with a mandate to inform, entertain, and impassion its audience. ROUTES pays writers competitively within the professional magazine industry. Rates may vary depending on the experience of the writer and the difficulty of the assignment. Some stories are paid by the word (typically around 50 cents/word) and some departments and features have set rates.
http://routesmagazine.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Writers-Guidelines-Final.pdf

WOMAN'S DAY 
Woman's Day has taken on a new flavor in the last 4-5 years, so look hard at current issues. Our editors work almost exclusively with experienced writers who have clips from major national magazines. As a result, we accept unsolicited manuscripts only from writers with such credentials. There are no exceptions.
If you do have significant national writing experience, and you have an idea or manuscript that you think might interest us, email us at womansday@hearst.com, and please include some of your most recent clips. Woman's Day doesn't have features well. Instead, each section hosts its own feature, so pitch accordingly. No beauty, fashion or home pieces. Pay rate ranges from $1.50 to $2 a word, depending on writer's experience.
http://www.womansday.com

ALASKA AIRLINES MAGAZINE  
Airline Magazines often pay the most for excellent articles!  Alaska is no exception. The monthly in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines, reaching more than a million travelers in Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Western Canada and Mexico each month. 75% freelance. Columns include Journal (arts and culture), Business, On Location, Profiles, Sports, Technology and Travel. Rates begin at $150 to $250 for shorts through to $500 for columns and $700 for features.
http://www.alaskaairlinesmagazine.com/contributor/

. FODOR'S 
If you're interested in working for Fodor's as a travel writer, send your résumé and writing clips, together with a cover letter explaining your qualifications and areas of expertise, to editors@fodors.com. You may also mail materials to: Fodor's Travel Publications, Researcher Writer Positions, 1745 Broadway, 15th floor, New York, NY 10019. Remember that most Fodor's writers live in the areas they cover. Note that we do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.
http://www.fodors.com/contact-us/

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS  
Arizona Highways is a monthly magazine that encourages travel to and within Arizona. It does this by publishing stories, short monthly departments, and fine photography on places to go and things to do, on the state’s unique scenic environment, on its flora and fauna, on its people, and on the history and culture. The magazine’s feature stories typically run between 1,500 and 4,000 words. Several departments open to freelancers. No fiction, humor or poetry. Pays up to $1/word.
http://www.arizonahighways.com/about/writers_guidelines.asp

PARENTLIFE  
A Christian parenting magazine designed to take parents from pregnancy through the preteen years. ParentLife brings a Christian worldview to today’s top parenting and cultural issues, covering topics related to health, development, education, discipline, and spiritual growth. Each issue of ParentLife gives practical ideas and insights to help parents meet the responsibilities and celebrate the joys of parenting. ParentLife is set apart from other secular parenting magazines in that it alone addresses the whole child: physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally … and spiritually. Pays up to $350 for articles of 350 to 1,200 words.
http://blog.lifeway.com/parentlife/about-parent-life/

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More Magazines You Can Write for are listed in the 2015 Writers Market:

How to pitch to magazine editors:

• Very important: Learn how to write a query for magazines
• Get to know and understand the magazine before you query, read at least 12 issues back.
• Create a list / database of editors at prestigious magazines, blogs, newspapers.
• Don’t forget a catchy byline at the end of the article with a link to your book / website.
• Offer your best photographs to illustrate your articles.

You can use published articles as clips to show to potential publishers and clients in all writing areas. You will receive traffic, money and credibility as a writer, and you will get a huge audience that you could never reach with your blog and Social Media alone!
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More Tips on Writing for Magazines and Newspapers:
http://goinswriter.com/how-to-get-published-in-a-magazine/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/writing-freelance-for-magazines/http://www.dailywritingtips.com/writing-for-magazines/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/freelance-writing-for-childrens-magazines/
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/smart-authors-get-paid-for-marketing-their-books/

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How to Pitch Story Ideas to Magazines and Newspapers

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The odds of winning the Lottery and becoming a millionaire are approximately 1 in 14 million. For authors to find a publisher, the odds are somewhat better.  Maybe 1 out of 500 or 1,000 queries, depending on the agent / publisher, might lead to a contract.  These publishing professionals receive 150 – 500 unsolicited book pitches per day! from writers.  Competition for writers when pitching at magazines and newspapers is less fierce.
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You Don’t Need to Write Completely New Articles
As an author you did a lot of research already for your book, and you wrote a manuscript. What is
easier than to “re-work” this content? Tips how to do this can be found here in our former blog
posts:
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/07/07/free-brilliant-book-marketing-to-a-million-
audience/
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/smart-authors-get-paid-for-marketing-their-
books/
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/a-new-way-of-book-marketing/
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/checklist-how-to-organize-your-book-
marketing/


How to Calculate a Book Page
Have you ever calculated how much time and money you invested in your book(s)? Added up the
hours you were sitting on your computer, typing away … and then the time you spend editing?
Multiplied by $30 or whatever you think is your writing-hour is worth? Divided the amount of your
editing invoice by the pages of your book?

Get Links to Your Website or Author Page
No matter if you get published paid (or unpaid at Huffington Post for example): Your website or
author page link is garantied, included in the short bio about you as an author at the end of the
article. It will be a longterm boost and a reference piece for your future publishing career.
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To Sum it Up:
What is the benefit for you as an author to pitch to magazine editors?

• Higher compensation / per page or word
• No completely new content necessary
• Build your platform and brand
• Earn more money – and faster!
• Less competition with other writers
• Less time necessary to market an article
• Articles will link to your site and market your book

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Study Potential Contract Givers’ Websites
This is an important point! The biggest pet peeve for freelance employers or media is, when they receive pitches from people who haven’t read their magazine or researched their company – or when they get a query for a topic that has just been published. Know the magazine inside out!
Before submitting anything to a major publication, make sure you read its guidelines!  Plenty of good writing is rejected because the writer was too lazy to meet the guidelines. It goes without saying, but you should strive to avoid grammatical or spelling errors when contacting editors

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Update your Writer Portfolio / Resume
If you have never freelanced before, your resume will be built from whatever past writing you have done. Pull out the writing-specific duties you ever have accomplished and describe them. Add your best blog posts or guest blogs or articles you have written for newspapers and magazines of all sizes – as more as better! Include sections that outline your education, professional affiliations and contact information. Check if you can use any of these points to add to your portfolio / resume:

• what’s your credibility?
• what are your credentials?
• what other articles or books, blogs or articles for newspapers or magazines have you
• written previously?
• the size of your e-mail newsletter list
• your website traffic and your Alexa.com ranking
• number of blog comments
• high-profile reviews,
• testimonials or references for your writing from bestseller authors
• what communities are you a part of?
• who knows you as a writer and who is aware of your work?
• where does your work regularly appear?
• how many people see it?

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Being visible to the right audience for the work you are trying to sell. A website or a blog is an absolute necessity these days. You have to be able to present your work online and to establish a powerful SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

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Do Offer Several Images
Take images yourself with a good camera or buy high-quality photos in TIFF for print and in JPEG for online magazines to accompany your articles. You might send them with your first pitch if they are really appealing. Even if your article is not taken, your images might be purchased. Magazines and newspapers always scramble for high resolution photographs.
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Learn to Write for the Web
If you offer magazine articles to online publications, get tips how to write for the web. Write with the “punch line” first, starting with the conclusion, rather than building up. One way to learn to write this way is to write the section first with all the details, and then go back and start it with a lead sentence or two. There is a huge difference between writing a book and writing short pieces for a magazine:
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More Details How to Pitch

Jaclyn Law gave in an article via Mastheadonline.com more details:

• check the masthead or website for editors’ names and contact info. Most publications accept pitches by email. Put your idea in the subject line.
• pitch short pieces in the beginning. Check out the masthead (often on the first pages or last pages of the magazine/newspaper) to find out which types of stories are open to freelancers.
• plan ahead! Magazines that publish monthly, have four- to six-month lead times; research and pitch ideas well in advance.
• tell the editor how you will approach the story: first person, interviews with experts
• how many words: one magazine page = approx. 750 words single space
• why the article is timely: news hook, season, awareness week, anniversary and what fresh angle can you bring to the topic?
• why you are the right writer: background details or credentials that support your case
• mention if you’ve been published elsewhere
• Editors like to see packaging ideas, e.g., boxes or sidebars (see writing for the web!)
• polish and edit your query: spelling, grammar, punctuation – it must be perfect!
• if you haven’t heard back after two to three weeks, follow up with a friendly email
• proofread your writing several times and meet your deadline
• provide fact-checking info; be open to feedback; make revisions promptly and you will have a chance to get a bigger story next time.

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Here are Some Examples of Magazines to Pitch
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/writing-freelance-for-magazines/
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2012/02/28/freelance-writing-for-childrens-magazines/
http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/smart-authors-get-paid-for-marketing-their-books/
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If you want to expand your magazine writing: Have a look at
11 Websites to Find Freelance Writing Jobs and read about a great example how a writer could leverage a small part of his books content
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Perfect for shy writers
Content book marketing is also perfect for shy writers who might cringe at stepping outside their comfort zone. They can promote their books at the end of each article they write and even add links to their website or book sales page. Traditional media is more and more outsourcing, barely any full-time writing staff is left, which means they are open to pitches from freelance contributors.
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Your articles are creating content people love to share, because it is either funny / witty or useful advice or otherwise interesting for readers. Content is used to draw in your ideal readers / reviewers and to build a platform. The result: you will increase your exposure, show your writing skills, grow a loyal following and attract reviewers.  Use your writing to earn more, to spend less time “marketing” and do what you like to do most:  WRITING!  

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FREE Marketing to a Million Audience

One of the most savvy and clever marketing stunts by an author, I have seen in a very long time: Steven Raichlen is a food writer, known for his books: The Barbecue Bible and How to Grill, just wrote an article for Huffington Post: 10 Great Places to Eat in Martha’s Vineyard. You might ask: fine, but what’s the point?

Huffington Post: Blog Empire and Newspaper
Writing this article, Steven Raichlen was able to mention his book, which takes place in Martha’s Vinyard, MA, where he summers, to a million readership FOR FREE.  The famous Huffington Post is a blog-empire, newspaper and online news aggregator, and is also ranked the most powerful blog in the world by “The Observer” and is number 42 in “The Guardian‘s” Top 100 Media List. Their print version is available in eight major countries.  And then he gives even a link to his book on Amazon, explaining that it is now available in paperback. He also wrote a love story, which takes place in Martha’s Vinyard, MA, where he summers. And then he gives even a link to his book on Amazon, explaining that it is now available in paperback.

What can we learn from author Steven Raichlen?

• Clever Marketing and reaching millions of people can be done totally free (other than your time). Just use your creativity and imagination!
• Be self-assured and don’t hesitate to pitch international newspapers / blogs. It takes as much time as to pitch your local neighborhood paper.
• Write something of value for readers – which is “by chance” part of your book, such as travel tips to the location of your books plot, museums, festivals or public transportation that are mentioned in your book.
• You have to do your research anyway, why not use the material you gather and write several articles that you can offer – always mentioning your book.
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It is Called CONTENT MARKETING

Content writing is the most fun and casual way of marketing your books and some newspapers and magazines even pay you a small amount for your article. Although NOT Huffington Post. However in any case, you have a fantastic and free marketing outlet for your books to a huge audience, and you can brag that you write for ….

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