How to Syndicate a Column

You've written a column and now you want to be the next "Dear Abby" or Dave Berry and have your work appear in hundreds of newspapers across the country. With the right column idea and marketing, you could be the next big columnist, but it's not an easy task. Finding syndicates is fairly simple, but convincing them to choose you over the thousands of other writers that submit to them each year--that's the hard part.

Things You'll Need

• Good column idea
• List of publications to submit column
• List of submission services
• List of syndication services

Instructions

1. Read online articles about how to syndicate a column. The Writers-Editors Network offers writing-related articles on their website, including an in-depth one on syndicating a column. There are also several books available that can help you learn more about syndication. (See resources section).

2. Send a query along with about five samples of your columns to newspapers for possible publication. You can buy lists of newspapers including contact information, but you can also find contact information for many of them online. There are also books available with 100s of newspaper listings or you can hire a service to send your work out for you.

3. Accept whatever deals you are offered when first publishing your column, article or series. In the beginning, it's better to get your name and work out there, than it is to make the big bucks. If your writing is appearing in reputable publications, it will give you something to show to a syndicate company and could make the difference of whether or not they want to represent you.

4. Cut out copies of your published columns or articles from the actual print publication, or if it appears online, download a copy and print it out. Be sure the publication's masthead and publication date is included with each clipping.

5. Arrange your clippings by pasting them to sheets of paper that you can easily make copies of and send to several syndicate companies.

6. Select syndicates to send your material to. There are several hundred syndicates that you can find by searching the Internet and buying books like Editor & Publisher's annual "Syndicate Directory" (see Resources section).

7. Send your published samples, a cover letter, short bio and SASE to several syndicates you feel would be interested in your type of column. Make sure the focus of your pitch is on your previously published pieces and include any expertise you have in the field you're writing about in your bio.

8. Be patient. You may have to send out your query and samples many times before you catch the eye of a publisher and you may have to try more than once with different sets of published clips. Remember, these publishers look at 100s sometimes 1000s of writers' material every year.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't expect high fees for your column, because it is sold to multiple editors. The individual fees are small, but when you add them together, the total amount collected for one column can be fairly high, if it's being sold to a lot of publications.

• Each publication buys non-exclusive rights to a syndicated piece of work, which means you can sell it over and over again, unlike traditional articles where publications may buy all rights and you can't resell it anywhere.

• If you choose to hire a service to send your queries and columns to newspaper publications or syndicates for you, be sure to research each service and see exactly what you get for their fee. Also, learn more about their past successes to determine if the company is legitimate.