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I've been writing articles for computer magazines since 1979 (and writing
regularly since 1989). I am also the programming section editor for Web
Techniques. People frequently ask me how they can get started writing
articles. I've put together this white paper to help you get a start. Of course,
I'm talking about computer magazines, but the same steps apply to almost all
magazine writing. Here's the steps you need to follow: 1) Get the magazine's author's guidelines (many are on the net now, otherwise send an SASE and a request to the managing editor). I like to write for Web Techniques and Dr. Dobb's Journal (I'm an editor for Web Techniques and I used to write a column for DDJ Sourcebook) but there are others. You'll probably have your best luck writing for a magazine you actually read. 2) Pick ONE magazine that you think you have a good idea for. Write up a proposal -- not the whole thing. A brief description of your idea and why you are excited about it, an outline (not too detailed; 1 or 2 levels), and (since you haven't done this before) why you are the perfect person to do it. If you have some writing samples you might include them too (since you haven't done this before). Writing a proposal instead of an entire article is a big advantage. You don't have to waste your time writing the whole piece unless someone is interested. Just send the proposal to the ONE magazine. It is considered bad form to submit to more than one at a time. 3) Wait. After about 4-6 weeks you could probably try another magazine although it is hard to tell how long it will take to get an answer. Obviously if you get a "no" answer you can go somewhere else right away. However, you will probably get a "yes" or a "modified yes". This doesn't mean anything other than the editor wants to see the finished piece (maybe with some changes). Drop him a note to say thanks and give him a guess about when you'll have it ready (unless it is already ready; then just send it in). 4) Wait for them to accept it, reject it, or ask you to change it. Usually if they are interested from step 3, they will buy it in this step but technically it isn't a requirement. They will give you a contract. Most magazines pay when they print, not when they accept, so you could wait 3 months to a year for actual cash (except for a small binder fee, probably about $50). The actual payment varies, but don't expect too much, especially at first. If you want a better idea about payments, go to the library and look up the magazine in the The Writer's Market -- that will give you some idea. You'll be surprised. Most computer programming magazines are eager to work with new authors. Here are a few other tips you may find obvious, or useful: 1. Pick a current topic that is appropriate for the magazine. No one is buying "Converting CP/M to DOS" articles, for example. C++ Report probably won't buy a piece on SNOBOL. If you must write about DOS or SNOBOL, you'll have to find a fresh way to slant your articles, but that is very difficult. It helps if you regularly read the magazine you want to work with. 2. FOCUS! Your article will probably be 1000-3000 words (your editor will tell you). That sounds like a lot, but it isn't. Pick a very narrow focus. If you have more to say, great! Sell more than one article. For example, you probably can't talk about customizing every common dialog, pick one or two to make your point. An article "All About the Windows GDI" is probably too broad. On the other hand, "Ten Common GDI Mistakes" is probably good. No matter how great your stuff is, no one is going to give you 50% of the magazine to talk about it. The same goes for columns. No one is likely to give you a column (e.g. 5% of the magazine every month) unless they have a working relationship with you already. Sell them 10 or 12 articles in a year, and then talk about a column. 3. Pick a subject area and try to stick to it. If you do Windows C++, stick to that. If you do VB, stick to that. I break that rule, but I didn't for a very long time. Even then, I rarely break it per magazine. 4. While many editors will speak to you on the phone, try not to abuse that courtesy. They are very busy. Everyone appreciates e-mail which has nearly the immediacy of a call but is not as intrusive. 5. Use your articles to promote yourself, your product, or your company, but remember, hardly anyone will buy a thinly disguised advertisement. If the article doesn't provide something unique for the reader, you won't sell it. Promote yourself in your byline, or by providing a subset of your product, or a program related to your product. 6. The only English grammar rule I will mention is on passive construction. Don't say "Wordpad is started by the program." Instead say, "The program starts Wordpad." Notice how the subject of the sentence carries on the action? All modern grammar checkers (which you should use) will catch this. With practice you can easily convert about 98% of them to active voice. The big exception is setting bits. "XYZ happens when bit YYY is set" is OK, I think. The alternative -- "Setting bit YYY causes XYZ to happen." is OK, but I think most people understand the first form better. So long as there is only 1%-2% passive voice you are probably OK. 7. These are not academic papers. Avoid "We" (unless you are writing with someone else). It is very good to use "I". "In this article, I'll show you..." Don't take an "academic tone". Pretend you are talking about your subject to a couple of your friends that you think are really sharp. I like "You" even better. Instead of saying "I needed a way to convert the file into usable data." Try: "You'll need a way to convert the file..." This involves the reader. 8. Speaking of which, make sure your article says very early what it is about. Try to hook the reader in the first few sentences and convince him he should continue reading. Look at your favorite authors and try to see how they do this. 9. Sell articles once, but ideas many times. This is key if you want to write
seriously. Say you get a new compiler for Windows 2000. Perhaps you learn how to
do something on Windows 2000 and write an article on it. Then you also write a
review about the compiler, and finally write about new Windows 2000
architecture. 1.4 times the work, but 3 times the articles. 10. Most magazines don't care about your fancy word processor. They want plain, double-spaced text with (perhaps) bold and italics. This is because they pour your text into a publishing program and massage it anyway. Be sure to read the author's guidelines to see what they want. People ask me all the time if you get rich writing. Sure. If you are Stephen King. Don't expect to get rich writing magazine articles. If you want to find out about pay, go to the library and look up the magazine in a current "Writers Market" (that's the name of a book). That book will also give you tips on how to prepare a manuscript, etc. To start out, you might find the money low, but as you do more you'll find that you can write more articles in less time, get more money, and sell ideas more than once. Also, magazine writing is a fine entry into writing books, teaching, consulting, and other money-making opportunities. Finally, here are the top mistakes that will mark you as an amateur: 1. Sending a finished manuscript before being asked. 2. Single-spaced manuscripts (although this is less true now that most people take electronic submissions). 3. Lots of passive voice constructions. 4.Calling editors every week to ask if they have looked at your proposal, when your article will be in print, etc. 5. Submitting to more than one magazine right away. 6. Using fancy paper, envelopes, or formatting. 7."Flaming" the magazine in a public forum for rejecting your proposal or manuscript. 8.Proposing an article that is so far out of the magazine's interest that it is clear you have never seen a copy of the magazine. 9. Blatant self-promotion. 10. Proposing articles that are so broad it would take 10,000 words to treat
them properly. I hope you find this information useful. Be sure to read the author
guidelines as they will have a lot of good tips, too. Also, go to the library
and look for books on manuscript preparation, and non-fiction writing. Sadly,
most of the books you find will be about writing the next great American novel,
but there are still some books that are helpful. You can always ask the
librarian; they really like authors and aspiring authors. Of course, when you
get in print, make sure to bring a copy to the library to say thanks. Good Luck! |