Market Round-Up November 2006© Jodi
M. Webb –
All Rights Reserved
Mom always said, "Don’t judge a book by
its cover." She forgot "Don’t judge a magazine by its name." Too often
writers reject a magazine strictly on its title.
Iron Horse Magazine,
a magazine full of talk about cams, horsepower, and helmet laws, doesn’t
seem like the ideal market for me—a woman who doesn’t even have a driver’s
license. I proposed an article about a motorcycle club that relied on my
strength: interviewing. I got the story.
So investigate beyond the front cover.
Look for departments or articles that fit your experience—many magazines
that seem dedicated to one subject also have a business, parenting, travel,
or craft section. Or spin your ideas to appeal to the magazine’s audience.
My first market is an ideal place for
personal essays and articles for kids (no religious overtones needed). These
days they’re looking for essays that connect to lesser holidays -
(Grandparents’ Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Labor Day). They’re also running more
travel essays.
Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/aboutus/guidelines.html#homeforum
Don’t despair if you aren’t working
outside the home—do you know any time saving tips, fitness information,
parenting advice? You can find more details about their needs at
http://www.workingmother.com/web?service=vpage/140
.
Working Mother Magazine
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/wrg/235787300.html
Hallmark Magazine just launched in
September 2006. Query them now—before they have a back load of articles and
a list of favorite writers.
Hallmark Magazine
http://hallmarkmagazine.com
Tip of the Month:
Christmas is coming! Along with the
holidays will come dozens of holiday-related story ideas. But we all know in
the wacky world of publishing it’s already Spring. Make sure you don’t lose
your great ideas before the editors are ready for them. Start an idea
calendar using that calendar your grocery store or bank gives you each
December. When the holiday ideas arrive jot them down on the May page of
your calendar—plenty of time to query magazines before their pre-holiday 4-6
month cut-off. Do it with all your seasonal ideas: spring, Father’s Day,
back to school and you’ll always be able to come up with a great idea when
the time is right.
About the author:
Jodi M. Webb spent years writing articles for
dozens of magazines such as Pennsylvania Magazine, American Profile, and
Christian Science Monthly. But recently she’s been discovering a wonderful
new market: business writing. Her new specialty includes catalog copy,
customer newsletters, and writing in the voice of her alter-ego the
Organizer Genie. Like every writer Jodi feels she has a book(or two…or
three) in her but she hasn’t managed to get an agent or publisher to agree
with yet. Stay tuned for updates!
Want more market listings?
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