How to Develop a Writing Style to Target Magazine Markets

People read different types of media for different reasons. Newspapers are notable for reporting the facts, websites give specific blurbs of info in a quick and direct manner, books tell stories or explain a subject in a very thorough manner. Magazines are different. Prized for targeting very specific audiences, they are often known for their expertise on a certain topic that appeals a specific type of reader. Writing for a magazine can be enjoyable and lucrative with a little homework done in advance.

Instructions

1. Start by focusing on a topic you're interested in writing; when getting started, it may come more naturally to write on a topic if you're familiar with it.

2. Research to find the top magazine titles within the subject matter you've chosen. Many large bookstores carry hundreds of magazine titles, from mainstream ones including lifestyle, home, sports, fitness, entertainment, music and more to more specifics like cooking, travel and titles relating to individual hobbies and interests.

3. Read three to four of the titles in the market you aim to write about. Pay particular attention to the writing style used in the magazine. Is it straight and to the point? Instruction based? Down to earth or intellectual? Take notes as you analyze each one.

4. Define the audience of each magazine after you've become acquainted with it. List the types of articles that appear in the magazines.

5. Brainstorm to develop potential articles that would be a good fit for each title. For each of the several magazines, circle the article idea you've developed for each that would seem to be the best fit. These will become your trial articles.

6. Write each article taking into consideration the very specific writing style published by the magazine you're hypothetically writing it for.

7. Turn each of your articles into queries you can submit to the editors of each magazine you've been focusing on. Only do this once you've edited and refined each article to a point you're pleased with and proud of.

8. Continue to tweak and perfect your magazine writing style by constantly reading new magazine titles and taking note of the journalistic style used in each.

9. Take the advice of editors responses to further improve your writing and soon you'll see your work in print.