Hi,
I was wondering if anyone had any advice for pitching an idea for an article to a woman's mag? I don't usually do non-fiction and I have no idea where to start!
Alex x

Hi Alex,

I'm not an expert but I have had a few articles published in magazines in the past.

First I emailed the mags and enquired as to whether they accept unsolicited mateial and if they have a contributors guidelines, this way you have an idea as to whether the magazine uses their own writers or not and guidelines are always helpful.

Then I've studied a few issues of the magazine (understand their style, etc) and then just written the article and sent it off. If it's rejected I'll search elsewhere, tweak the article to the new magz requirements, etc.

I'm sorry, Alex, this probably doesn't help you much. This is probably a really long, drawn out way of doing it and I expect there is a much simplier and more affective way, lol.

Good luck

Alana

<Added>

I think with some of the women's mag they use their own writers. I had a story/article published in Take a Break once and it was re-written by their own writers. It might be worth checking that as well.

Alana

Hi Alex - I write quite regularly for women's mags. You need to find out who the commissioning ed is and then send a pitch - don't send the whole article. If you can give me an idea of the kind of article/mag you are thinking of I may be able to offer more specific advice.

Catherine

Hello,

Yep, you need to find out who the commissioning ed is - as opposed to the fiction ed for short stories - then send them a pitch.

Like Fluffy says, it helps to read a couple mags and get an idea of what they publish/like, and with an unfamilar mag, it doesn't hurt to send a query email introducing yourself and asking what they accept articles. Many mags use in house writers for non-fiction stuff.

Kat x



<Added>

sorry - 'whether' they accept articles, not 'what' duh!

Hi guys,
thanks for the advice, sorry been offline for a bit! Catherine, I will send you a message, thanks.
Alex x