This year, more than ever, writers want to be able to earn income from their creative writing. The idea of being able to make money from a hobby sounds good, doesn’t it? Well, it is good, but perhaps not as good as you think. The truth is that making a living from your pen isn’t as easy as it seems. It requires a lot of patience and perseverance. However, if you want to write for a popular magazine, the possibilities are there.
Find A Niche
Writing for a mainstream magazine isn’t easy. Chances are, you’ll struggle to find an audience. The good news is that this is exactly what you need to avoid. Instead, look for a niche audience. When you find this audience, the sky is the limit as to how much money you can make (and how many articles you can write).
For example, if you are a fitness enthusiast, you may want to consider writing for an exercise magazine. Or if you love to cook, you could take up blogging and become a regular contributor to various food blogs. Alternatively, if history is your favorite subject, you could even specialize in writing for history magazines or biographies (for which you’ll probably need to do a bit of research first).
Start Small
If you are just beginning your writing career, it may be a good idea to start small. Many successful writers, including me, began their careers with a few well-written and thoroughly researched short stories. These short stories caught the attention of a literary agent, who subsequently sold my first two books. Since then, my writing has appeared in some of the biggest, most well-known magazines, and in two prestigious anthologies. I wouldn’t say my career took off straight away, but it certainly didn’t take long.
If you are passionate about a particular topic, it can be easy to find online forums where you can discuss the subject with experts or other enthusiasts. You can also find these communities in real life, in your local library, or at a nearby coffee shop. Alternatively, you can use social media to find like-minded individuals and exchange ideas.
Follow The Rules
Writing for a popular magazine isn’t easy. Chances are, you’ll struggle to find an audience. The good news is that this is exactly what you need to avoid. Instead, look for a niche audience. When you find this audience, the sky is the limit as to how much money you can make (and how many articles you can write).
To write for a mainstream magazine, you must adhere to a few rules. First, the articles must be between 500 and 1,500 words. Second, they must be based on a true story (although you can make them up). Third, they must be submitted by a reputable author. Finally, the articles must be original. Simple, right? Well, to put it mildly, following these rules can be hard. Most publications won’t even consider an article if it is more than two years old. And when a well-known magazine doesn’t publish your work, it can be a bit of a struggle to convince them to take a chance on you. The truth is that the success of a writer’s career depends largely on their willingness to submit their work to as many publications as possible.
Know Your Platform
If you are writing for a blog, you need to consider what platform you are using. There are many successful (and well-known) bloggers on platforms like WordPress and Medium. If you are looking to write for a mainstream magazine, these platforms are certainly usable, but they may not be the right fit. For example, if you are writing for a lifestyle magazine, using a platform such as Blogger may be suitable. But if you are aiming for a more traditional publication in a niche subject, you may want to consider looking for a specialized platform.
The Results
There are many benefits to writing for a mainstream magazine. You will most likely have articles published in well-known publications. Your articles will be seen by millions of people. You can promote your work with a byline, which puts you in good stead to gain more writing assignments. Finally, you can use your articles to gain more credibility as a writer.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to writing for a mainstream magazine. You may find it hard to break into the industry. Your articles may not stand out among the competition. And, last but not least, you may not be able to make a living from it. However, if you truly believe you have something special to offer, the rewards can certainly be worth it.
So, will you write for a traditional magazine or will you take the plunge and go for online publication? It’s up to you, but either way, being able to earn money from your writing is certainly a good thing. Just make sure you are aware of the differences between the two so you can make the right decision about where to publish your work.