How to write a magazine article
Some tips should be followed while writing an article for a magazine.
- Make sure that you select a topic that you feel interested in or you're an expert on.
The publications try to have articles that have in-depth information. To achieve that in your article, you need to make sure that you write about a topic you are interested in or have great knowledge about.
- Choose interesting angles.
You need to have interesting articles if you wish to get them published. Make sure that you have studied your chosen topic carefully. Publishers might not like articles that include too much information that is not really useful to their clients.
- Researching.
You need to research your topic very well, even if you think you know your topic thoroughly. You should read relevant resources and interview other experts.
- Create an outline.
You need to create a structure that you will follow when writing your articles. This structure must involve the ideas discussed in your introduction, article body, and conclusion. You need to decide if images, testimonials, and graphics will be added.
- Write your articles.
While writing articles for a magazine, you can be as creative as you like. You should follow a language that your target audience can understand. Magazine articles are not read just for information but for entertainment too.
- Check out the magazine's guidelines or the style sheet of the magazine that you work for.
Different magazines have different styles of subjects, approach, and tone that needs to be used. It's better to read the magazine articles that you will be submitting your article to understand their way of publishing.
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Types of Magazine Articles
There are no rules for magazine article writing, but still, some formats work best.
- Longform Investigative Pieces
These need to be researched carefully and should have several sources and have lengthy word counts. These types of articles usually take months to write and edit.
- Character Profiles
The length of these pieces can vary from just a few hundred words to thousands of words. Portraits of various subjects are painted, including politicians, athletes, actors, musicians, authors etc.
- Criticism
These pieces are either reviews or critical commentary of albums, films, books, art, and architecture.
- Commentary
The magazines that publish current events usually publish commentary pieces.
- Humour
These types of articles are usually shorter pieces.
- Fiction
Some magazines also publish short stories.
Things to Keep in Mind When Writing for a Magazine
Certain things can be helpful in magazine article writing if followed before contacting the publishers.
- Targeting the pitches carefully.
One will have to make a pitch before being able to write for a magazine. While making the pitch, you must make the right pitch at the right magazine. You cannot make a pitch for sports-related articles at a fashion magazine.
- Becoming a specialist
Specialising in a particular field while writing is beneficial. Media houses might really want somebody who specialises in one field. So, if you think you specialise in politics, write articles related to politics.
- Doing more research than one thinks is needed.
Having more and more research on a topic and having many sources and statistics is good before starting an article. Article planned by you will likely get better with more facts, and your research will help you to write an amazing piece full of facts and information.
- Considering the magazine's target audience.
Knowing your target audience is very important for any writer. If you keep your target audience in mind while writing your article and cater to their needs, you will have a long and exciting career in magazine journalism.
- Keeping track of personnel changes
Editors you contact while pitching may leave one magazine and join another. You need to be aware of such changes. This will make your work easier. Contacting the editor, you work with usually has a better chance of getting you to work.
- Being flexible
You may have planned your articles well, but during the process of writing, if you feel you need to make specific changes in terms of the number of words, style of writing, etc., you need to be flexible to do that.
How to get published in a magazine
A freelance magazine writer should keep these things in mind to get their article published in a magazine.
- You need to come up with a captivating idea.
The idea may be to investigate a topic that hasn't been explored by existing media or your personal story that you think is inspiring. It is important to have a story that you feel intensely about to help you get yourself employed.
- Pitch your idea.
You will have to contact many magazines and be sure to follow the submission guidelines of the magazines approached. In most cases, your idea will be submitted in writing. It can at times be hard to get a response if you are new.
- Be ready to defend your idea.
You might reach back with a list of questions from the editorial board, and you should be prepared to answer them all.
- Ask questions.
You can also ask editors about the kind of articles they are looking for, and you can execute that for the magazine.
- You need to get to work once your pitch is approved.
It would help if you found the right balance between your unique writing style and the magazine's style of publication. This will give you more opportunities in the future.
Does your child love to write? Get him started at PlanetSpark's Magazine Writing Course NOW!
How can an Article Writing Course Help your Child?
Article writing courses can be beneficial in building various skill sets in your child.
- Build Confidence: The child will get more confident about expressing opinions and writing articles.
- Better Communication Skills: The child will be able to converse more easily and confidently.
- Improves Comprehension Skills: Writing helps the kids in improving their reading comprehension skills and also vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
- Exposure to Language: The child will be able to experiment with words, formats, and sentence structure.
Why Choose PlanetSpark
- We at PlanetSpark believe in practice. The child needs to practice more and more in order to become a better writer. To ensure this, the child is given assignments and a chance to write on topics of their interests.
- During the process of writing, the child might face problems. These problems are solved in one-to-one sessions.
- Children can explore their choice of topics about what they want to write.
- The child is assessed every week. This helps judge the areas where the child needs more help and practice.
- We focus on the vocabulary building of the child, which will help write rich articles.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How will my child benefit from the Magazine Writing Course?
Magazine Journalism is a great profession and can earn you a good amount if you break it. It gives you the privilege to choose the topics you wish to write about. There are several industry-specific magazines, so one can always choose to write for one particular industry and target those magazines.
What is freelance writing?
Freelance writing means writing done by a professional writer but on a contract basis and not as a staff.
If a person wants to write one article for one magazine and the second one for another magazine, freelance writing helps them do this as a staff writer cannot do that.
What are the different types of articles written for a magazine?
There are Longform Investigative pieces which are long and is a long process to write them; Character Profiles, which paint portraits of various subjects; Criticism magazine articles are more of reviews and commentary; Humour articles are usually short, and some magazines also publish short stories which are included under Fiction Magazine articles.
What skills will be required to increase the chance of making it in the magazine journalism industry?
Apart from your creative skills, some other skills will also help you make it big in the magazine journalism industry.
Networking Ability: The number of editors you know affects the number of articles you get. Knowing more and more editors can be helpful.
Integrity: Make sure your research is based on true sources and avoid plagiarism.
Determination: You might not always get "yes" as an answer, but you must not stop and keep trying.
