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- Money, Freeware from Another Company
- copyright 1991
-
-
- Chapter 4
- Articles
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-
- If you have a computer, even if all you have is a $5
- garage sale typewriter, you can begin a fine career writing
- articles for magazines. It is extremely easy. Write about
- anything you know, or write fiction. Everyone is an expert
- in some field. Write about the various types of applesauce or
- how to modify Honda carburetors. Even draw cartoons. Then
- send copies of your writing to several magazines. For a
- quick poem or short article you can get from $5 to $500. For
- a full length article, perhaps with photographs, you make
- anywhere from $20 to $3000. You have to pick the proper
- magazines. Obviously, Ladies' Home Journal isn't going to
- buy an article about malfunctioning fork lifts, and
- Mechanic's Monthly doesn't want a cartoon about jewelry. The
- only requirements are to make sure your facts are accurate,
- and make sure your stuff is your own words and ideas.
-
- Don't send out just one article and wait for a fat
- check. It doesn't happen that way. Instead, write, write,
- write. Send twenty articles per week to twenty different
- publications. Keep sending them every week. Some of them will
- be purchased. After a while, you will become practiced at
- writing what publishers want to buy and you will build a
- credential. The author who can claim 300 published articles
- can command a higher price.
-
- This writer has no problem writing after I get an
- idea, but sometimes the ideas are rare. I recommend carrying
- around a small notebook at all times and write your ideas as
- they come to you.
-
- Don't worry about your writing style. If your
- information is interesting, timely or of value, the editors
- can fix mispelinggs and errors of punctuation,, You can be a
- horrible story teller, as long as your viewpoint is unique or
- your information is fresh. Non-fiction seems far easier to
- sell than fiction. Poetry is slow in the marketplace, but
- product reviews and technical presentations sell well to
- specialty magazines.
-
- If possible, send each article you have written to only
- one publication at a time. If rejected, then send that one
- to another, etc. This way, you avoid conflicts that could
- develop if two publishers try to buy it at approximately the
- same time.
-
- Get a copy of the book, WRITER'S MARKET. It is the
- definitive source of information about the publishers who
- will buy your articles. Not only does this book list over
- 4,000 buyers addresses and editor's names, but it also gives
- a description of exactly what type of material they want to
- buy. Pay particular attention to the first twenty pages. This
- part of Writer's Market tells you about how to package your
- articles. Briefly, present your work double spaced on 8.5" X
- 11" white paper. Do not bind or staple the sheets. On the top
- of the first page should appear your name, address, phone
- number, social security number and the name of the article.
- The article name and your name should also be at the top of
- each subsequent page. Always send return packaging and
- postage with each submission.
-
- This year's Writer's Market sells for $25. If you are
- just starting out, look to garage sales or second hand book
- stores for last year's copy. It can typically be purchased
- for $5.
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