Writing Articles
Take a look around any major newsagent's shelves. Did you realize that nearly all the publications you see there buy most of their material from freelance writers? Writing factual material for magazines and newspapers offers a fast and potentially lucrative route to publication. The constant demand for good articles makes them the easiest type of writing to sell. However, easy to sell does not mean easy to write. The demand is high, but the standard expected is also high.
What it Takes to Write Successful Articles
Every writer - and that includes you - has knowledge and experience that could interest, help, enrich or simply entertain others. You'll find opportunities in publications about every imaginable subject from architecture to zoology, using writing ranging from readers' letters to in-depth features.
To write and sell articles, you need:
- The ability to write clear, concise English.
- An observant eye.
- An enquiring mind.
- A professional approach to writing up your material.
Finding Markets
There are literally thousands of potential outlets for articles. The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook lists over 600 UK newspapers and magazines that publish (and pay for) articles. Willing's Press Guide (expensive - ask at the reference library) lists more than 10,000 UK publications, including trade, professional and specialist magazines. Many of these welcome freelance contributions relevant to their subject areas.
Writers' Bulletin prints in-depth information about editors' current 'wants'. Writers' News (and its sister publication Writing), Writers' Forum and The New Writer also carry market news. The Bureau of Freelance Photographers' Market Newsletter has market information for photojournalists.
