How to Earn Money Writing Front-of-Book Pieces for Magazines

Front-of-Book Pieces are the short bits you see in the first few pages of most magazines. FOB pieces range from a few hundred words down to as low as 50 words. Sometimes referred to as quick hits, these are a great way for new writers to break into publications because they are low-risk for the magazine. Also, they are a great way to get your foot in the door and become a regular contributor to the magazine.

How to Start

Look through the past three issues of at least six magazines of interest to you that you would like to write for. Notice the kinds of topics they cover in the FOB stories. Pay attention to the typical length and the flow of the article. Then start brainstorming for the next great idea!

Who to Contact

Check Writer's Market to see if the magazine listing indicates which editor to send FOB pieces to. You can also check the magazine's masthead to obtain contact information for the managing editor or executive editor. Then query your pitch with the professionalism deserved of a full-length story.

When querying a pitch or idea, remember some of these magazine editors' pet peeves.

Editors routinely reject correspondence that has spelling errors and typos. Take the extra time to proofread all e-mails and letters. Make sure and spell the editor and magazine's names correctly! Do not bombard editors with numerous questions regarding submissions and queries. These are very busy people who can not take the time to answer every minute question you have. This is what websites, submission guidelines, and frequently asked questions are for. Also, take the time to research the magazine and the magazine title. How else are you going to know if your idea is a good fit for the magazine you are querying? By pitching an idea that has already been done, you show the editor that you have not read the magazine.