|
|
 |
 |
Finding and Shaping Ideas for Magazine Articlesby Vicki Meade
Common advice is "write what you know," but Piper believes a better approach is "write where your passion is." You'll get the most satisfaction out of writing about issues and topics you really care about. One of the hardest things about being a professional freelancer, he said, is "taking an assignment you're not particularly enthusiastic about and then trying to produce on a deadline." He recommends generating a list of things you're interested in and feel strongly about--from all aspects of your life--and then listing at least 10. These might be things like parenting, sailing, or coping with being part of the "sandwich" generation. Other ways to get ideas are paying attention to topics friends bring up in conversations and eavesdropping on what others are talking about. Keep a file of ideas and jot down everything yu can think of about each idea to jog your memory later, when the idea has faded. Once you have ideas, you must develop them into suitable topics by narrowing them and coming up with a specific angle. During this process, ask yourself: Who do I want to reach with this idea? To find magazines that might run such a topic, look in Writer's Market. Then study at least six back issues of each potential magazine. Thumb from back to front and check the ads to see who actually reads the magazine. Then flip from front to back and examine the issues the magazine focuses on. If the issues and audience match those you have in mind, you have a better chance of selling your article idea. The standard sales tool is the query letter, which Piper described as "a one-page proposal that sells both your idea and you as the writer." For tips on query writing, he recommends the book Attention-Grabbing Query and Cover Letters by John Wood. The biggest mistakes magazine writers make in trying to sell their ideas are submitting them to the wrong market and not checking to see whether the magazine has already covered the topic recently, Piper said. Also many submit ideas that are too broad, such as "flying," rather than narrowing them down to manageable angles, like "if children have to fly alone." Piper also presented research tips for preparing queries and developing your article. The best sources of information:
The key to success is time management, Piper emphasized. Good organizational skills and filing systems are also important. Set daily goals for what you want to accomplish and keep a calendar with final and interim deadlines spelled out. "Freelance writing is a business," he noted. "Above all, conduct yourself as a professional." |
Vicki Meade |
im
Piper, an engineer who has turned to freelance writing full-time, reminded
attendees at the May 1998 Maryland Writers' Association meeting that article
ideas are all around us. "All you need to do is open your eyes and ears.
It's a different way of seeing and hearing things." Piper, who teaches
nonfiction article writing in the Writers' Workshops at Anne Arundel Community
College, filled his hour-long presentation with tips he emphasizes in
his courses.