If you want to be a freelance writer for magazines, the first step is to understand how magazines work. The market has changed a lot with the popularity of the Internet and more publications are now found online as well as in print, however, the basics are still the same. When you understand how magazines work, you will be ready to learn how to freelance write for magazines.
Freelancing can be a tough way to earn a living but at the same time, it can be liberating in that it gives you freedoms you might not otherwise have. You can choose which assignments to take and which ones to pass and you can choose (within limits) what you want to write and for whom.
Freelance writers can find work with magazines in a couple of different ways. The first (and most common) is to submit a query to the magazine editor. Queries are often done digitally today but some publications still accept paper and SASE (self-addressed stamp envelope) queries.
A second method of receiving assignments for magazines is when the magazine editor approaches you directly with an idea, which happens when you are better known in the industry or when you create a relationship with a particular editor.
Your assignment with an editor is very important because you will need to follow it closely to ensure you get more assignments and that you get paid for the assignment. Usually the assignment will include the length of the article (usually in words), the deadline or due date, the rights that they magazine will be purchasing from you, the payment details and the "kill fee". Some assignments will have even more detail. If you have any questions, you must get them answered as early as possible and before you start researching and writing the article.
The most important thing you can know about freelancing for magazines is how to study a magazine's guidelines and style as this is the most common reason for rejections. Read several back issues of the magazine and familiarize yourself with their audience and their needs. While writing for magazines can be harder to break into and to establish yourself, it will pay off more in the end when you do make sales. One magazine article can easily sell from $200-2,000 or more in some cases.
by Lisa A Mason | ezinearticles.com