Need to write for magazines?
It’s an effective way to make a residing writing for those who pitch the fitting publications. How about $500 or extra per project?
For those who’ve been cranking out journal tales for $50 to $150 a pop, it’s possible you’ll be questioning if that’s actually even potential. That’s typically the going charge for native, regional, or small-circulation magazines.
If you wish to write for magazines, and have restricted expertise, these are nice locations to get some clips, and earn some cash, nevertheless it shouldn’t be your final cease.
Many client and commerce magazines pay $500 or extra per project. And the pitching course of is just about the identical as smaller pubs:
- Determine {a magazine} you need to write for
- Research the submission pointers
- Develop a strong story thought
- Perform a little analysis and interview a supply
- Write a killer question letter, and pitch your story thought to an editor
If you are able to do that, you’ve obtained the chops to receives a commission nicely to write down for any journal available on the market. However it’s essential to know the place to search for these $500-plus assignments. Take a look at these 21 magazines to discover freelance writing jobs.
1. AARP, The Journal
Right here’s an attention-grabbing reality concerning the journal printed for readers over age 50. AARP has the best circulation of any journal in the USA, with greater than 35 million subscribers.
That additionally means it pays nicely, on common $1/phrase or $1,500 per project. Publishes information, options, how-tos, and essays about cash, well being and health, meals, journey, relationships, and extra for over-50 readers.
AARP could also be a tricky journal to crack for newbies, nevertheless it’s not not possible. Good networking efforts and a strong story thought helped Freelance Writers Den member Willi Morris land an project with AARP, one in every of her dream purchasers.
Contact: Senior Editor George Mannes or Options Editor George Blooston
2. Alaska Past
Not all in-flight magazines overtly publish author’s pointers, however Alaska Past is one which does. About 75 p.c of this journal is written by freelancers. Greatest solution to break in: Pitch a brief piece for “The Feed” division. You then’re much more more likely to land larger paying assignments (as much as $700) for journey, information, and have tales.
Contact: Editor Paul Frichtl
3. The Atlantic
If you wish to write for The Atlantic, {a magazine} that covers information and evaluation on politics, enterprise, tradition, know-how, nationwide, worldwide and political life, learn this by former Atlantic staffer Garance Franke-Ruta: “How (not) to pitch: A information for freelance writers.”
FYI—The Atlantic can also be open to working with new freelancers. It’s the place Freelance Writers Den member Douglas Fitzpatrick landed his first journal project as a beginner for a bit concerning the profession trajectory of Donald Trump.
Need to write for The Atlantic? Research the journal and pitch an thought with a question first. Pays $150 to $1,600 relying on project.
Contact: See division workers data right here
4. Chatelaine journal
Chatelaine is a well-liked month-to-month girls’s journal in Canada that covers well being and health, finance, social points, style, magnificence, meals, and residential decor. It’s audience is energetic girls ages 25 to 54.
“The Well being part covers the newest information and research, offers health and exercise suggestions and explores hot-button points,” says Managing Editor Laura Brown. Question with a narrative thought first. Pays a mean of $1/phrase or $1,500 per project.
Contact: Comply with their pitching pointers right here
5. Hoof Beats
Hoof Beats is likely one of the world’s hottest harness racing magazines. Being 70 p.c freelance written, they’re all the time in search of new and thrilling tales from high-quality writers with an curiosity in horses, notably Standardbreds and harness racing. If you wish to write for Hoof Beats, learn their digital or print journal and get to know their voice and their viewers.
Pays as much as $500 for function tales.
Contact: Editor James Witherite. Ship submissions to hoofbeats@ustrotting.com.
6. Uncover journal
Uncover is a science-based journal that options tales about medical analysis, scientific breakthroughs, know-how, physics, area journey, and even paleontology. Take into accout it’s written for a lay viewers, so educational language received’t get you an project.
Need to write for Uncover? Right here’s some recommendation from freelancer Susan Etchey: “The one method a brand new author has an opportunity to get the eye of its editors is to have an explosive, compelling untold science story to inform.” Uncover journal’s charge is beginning at $1/phrase.
Contact: Senior Editor Gemma Tarlach or one other member of the editorial staff.
7. Early American Life
From colonization to life within the mid-1800s, Early American Life journal options tales about historical past, structure, antiques, crafts, and journey locations for folks keen on early American life.
In the newest challenge, you’ll find out about rolling pins from the Colonial period, the evolution of the bald eagle as America’s mascot, brewing within the 1700s, and extra.
Know the right way to dig up the bones to pitch a narrative about early American life? It’s well worth the effort. This pub pays a mean of $500 to $2,000 per project.
Contact: Government Editor Jenmarie Andrews
8. Earth Island Journal
If you wish to write for Earth Island Journal, comply with the primary rule of writing for any journal. Learn it. Research again points.
This non-profit journal is printed in partnership with the Earth Island Institute, an environmental group based in 1982 by David Brower. This journal tells tales from all over the world protecting points resembling local weather change, environmental justice, coverage, environmental safety, animal rights and conservation, scientific innovation, and extra.
Pays a mean of $1,000 per project for tales about science, know-how, the atmosphere, and folks making a distinction.
Contact: Editor Maureen Nandini Mitra
9. Consuming Nicely
Get in line on the grocery story, and also you may see this journal on the information stand. However it’s not only a journal crammed with recipes, photographs of tasty meals, and suggestions for wholesome consuming.
There’s much more “meat” within the pages of Consuming Nicely that explains the science behind the style, textures, and flavors that make meals scrumptious. For those who can mix good storytelling with science and meals, write a question letter and pitch an thought. Consuming Nicely pays a mean of $1/phrase.
Contact: Affiliate Vitamin Editor Julia Westbrook or one other member of the editorial staff.
10. enRoute
Glamping, conservation efforts, fishing for a record-setting marlin, and a Canadian’s information to the Louvre. These are only a few of the the forms of tales featured in Air Canad’s in-flight journal enRoute.
“We interact our viewers by way of clever writing, perception, humour and spot-on service journalism,” says Editor-in-chief Jean-François Légaré. Research the rules and again points earlier than pitching a narrative thought.
Contact: Editor Caitlin Walsh Miller
11. The Open Pocket book
The Open Pocket book is a science journalism on-line journal based in 2010. This non-profit’s objective is to supply assets and instruments to assist enhance the talents of science journalists by publishing tales and interviews concerning the craft of science journalism. On their web site, they share their imaginative and prescient of “a world during which journalists in every single place are totally empowered to inform impactful tales about science that contribute to a extra knowledgeable and engaged society, fight misinformation, and allow communities to navigate the complexities of our ever-changing world.”
The Open Pocket book pays aggressive charges for 1,500-2,000 phrases at $1,500 for interviews and $2,200 for reported options.
Contact: Founder and president Siri Carpenter
12. Forbes
Carol Tice spend over a decade writing about enterprise, commerce, entrepreneurship, finance, and large companies like Amazon and Microsoft. And it was the right proving floor for her to land a long-term gig writing for Forbes.
This enterprise journal is among the many most acknowledged for publishing tales concerning the folks, companies, and developments in entrepreneurship, innovation, management, and extra. And it’s good for freelancers. Forbes pays a mean of $1/phrase and up.
Contact: Senior Editor Susan Adams, one other member of the editorial workers or e-mail concepts@forbes.com.
13. Inexperienced Entrepreneur
Final yr, Entrepreneur journal launched GreenEntrepreneur.com, to provide readers that newest information about entrepreneurship, enterprise, know-how and life-style points of the hashish trade.
“Hardly ever does a brand new trade explode with the exponential success that the authorized marijuana commerce has skilled,” Entrepreneur Media President Invoice Shaw, mentioned in a press launch.
If you wish to write for Inexperienced Entrepreneur, research the pointers and pitch a narrative thought concerning the hashish trade. Pays as much as $1.50/phrase.
Searching for story concepts? The newest buzz in Inexperienced Entrepreneur consists of tales a few new weed vaporizor which will popularize smoking marijuana, a $400 million purchasing spree spent on hashish, the newest information about legalization, and extra.
Contact: Government Editor Jonathan Small
14. Hakai Journal
If you wish to write about archaeology, ecology, biology, geology, and oceanography of marine coastal environments, take a better have a look at Hakai journal.
You’ve obtained the chops to write down for this journal that pays $1 to $1.55 CAD per phrase when you’ve got strong journalism expertise, analysis abilities, and the flexibility to interview sources.
“We’re keen on nice tales and robust voices,” says Editor Jude Isabella. “We tilt towards science and environmental tales, however we’re additionally keen on folks and communities and the way they work together with coastal ecosystems.”
Pitch quick information tales about coastal environmental matters (500 to 800 phrases), or an in-depth function (1,000 to five,000 phrases).
For those who can present video (5 minutes or much less) or content material for an infographic, to go along with your story, your possibilities of acceptance go up.
Contact: Editor Jude Isabella
15. Hemispheres
The United Airways in-flight journal, Hemispheres, occurs to be one in every of two in-flight magazines listed in Author’s Market listed with a $$$ pay charge.
Translation: This journal pays freelancers a mean of $750 to $1,500 per project. Publishes tales about world tradition, journey, enterprise, leisure, and sports activities.
Inside the present challenge, you’ll discover tales about must-see-and-do actions in Chicago, insights on life, profession and relationships from actress Kristen Bell, moon-landing anniversary celebration suggestions, and extra.
Contact: Editor Ellen Carpenter
16. Kitplanes
That is what the Wright Brothers impressed greater than 100 years in the past: construct a airplane from a equipment, and fly it.
You may not suppose a highly-niche journal with a small circulation (about 72,000 readers). However Kitplanes pays nicely sufficient to be included on this checklist, as much as $1,000 per project.
Pitch story concepts about constructing and design, flight testing, development methods, private expertise, and options on the folks and companies who’re concerned in constructing private plane.
Contact: Editor Paul Dye
17. LiisBeth
Earlier than you pitch a narrative thought to LiisBeth journal that covers entrepreneurship, innovation, social points, and the politics and insurance policies of enterprise, be sure you learn the LiisBeth Manifesto.
For those who can pitch a narrative concept that jives with that about folks and companies making a distinction, you’re in your method touchdown an project that pays as much as $2,000 U.S. Your finest wager for a well-paid project…pitch a narrative thought for a profile, how-to, or investigative function.
Contact: Editor Nick Seebruch or you may ship queries to writer@Liisbeth.com
18. In style Science
If science and know-how writing for an informed lay viewers is your area of interest, don’t waste one other minute ready to pitch In style Science. It’s one of many oldest magazines nonetheless in existence with roots relationship again to the late 1800s.
It’s obtained a circulation of about 1.5 million readers, and a wholesome finances to pay freelancers. How about $2/phrase or $1,000-plus per project?
Want story concepts? Within the present challenge, you’ll examine new threats posed by the Zika virus, rapidly-evolving drone know-how, a cookie-test kitchen in outer area, and extra.
Contact: Senior Editor Rachel Feltman
19. Sierra
When Sierra journal editor Jason Mark stepped into his new position just a few years in the past, he had simply walked by way of Nevada’s Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, surrounded by huge wildfires. That solo expertise formed his mission to guide this journal devoted to causes to guard the planet, pure areas, and outside recreation.
“I preserve interested by that journey to the Sierra, which appears emblematic of the challenges going through the environmental motion right now,” says Mark. “We need to have fun and benefit from the huge, open areas we love. On the identical time, we have now to be all the time on guard to guard these locations.”
That is the journal for Sierra Membership members. Pitch story concepts about outside journey, environmental points, and folks on a mission to “discover, take pleasure in, and shield the planet.” Pays $1/phrase and up per project.
Contact: Editor Jason Mark
20. Smithsonian
Do you know the Smithsonian Institute consists of 19 museums and galleries, the Nationwide Zoological Park, and a pair of.7 million sq. ft of indoor area? There’s lots to know and lots to be taught concerning the previous, current and way forward for science, know-how, the atmosphere, and even the universe.
And you’ll write about it for the Smithsonian journal and receives a commission nicely. The Smithsonian pays freelancers $1-$3/per phrase, which suggests a $500 project is greater than real looking. So how do you break into this journal?
“There needs to be one thing stunning and narratively attention-grabbing there,” says Senior Editor Jenny Rothenberg Gritz. “If the story is concerning the pure world, both the particular person you’re writing about needs to be tremendous charismatic and attention-grabbing, or one thing finished concerning the challenge needs to be superb.”
Contact: Affiliate Editor Thomas Stackpole or one other member of the editorial workers.
21. The Solar
Right here’s an attention-grabbing solution to differentiate your self as a information and literary journal…no promoting. That’s The Solar‘s strategy to concentrate on nice writing.
This journal has been round for 40-plus years, and is in search of essays, interviews, and story concepts about political and cultural points. The Solar pays as much as $2,000 per project.
“We’ve been described in some ways,” says Editor and Writer Sy Safransky. “Celebratory, fierce, unflinching, considerate, truthful, darkish, darkly humorous, tender.”
Contact: Senior Editor Andrew Snee or one other member of the editorial workers.
Receives a commission to write down for magazines
For those who’re in search of magazines that pay $500 or extra per project, this isn’t even the tip of the iceberg. A lot of magazines pay professional charges.
- Verify Author’s Market (print or on-line) for extra. Skip over the magazines that pay low charges, and focus people who pay $1/phrase or extra.
- Get in contact with the editors at customized pubs and commerce magazines. These mags incessantly work with freelance writers and pay professional charges, however aren’t as simple to seek out as client pubs in Author’s Market.
- Carry on pitching. Then work by way of the method to review the journal, develop a narrative thought, and write a killer question letter. If you are able to do this for magazines that pay lower-rates, you are able to do it for greater magazines that pay high greenback.
When not on a writing deadline or catching up on emails, Evan Jensen is coaching to run one other 100-mile ultra-marathon.
