Magazine writing is a unique type of writing distinct from what you may find in a newspaper, journal, or essay. You might even be surprised to know that within magazine writing itself, each subgenre calls for different skills and styles.
For example, you’d approach a long feature article differently than a human interest piece; and if you are undertaking an investigative exposé, it will clearly call for different skills than a book review or cultural critique!
However, there are some basic principles and elements you need to master for any type of magazine writing. In this article, we’ll show you the general skills you need to succeed at writing for a magazine.
How Do You Start Writing for a Magazine?
If you want to write for a magazine, you need to adjust to a medium that digital technology has radically transformed. As you’ve probably noticed, many of the magazines of today have migrated to online platforms, and are read primarily on web browsers or mobile apps, such as Apple News.
The good news is that the online world has made it possible for more publications to spring up seemingly out of nowhere, giving you more options and places to pitch your ideas! Here are some tips to help you find your way into writing for magazines:
Pitch your ideas to the appropriate magazine.
Magazine writers are normally “hired” on the basis of their idea pitches, which are sent through a query letter. When you send your ideas, make sure your proposed topics are in tune with the magazine’s preferred themes. You don’t want to make the mistake of pitching a sports article to a magazine like Good Housekeeping.
Specialize.
With the increasing number of writers in the online space, magazines place a high value on specialization. For example, Brian Windhorst of ESPN fame reportedly rose among the ranks thanks to his expertise in basketball writing. You should focus on your strengths and leverage those for your writing.
Go the extra mile when it comes to research.
As a magazine writer, you will need to do a lot of research, but it’s better to do too much than too little. The more details you have on hand, the easier it will be to find the best slant for your article. And always be sure to fact check your information!
Write for the target audience of your chosen magazine.
One of the biggest mistakes that magazine writers make is to overlook who the magazine’s target audience actually is. Remember, a magazine exists only because of its readers, so make sure you speak straight to their hearts in any piece you submit. For example, if you are writing for a scientific journal, your readers will likely prefer more research-based content, instead of emotionally-driven pieces.
Contact the appropriate editor.
The magazine playing field is highly dynamic, with many editors frequently leaving one publication to join another.
Remember that as a writer, connections are everything! Your relationship with any given editor is always more important than your connection to the company—after all, they are your connection to any magazine! Value these relationships, as they are your only open door into getting your articles published.
6 Common Types of Magazine Articles
Here are some of the most common formats for magazine writing:
- Long-form investigative articles: These heavily-researched pieces tend to use numerous sources and citations, and can take months to write and edit.
- Character profiles: These articles can range from a few hundred words to several thousand. They focus on one person, and are often run as cover stories.
- Commentary: Magazines that feature current events tend to feature commentaries, too. A very common example is a sports commentary article.
- Criticism: Critical commentary or reviews are common for books, art, music, and film.
- Humor: Usually shorter in length, magazines like The New Yorker contain humor articles. These are often found in weeklies that accompany newspapers.
- Fiction: Fiction also has a place in magazines like The New Yorker and Harper, usually in short story form or as excerpts from longer works.
How Do You Write a Magazine Article?
Now that you have a run-down of the different types of magazine writing, let’s talk about how to write an actual magazine article.
1. Choose a subject you are an expert in.
Keeping true to our earlier advice of specializing, when you start to write a magazine article, choose a topic you show certain expertise in.
Publishers typically choose articles with an in-depth take on a subject, and that’s where your level of experience will come into play. The more authoritative you are, the greater the chances are that your article will make the cut.
2. Choose an interesting angle.
Magazine editors choose articles they believe will pique their readers’ interest. From your chosen topic, find the angles that may not have been discussed before, or at least a perspective that will catch your audience’s attention right from the get-go.
3. Research.
Before you start writing, do your research. Even if you think you already know everything there is to know, there is always more to be gained by added research. Who knows, you might come across fresh information that will give you a new spin on your article.
4. Write an outline.
No matter what your experience level is in terms of writing articles, creating an outline will help you organize your thoughts and make sure you don’t miss any important angles. In your outline, you can also plan where you might add images, graphics, or testimonials to supplement your piece.
5. Start writing.
The good news is that magazine writing is not terribly rigid in terms of structure and format. Be creative! Remember that readers of magazines usually read not just for information, but in order to be entertained, so write in a conversational tone when possible.
6. Make sure you follow style guidelines.
If you are writing an article for a specific magazine, ask about their style guidelines. There’s nothing more disappointing than pouring your heart and soul out writing a piece, only to have it rejected because it doesn’t meet the magazine’s guidelines!
How Is Magazine Writing Different From Other Types of Writing?
One of the biggest distinctions between magazine writing and others types of writing is that magazines typically have their own house styles. Because writing articles for newspapers can follow a standard that is consistent throughout the country, it’s hardly possible to distinguish one newspaper from another simply by reading a couple of articles.
Magazines pride themselves for having their own unique style. This is why it’s relatively easy to identify whether an article is from Vogue, or from Ladies’ Home Journal. The writing style and tone for a famous fashion magazine, geared towards women who are into the latest fashion, are distinctly different from the magazine targeted towards stay-at-home moms.
This means that one of the most important skills you need to develop as a magazine writer is the flexibility to adjust your writing style to meet these house requirements.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
