Magazine editors and book publishers work hard to help writers understand exactly what they want. The publish these needs in market listings. Freelance writers who want to be successful will follow these listings to the letter.
Probably the biggest single source of market listings for freelancers is Writer’s Market, but you’ll find the in other places. Just google magazine market listings or book publisher market listings and you’ll find all sorts of them.
Editors and publishers take time to create market listings in hopes of getting material they can use from freelance writers. If you want to be head and shoulders above the freelance writing crowd, follow the listings exactly. Most writers, unfortunately, don’t. Here’s how I use market listings:
How I Read & Use Market Listings
- I start first by looking at how I’ll be paid. I don’t want to be paid on publication because the magazine can tie up my article for ages. Pays on acceptance is what I want. For books I want an advance as well as a royalty.
- If the pay rate is stated and it fits my standards I proceed. If they don’t state the rate I sometimes call and ask.
- If it’s a market for me I study the listing. Words like focus, addressing, etc. tell me the purpose of the publication.
- A phrase like Current needs or something similar gives me a clue about what the editor wants now. This doesn’t work as well in print as it may on the web. One reason I like the online version of Writer’s Market is because it gets updated frequently.
- I make it a point to read the listing all the way through, even the info I don’t think applies to me. I’ve been surprised.
- I follow their instructions on queries. Some will accept queries by email, some want phone queries, and others want snail mail. I do it there way.
- If the piece I’m planning needs photos or other graphics I note if that’s paid separately. I can handle digital photos – anything else the publisher will have to find.
- I buy a copy or two of the magazine (and declare them as a business expense). The market listing isn’t enough. If I’m going to meet the editor’s requirements I have to be familiar with the publication.
- Finally, I write and send the query.
Follow these guidelines and write a dynamite query and you may be pleasantly surprised to find you get an assignment or a contract.
How do you use market listings?
Write well and often,
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Anne, your language is not correct in paragraph 6. It is “their” not there.
You’re right Mary, I got it correctly elsewhere and blew it once.
Anne, the biggest one on your list, and the one most often ignored in my opinion, is following the directions. In fact, your entire list is about following directions. These places give you a laundry list of exactly what you need to win an assignment, yet how many writers just ignore the instructions?
Lori recently posted..Stupid Clauses and Clients Who Push Them
I know Lori. When I was editing magazines I was amazed how often writers paid no attention at all. Strange but true.
I am just curious about the expertise a writer should have in area of the chosen market. If I review a listing from the market and choose a product, I think we have to be familiar with the product right?
In the latest copywriting book I read, it is mentioned any writer should spent some time knowing a product so just getting a couple of magazine copies should not do it in this aspect. It helps to determine how the editor wants all written. However, it does not really help defining the true feeling of what the product offers.
I would add an additional point about the expertise in the area. These are just my thoughts. Either way you have very valid points there.
Daniel recently posted..Tube Socks
Yes, Daniel, if you’re writing about a product or service you also need to know that product or service…
Anne-this is absolutely fabulous! So often we assume that some things are obvious. When you are new, either as a writer or to a new market, what to do is not always obvious – like declaring the purchase of a magazine you plan on sending a query to as a business expense.
You know I love simple.
Cathy Miller recently posted..The Great Post Frequency Debate Rages On
Thanks Cathy… simple works, doesn’t it.