Authors: Tips and Mistakes for Getting Published in Print Magazines

Have you ever read a magazine article and thought, "I could write that -- maybe even better!" You're probably right. I've been writing articles for computer programming and electronics magazines since 1979 (and writing regularly since 1989). I was also the programming section editor and Java columnist for Web Techniques (a sister magazine to Dr. Dobb's Journal which morphed into New Architect magazine and then folded in the .COM bust). People frequently ask me how they can get started writing articles in computer magazines. I've put together this paper to help you get a start. Of course, I'm talking about computer magazines, but the same steps can apply to almost any non-fiction magazine that accepts freelance submissions.

Here's the steps you need to follow:

1. Get the magazine's author's guidelines (many are on the net now, otherwise send an SASE and a request to the managing editor). You'll probably have your best luck writing for a magazine you actually read. If you plan to write for a magazine you don't normally read, go to the library and read enough to make sure you have correctly identified the market. For example, Dr. Dobb's Journal is a computer magazine -- you don't want to submit an article about health care to them!

2. Pick one magazine that you think you have a good idea for. Write up a proposal -- not the whole article. A brief description of your idea and why you are excited about it, an outline (not too detailed; 1 or 2 levels), and (since you haven't done this before) why you are the perfect person to write it. If you have some writing samples you might include them too (since you have no track record; you might even include a link to your Associated Content profile). Writing a proposal instead of an entire article is a big advantage. You don't have to waste your time writing the whole piece unless an editor is interested. Just send the proposal to the one magazine. It is considered bad form to submit to more than one magazine at a time.

3. Wait. After about 4-6 weeks you could probably try another magazine although it is hard to tell how long it will take to get an answer. Obviously if you get a "no" answer you can go somewhere else right away. However, you will probably get a "yes" or a "soft yes". In either case, this doesn't mean anything other than the editor wants to see the finished piece (maybe with some changes he or she will suggest). Drop the editor a note to say thanks and give him a guess about when you'll have it ready (unless it is already ready; then just send it in).

4. Wait for them to accept the article, reject it, or ask you to change it. Usually if they are interested from step 3, they will buy it in this step but they can still say no for a variety of reasons (many of which are beyond your control). The magazine will offer you a contract. Most magazines pay when they print, not when they accept, so you could wait 3 months to a year for actual cash (except for a small binder fee, probably about $50). The actual payment varies, but don't expect too much, especially at first. If you want a better idea about payments, go to the library and look up the magazines you want to write for in the The Writer's Market -- that will give you some idea.

You'll be surprised. Most computer programming magazines are eager to work with new authors. I suspect this is true of other types of magazines too. It is hard to put together an interesting magazine month after month. Here are a few other tips you may find obvious, or useful:

1. Pick a current topic that is appropriate for the magazine. No one is buying "Converting CP/M to DOS" articles, for example. An Apple-focused magazine probably won't buy a piece on Windows software. If you must write off target, you'll have to find a fresh way to slant your articles, but that is very difficult. For example, an Apple-focused magazine might buy an article about how Microsoft Vista compares with the latest Apple operating systems. Again, it helps if you regularly read the magazine you want to work with.

2. Focus! Your article will probably be 1000-3000 words (your editor will tell you). That sounds like a lot, but it isn't. Pick a very narrow focus. If you have more to say, great! Save it and sell it in another article. For example, you probably can't talk about customizing every Windows common dialog, so pick one or two to make your point. An article "All About the Windows GDI" is probably too broad. On the other hand, "Ten Common GDI Mistakes" is probably managable. No matter how great your stuff is, no one is going to give you 50% of their magazine to talk about it. The same goes for columns. No one is likely to give you a column (which might be 5% of the total magazine every month) unless they have a working relationship with you already. Sell them 10 or 12 articles in a year or two, and then talk about a column.

3. Pick a subject area and try to stick to it. If you do Windows C++, stick to that. If you do Web development, stick to that. I break that rule, but I didn't for a very long time. Even then, I rarely break it per magazine.

4. While many editors will speak to you on the phone, try not to abuse that courtesy. They are very busy. Everyone appreciates e-mail which has nearly the immediacy of a call but is not as intrusive.

5. Use your articles to promote yourself, your product, or your company, but remember, hardly anyone will buy a thinly disguised advertisement. If the article doesn't provide something unique for the reader, magazines won't buy it. Promote yourself in your byline, or by using the article to expose a useful subset of your product, or a program related to your product.

6. The only English grammar rule I will mention is on passive construction. Don't say "Wordpad is started by the program." Instead say, "The program starts Wordpad." Notice how the subject of the sentence carries on the action? All modern grammar checkers (which you should use) will catch this. With practice you can easily convert about 98% of them to active voice. There are occasional technical sentences that just sound funny this way. For example, in programming you often "set bits" which leads to sentences like: "XYZ happens when bit YYY is set." The alternative -- "Setting bit YYY causes XYZ to happen" -- is OK, but I think most people understand the first form better. So long as there is only 1%-2% passive voice you are probably safe. Most magazines will edit your work anyway, so they will be more interested in what you have to say, not how you said it (within reason).

7. These are not academic papers. Avoid "We" (unless you are writing with someone else). It is very good to use "I". "In this article, I'll show you..." Don't take an "academic tone". Pretend you are talking about your subject to a couple of your friends that you think are really sharp. I like "You" even better. Instead of saying "I needed a way to convert the file into usable data." Try: "You'll need a way to convert the file..." This involves the reader.

8. Speaking of which, make sure your article says very early what it is about. Try to hook the reader in the first few sentences and convince him he should continue reading. Look at your favorite authors and try to see how they do this.

9. Sell articles once, but ideas many times. This is key if you want to write seriously. Say you get a new compiler for Windows Vista. Perhaps you learn how to do something on Windows Vista and write an article on it. Then you also write a review about the compiler, and finally write about the new Windows Vista architecture. 1.4 times the work, but 3 times the articles.

10. Most magazines don't care about your fancy word processor. They want plain, double-spaced text with (perhaps) bold and italics. This is because they pour your text into a publishing program and massage it anyway. Be sure to read the author's guidelines to see what they want.

People ask me all the time if you can get rich writing. Sure. If you are Stephen King. Don't expect to get rich writing magazine articles. If you want to find out about pay, go to the library and look up the magazine in a current "Writers Market" (that's the name of a book). That book will also give you tips on how to prepare a manuscript and other useful information. To start out, you might find the money low, but as you do more you'll find that you can write more articles in less time, get more money, and sell ideas more than once. Also, magazine writing is a fine entry into writing books, teaching, consulting, and other money-making opportunities.

Finally, here are the top 10 mistakes that will mark you as an amateur:

1. Sending a finished manuscript before being asked.

2. Single-spaced manuscripts (although this is less true now that most people take electronic submissions).

3. Lots of passive voice constructions.

4.Calling editors every week to ask if they have looked at your proposal, when your article will be in print, etc.

5. Submitting to more than one magazine right away.

6. Using fancy paper, envelopes, or formatting.

7."Flaming" the magazine in a public forum for rejecting your proposal or manuscript.

8.Proposing an article that is so far out of the magazine's interest that it is clear you have never seen a copy of the magazine.

9. Blatant self-promotion.

10. Proposing articles that are so broad it would take 10,000 words to treat them properly.

I hope you find this information useful. Be sure to read the magazine's author guidelines as they will have a lot of good tips, too. Also, go to the library and look for books on manuscript preparation and non-fiction writing. Sadly, most of the books you find will be about writing the next great American novel, but there are still some books that are helpful. You can always ask the librarian; they usually like to talk to authors and aspiring authors. Of course, when you get in print, make sure to bring a copy to the library to say thanks. Good Luck!