Magazine & Newspapers

[BrianTubbs]

If this has been asked or discussed here previously, I apologize. I'm wondering if you all could post some markets and/or success stories for historical freelance writing.

Do you write for local papers? magazines? If so, which ones? How do you go about approaching them? Do you query local papers, for example, much the same way you do magazines?

I have queried Primedia (the publishers of Military History and American History magazines) and talked with one of their editors about a project. I'm submitting it on spec, but they're interested. So, I'd say my odds are a little better than 50-50 if I can get it done, that is.

What success stories do some of you have?

[Carmy]

I've published articles in our city newspaper. I just sent them to the relevant editor.

[johnnysannie]

I do a lot of historical articles for regional magazines that focus on the past in that specific region. I live in the Ozarks so I've written historical focus pieces for The Ozarks Mountaineer, Ozarks Reader, and also for some regional papers.

[doeraymee]

I have written for History Magazine (based in Toronto and distributed across North American). I sold 4 articles to them over the past couple of years. Had great fun researching and writing them, but unfortunately they pay very little. About $75/printed page which works out to about 10 cents a word. So a couple of hundred dollars for many hours of work. It's almost like volunteer work! As I said, it was fun, though. This is not a market for people looking to earn a serious income from writing.

[BrianTubbs]

I've published articles in our city newspaper. I just sent them to the relevant editor.

Do you just send them in blind? Do you call first? Do you know the editor(s) or did you before you started writing for them? Sorry for the elementary questions, but I'm kind of a newbie at this.

[BrianTubbs]

I have written for History Magazine (based in Toronto and distributed across North American). I sold 4 articles to them over the past couple of years. Had great fun researching and writing them, but unfortunately they pay very little. About $75/printed page which works out to about 10 cents a word. So a couple of hundred dollars for many hours of work. It's almost like volunteer work! As I said, it was fun, though. This is not a market for people looking to earn a serious income from writing.

Do you know the kind of articles they normally go for? Is it pretty general or wide-ranging? North America specific?

[doeraymee]

Here is their web site
http://history-magazine.com/index.html
You can send the editor an email and he'll send you more info about what they want including a list of the current topics they'd like to see. They cover mostly North American social history. But some European topics too. They are pleasant to work with.

[pdr]

will take historical stuff if it fits. So you can do dates and people in history, a 'This day in 1374' article series, and local history of interest or where you can make it of interest.

Fiction, well, I sell mine to literary magazines. Chose with care as some are open to historicals but others are contemporary only. Read the magazines first! There are very few dedicated historical fiction magazines.