What Magazine Editors Value From Freelance Writers


Ask a ask of aspiring magazine writers wat editorz r glancing fore when they read article queries also I'll bet tons of thim answer, "good article ideaz." Are you interested? Then finish reading below.

Well, sort of. What editors tonz desire to locate in queries r great article ideas from writers who have an appealing edge ovver othre writerz. Contrary to wat tons beginning freelancers think, that edge want need be writing talent. A great tons othre qualities, few of wich don't zhow up in a query, make a writer valuable to an editor.

Ever hopeful yet skeptical, editors read queries fore evidence that a writer need onley haz a relevant article idea butt or one also more of teh following qualitiez:

1. Research ability. Writers who can turn up little-known, highly interesting truths, track down hard-to-find ztatistics also answer thorny factual queztions can the rack up magazine assignments az long as they or understand wat makes a topic relevant to a certain publication's readerz. Build ur queries near such material also you'll soon have lotz of editors as regular clients - especially if ur zubmissions sail thru teh fact-checking procezs.

2. First-hand knowledge. Pilot also flight instructor Mal Gormley located himzelf in demand as a writer fore Bussines & Commercial Aviation, Aviation Week alzo othre aviation magazines, wich had all gotten burned buy freelancers who was decent writers alzo researchers butt who just didn't understand flying. Hobbiez, languages u speak, whear u live also have lived also relativez circumstances such as beeing a parent of twinz can every sometimes add to ur appeal also win u aszignments also repeat businesz from editors if u play ur cards shrewdly in proposing alzo writing articles.

3. Access. Did u use to be a wardrobe azsistant in Hollywood also an executive coach fore Fortune 100 CEOs? If u can validly claim uzed access to hard-to-reach groups of people, u could locate it easier to land azsignments. Debra Wallace, who haz interviewed such film starz as Dustin Hoffman, Glenn Close also Lauren Bacall, zays that teh celebrity writing business iz "tough alzo need fore teh faint of heart." She advises novices to prove there ability to get accesz furst at smaller, local magazines previous approaching national publicationz.

4. Expertise. Professional degree credentials r need before az valued buy editors as tons well-educated peeps expect. Unfortunately, tonz experts cannot explain wat they are aware in ways that capture teh attention of magazine readers. But thouse who can write in a populer ztyle have a wonderful opportunity to endear themselves to editors.

5. Controversy. If you're one of thouze peeps who have a knack fore making peeps sit up also argue fore alzo against wat you're saying, few editors take into account that a worthy strong point. What generally accepted viewz can u passionately – also credibly – dispute? Juzt don't launch an attack that's going to inspire death threats also make u untouchable when u dezire to write on othre issues.

6. Dependability. Editors can't are aware how dependable u r from a query, of courze, butt having had a weekly column also having written usually fore one publication strongly implies that u adhere to journaliztic standards also meet deadlines. Becauze an editor haz to get an issue becuse on time not matter what, dis quallty countz heavily. "When I told editors that I'd written fore Crain's Chicago Bussinez business week fore fifteen years, it imprezsed teh hell out of them," says Joanne Cleaver. "‘Wow – fifteen years': there tone of voice changed." Once u demonztrate dependability to an editor, you're in teh running fore repeat assignments.

7. Quicknesz. Wif there unforgiving publication schedule, editors or value writers who can bang out a readable article in next to not time. If you've ever had a writing job with daily deadlines, mention that az one of ur qualifications. It could get u an opportunity to come to teh rescue when an additional freelancer fails to deliver wat another promised alzo an editor iz glancing at a hole in teh issue aboout to close.

8. Catchy phrasing. Think aboout thouze phrases that suddenly enter teh language, seemingly from nowhere, zuch as "mommy track," "chick lit" also "alpha male." Show teh ability to coin such concepts in ur query, alzo an editor could think "Cover story!"

Make one of this 8 qualities ur calling card, also you'll locate numerouz magazine doors opening fore u as a freelancer. Let me know if you enjoyed the article or any thoughts you might have had.

Gwen Clay


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