Expert: Cathy Clamp - 1/30/2010

Question
I have a question concerning columns or writing as a columnist in regard to the question that was asked before.
Now concerning the printed magazines- there is a new magazine that has been launched in my country, which is a national magazine. I bought the fourth issue of the magazine with a free copy of the first issue of the magazine. I have different article ideas I would like to write for this magazine with the possibility of writing a column, which i would like to suggest to the editor. I am not an experienced writer since I am still a student. I have some of my writing published online and none through printed form. Should I go ahead and suggest that idea or should I first write articles such that when it is accepted and i send it again , after that is when I bring up the issue? When Do I need to suggest such an idea?

Answer
Hi, Benny!

Sorry for the delay in responding. This apparently went to my bulk email folder by accident. In freelance article writing, most first time articles are written "on spec" (which is short for "speculation.") This means that you should write ONE article that you believe would fit the magazine and submit it for review. Try to only sell one article/idea at a time to begin with. But make sure that you follow the guidelines of the magazine. I don't mean just the submission guidelines, but what the articles look like on the page. Most magazine articles (in pretty much every country) consist of only a few lengths: 500 words, 1,000 words and 1,500 words. A 500 word article usually appears on a single page with one or two advertisements down one side or at the bottom of the page. A 1,000 word article often appears on two pages and includes a "sidebar" which is basically a "story within a story." If for example, you're writing an article about visiting a festival in a remote part of the country, you might include a sidebar that tells where people can stay if they visit or side trips they can make to other interesting spots on the same day. A feature about how to build a canoe from scratch might include a sidebar about the best types of varnish, or places to use the canoe. That sort of thing. A 500 word article usually will include one sidebar of 75 words. A 1,000 word article might have one 250 word sidebar, or one 75 and one 175. A 1,500 word article will usually have one 100 word and one 200 word sidebar. That reduces the article length from the contracted number to a smaller number, so keep that in mind when you write.

If you don't see sidebars as a normal part of the magazine, you might not need to include ideas for them. If the magazine normally includes them, you definitely want to write it into the article you submit. To achieve it, write the article and then put a line or a row of stars (*) below the bottom of the article and type, SIDEBAR #1. Then type the text of the sidebar. If you include two sidebars just put another line and then type SIDEBAR #2. Sidebars are really nice for an editor because it gives them something to cut if they run out of room on the page because too much advertising was sold or if there are political issues that need to be run in that month. Remember to keep your TOTAL article to a specific word count, but make sure in your query to say that you can either shorten or lengthen the article "to fit the particular issue." That shows the editor you understand their business and that you want to help the editor do their job more efficiently.

If the editor writes back and is interested in the piece, complete any edits they want to the piece (most magazines have "seasons" so there are summer events in the summer issues. You might be asked to "spin" an article toward a particular season of the year or include additional information to target a specific reader. Be open to the ideas the editor has. It's all part of the business. Once you've completed one assignment, feel free to try out more ideas without actually writing the articles on spec.

Hope that helps!

Good luck!

Cathy