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402/ENG 308 Magazine Queries 11/5/02
Your assignment:
Brainstorm a list of ideas that would be suitable for a magazine
target publication (regional/state or national, likely to be
a specialty publication). You can use the newspaper ideas or something
new.
For each idea, try to locate an actual publication that might
be interested in running your article. These can be found by Web search,
perhaps found through the links on p. 116 of Writing for the Web, your
second textbook for this course, or using Writer’s Market, either
hard copy (I’ll put it on reserve) or through the online database
at:
http://www.writersmarket.com/
.
Choose two ideas that (a) you like (b) you can possibly sell (c) you
have an actual publication (can be on-line) for. ONE must be a trade
magazine (ask if not certain) and the other can be for anything else
nonfiction (consumer). The ideas can be related but for full credit
you need two distinct ideas and pitches.
Write a query letter for each of the two explaining your “angle”
and why the editor might want you to write it. This might include how
your idea/angle/experience makes for a fresh perspective on their usual
story (e.g. old folks magazine but story written by college student).
Include possible sources (human, especially, and some interesting facts/data).
Attach a printout of the Web source/writer’s guidelines or the
pages in Writer’s Market with your magazine circled.
To locate the possible magazines that might buy each story start with
a Web search. You should search any of the search directories/engines
and look for publications in your area (carillons, student smoking,
collectors, Internet dating, limo drivers, etc. ). Under Yahoo! try
News & Media, then Magazines. Then try by Region or by Category.
You
might want to try the Usenet group alt.journalism.freelance (access
via Google Groups).Also see the listing at
http://www.newslink.org
http://www.writerswrite.com/paying/
Take
an initial look through Writer’s Market as well, in the
Consumer and Trade magazines sections.
