Make the Leap: 8 Ways to Break into National Magazines

One of the questions I hear frequently from freelancers is about making the leap from smaller, regional, and/or trade magazines to national magazines--the "biggies." Here are eight ways to help you make that leap--which may not be as difficult as you expect:

1. Give the editor something she can't find on her own. Don't live in NYC? That's a plus when it comes to pitching article ideas. When you come up with an idea--say a true-life feature on an amazing (and "below the radar") person in your community, that ups the odds you'll get the assignment--or at least attract the editor's attention.

2. Show her you "get" the biz. The majority of pitches national mag editors receive are from would-be writers and/or magazine readers, not from serious freelancers. You fall into the latter category, so demonstrate that fact by querying (not sending the complete manuscript--rookie mistake!).

3. Start with FOB. Many established freelancers don't bother with FOB, or front-of-book, pieces because they're so short, which means you face less competition. And editors at national magazines are more willing to assign an FOB piece to a writer lacking national clips. After you've proven yourself with a couple of FOB articles, you're much more likely to be able to nab a longer piece from the market.

4. Pitch a round-up. Round-ups are pieces that include a lot of different people's opinions/experiences, and they're a pain to write. Showing an editor that you're willing to do that kind of legwork sets you a notch above other freelancers, who may not be interested in writing this type of story.

5. Think "uniquely qualified." As a newbie freelancer, all of my first assignments were articles that involved subjects I had some personal experience with--that's one of the reasons they sold! Remember to highlight the ISG in your query, and pitch a story that you have unique experience with or knowledge of. Once you gain more clips, you can pitch other ideas, but you're trying to get those first few national clips, remember?

6. Follow up. Editors at national magazines are busy, and often don't reply to queries. A short, professional follow-up is essential to breaking in with the biggies. Follow up on every pitch, and you'll boost your chances of getting an assignment.

7. Keep pitching. I've written before about the importance of having an idea in your pocket. You want to have one for each national market, too, because if you get rejected, you're going to pitch again, using language like:

"Thank you so much for your recent response to my query about TK. While I'm sorry you can't use it at this time, I have another for you to consider:

[new query]

If you've read Six-Figure Freelancing or Ready, Aim, Specialize, you know I used the 24-hour rule to crack national magazines including Fitness, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Marie Claire, and Shape. That simple strategy kept me pitching--and those pitches eventually resulted in assignments.

8. Be brave. One of the biggest reasons freelancers don't write for national magazines is because they don't pitch them! I'm serious. Don't be afraid to reach for the "big boys." The only way you'll get an assignment from one of them is if you're bold enough to try.

Four Types of Lucrative Print Markets--and How to Market to Them

If you freelance, you already know that marketing is part of the business. But the way you pitch will depend on the nature of the market or client you're pitching. Your approach to a trade publication will differ from that of a local, national, or custom magazine, for example. Here's a look at four types of lucrative markets and how to crack each:

National Consumer Magazines

Most freelancers dream of writing for the "biggies," most of which pay $1/word and up. But how do you get your foot in the door when you have few clips (or none)? Here's the secret: pitch FOB (or front-of-book) pieces. Nearly every magazine has a regular FOB section where it features short, newsy, "quick hit" type of pieces of 300 words or less. These short pieces are relatively easy assignments, and the editors are more likely to give new writers a chance here. Writing FOB pieces is lets you prove yourself and start developing a relationship with the section editor, which makes it easier to sell other ideas in the future.

Regional and Local Magazines

Regional and local publications are a great place to break in for new writers, but they offer opportunities for established writers as well. While these magazines cover the same topics as their national counterparts, they almost always have a local angle. They're more open to newer writers, which is a plus if you're starting out. No, they don't pay as well as national magazines do (about $0.10 to $0.50/word), but writing for regional magazines can help you develop a portfolio and specialty and give you clips you can use to break into nationals. To break in, pitch a local trend story, a profile of a local person (or a roundup--e.g., five local celebs or five up-and-coming chefs), or find a local perspective on a national trend (e.g., how area families are cutting back on expenses for a regional parenting magazine).

Trade Magazines

Trade magazines are aimed at people who work in a particular trade or industry. Some, especially smaller ones, don't pay but most offer rates of about $0.20 to $0.50/word. So, how do you break in? Either pitch with a query letter or use an LOI, or letter of introduction. When querying, use industry lingo (e.g., mentioning "end caps" and "POS" for a pitch to a magazine for retailers) to show you "get it," and pitch an idea that will benefit readers. Make sure to mention the section of the magazine the story belongs in! And if you use an LOI (see my earlier posts, Query vs. LOI and Write your own LOI for more on how to do it), play up your knowledge of/experience with the relevant industry. Read my earlier post, Trade Magazines for more about finding potential markets.

Custom Magazines

Custom magazines are often overlooked by freelancers, but they often pay well, with rates starting at $0.50/word. A custom magazine is a consumer magazine with a twist; it's aimed at a particular audience—say, Jeep owners or people who buy Iams dog food for their pets. In the past, custom magazines resembled advertorial vehicles but today many are high-quality publications that mimic the look and feel of their consumer counterparts and help create loyalty between readers and the relevant company. To break in, send an LOI that highlights your experience with the subject(s) the magazine covers. Check out the Custom Content Council (formerly the Custom Publishing Council) for possible markets.

In future posts, I'll talk more about these kinds of lucrative markets and provide you with more techniques about pitching to, and writing for, them. In the meantime, get pitching!