Writing for US and UK Health Publications

The beautiful thing about writing for US and UK health publications is that health-related topics are universally appreciated. Just about anyone can benefit from reading an article about health, which makes it a prime market for freelance writers. If you're looking for an area in which to specialize, US and UK health publications might be the best bet.

The difference between writing for a health publication and writing a health article for a general interest magazine is that health publications seek in-depth articles about very specific topics. For example, you might be able to sell an article called "How to Tell if Your Child Has ADD" to a magazine like Parenting, but it wouldn't fly for a publication like Natural Living Today. If you wanted to sell it to a health publication, you'd need to talk about a specific aspect of ADD, including treatment and biological processes.

For quite a while, US and UK health publications were targeted at women between the ages of 17 and 45, but that trend has begun to change in recent years. Now you can find health magazines and trade journals for both sexes, including those directed at men, or even at male audiences over 50. There is a vast array of health magazines that target different areas of health, as well, such as those dedicated to alternative remedies or sports injuries.

If you want to write for US and UK health publications, your best bet is to become an expert in a particular area. It doesn't have to be too narrow -- you want to give yourself options -- but you do want to establish yourself as an authority. For example, if you are interested in sports injuries, you would want to read everything you can get your hands on about the dangers of sports, how sports injuries are treated and how to prevent them.

You should also remember that if you've written only articles for US health publications, you are ignoring a vast market overseas (and vice versa). Authorities from both countries are recognized interchangeably, and you can often sell the same article twice -- once for First North American Rights, and again for First International Rights. You can also write two versions of the same article and target both markets simultaneously.

The most important thing about writing for US and UK health publications is that you must keep abreast of all the latest developments in the chosen industry. If you don't know what's going on, you can't possibly hope to write about brand new treatments or developments in fitness regimens. The best way to do this is to either subscribe to magazines you hope to target or read about them online.

Another thing you must remember is that your articles must be accurate. You cannot count on your editor to fact-check every little tidbit of information you include, but if you get something wrong, the magazine is going to hear about it from plenty of angry readers. Using the Internet as your sole resource for writing for health publications is irresponsible; you are far better off looking at trade journals and other magazines as a source for information.