Writing For REAL Magazines
by Janel Atlas
Before I had any published articles to my credit, I would drift off to
sleep every night with visions of Woman’s Day, Parenting, and Smithsonian
covers floating before my eyes. After all, those are the real magazines—the
ones you can buy at any drugstore or supermarket.
One day, in the foyer of my local library, I saw a stack of Delmarva
Quarterly magazines. The sign above them read, “Take one; it’s free!”
I assumed that, because the publication was complimentary, it wasn’t a
paying market. But I was wrong. When I picked up a copy to investigate,
I saw these marvelous words: “Submissions, letters, and advertising welcome.
We pay for all items published.”
I read the magazine from cover to cover. It seemed to publish a variety
of articles ranging from 750 words to upwards of 2,000. Each article was
accompanied by several good quality photographs, and the content directly
related to the places and people of the region. When I got home, I fired
off an e-mail suggesting a short article about a little-known local museum.
Then I got back to working on queries for the “real” magazines.
The editor of the Delmarva Quarterly e-mailed me back within a day to
say that he was interested in the story and that he wanted me to provide
photos. I read the e-mail through, then through again, and did a dance
right there in front of my computer.
I set up an interview with the museum’s curator, toured the museum, and
wrote the article. It was published two months later, and I got a $200
dollar check in the mail with my contributor’s copy. A real check from
a real magazine.
The moral of the story? Don't ignore those publications available as
complimentary copies at libraries, drugstores, and doctors' offices. Publications
right in your own backyard may be the perfect opportunity to get your
first clip, or to stay connected with local sources and stories!
Janel Atlas is a freelance writer and editor
living in northern Delaware with her husband and baby daughter. In her
first year of freelancing, Janel has had over two dozen articles published
in regional and national magazines. Her stories have appeared on Babyzone.com,
Reading Today, Delaware Parent, Byline Magazine, and CollegeBound Teen
Magazine. To see some of her work, visit her website at www.thewriteatlas.com.
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