Carrying a notebook can be helpful for taking notes and interviewing sources to further develop the story.
Writers don’t necessarily need a formal education, but most successful writers have a bachelor’s degree in English or journalism or a related field. There are two main ways to become a magazine writer. One way is to be hired as an in-house or staff writer on a permanent basis. Most employers in this case require at least some education, and experience writing for school or community newspapers or websites can also be helpful. The other way to become a magazine writer is to work as a freelance writer, which often involves submitting individual articles for consideration.
Building an archive of clips of work published in creative magazines can help you land a job as a magazine writer.
Some magazines only publish articles written by their own editors. These writers often go into the office and stick to a fairly typical schedule. In-house writers may be responsible for submitting their own topics, or a magazine editor may designate specific topics. These positions can be quite difficult to obtain as there are many qualified writers vying for a small number of in-house jobs.
Magazine writers must review their work before submitting it for publication.
While requirements vary, there are some basic credentials that many employers like to see in their writers. For example, writing samples is almost always necessary. Degrees in literature, history, or journalism may also be helpful. Many editors like to see that their editors also have an interest in the topic the magazine covers. For example, a law journal may prefer writers to have a law degree, paralegal degree, or legal work experience.
Magazine writers typically have a bachelor’s degree in English or journalism.
A freelance writer can also become a magazine writer, but often takes a slightly different path. A freelance writer will rarely work in the magazine office. In fact, he can usually work from just about anywhere he can plug in his computer and find Internet access.
To become a magazine writer, a freelance writer can start by sending query letters to magazine editors. The writer writes a query letter to inform the editor of her idea. If the editor likes the idea proposed by the writer, the editor can request a manuscript of the article. If the editor likes the manuscript, the article is likely to appear in the journal. Most people trying to become magazine writers must go through many questioned letters and rejected manuscripts before an article is published.
A freelance magazine writer can work from virtually anywhere.
In many cases, once a writer has successfully published a few articles in a specific magazine, the publisher may ask them to write specific articles without going through the lengthy submission process. For example, an editor may know that the writer is extremely computer savvy, based on her previously published articles. As a result, the editor may directly ask the writer to write an article about a new computer program. In most cases, if the article doesn’t get published, the writer will still get paid or receive a death fee.
Freelance magazine writers must be able to write on time.
Some tips for becoming a magazine writer include reading the magazine’s submission guidelines. Some journals have specific guidelines that must be followed. For example, some publishers only want query letters or manuscripts sent by email, while others prefer hard copies sent by mail. In addition, it is important to ensure that the query letter or manuscript is addressed to the correct person, either by email or post.