How to Write for Sports Illustrated Magazine

Writing for any magazine is a challenge, but can be done with the proper amount of writing skill. Writing for a popular magazine like Redbook or Sports Illustrated almost always requires someone with professional writing experience. If you are a writer and you are looking for new writing opportunities, magazine writing is an ideal way to go. Writing for Sports Illustrated, although a hard magazine to break into, has a few writer's guidelines to follow. Read through the following steps to find out what they are.

Instructions

1. Determine the type of article you will write for Sports Illustrated. The magazine has several regular segments all requiring articles: First Person; Who's Hot, Who's Not; Inside the Many Sports; Faces in the Crowd; and The Point After. Most of the writers are in-house and hired as regular freelance contributors for the magazine. However, some articles are set aside for freelancers.

2. Contruct a query letter. This letter is a proposal to the magazine for permission to write the article. This is not the article itself. The query letter must start with an attention-grabbing statement. With the thousands of query letters received by Sports Illustrated every month, your letter must stand out in the crowd.

3. Create a short synopsis of the article idea. Use the shortest amount of space to say the most about your topic. You want to convey your message clearly and as quickly as possible. Sports Illustrated editors are very busy and have little time to read the many letters they receive. Say what you need to say, and then be done with it.

4. Finish your query letter with a short biography letting the editors know why you are qualified to write for their magazine. Are you a sports expert, do you have a physical education degree? Make sure to list all the magazines you've been published in. Send a few article samples relating to the subject matter. If you've written for another sports magazine, include those clips. This is the section of your letter where you sell yourself.

5. Address your query letter to either Chris Hunt, the articles editor, or Jacob Luft, the senior editor. Place in the subject line a phrase that tells the editor you are sending a query letter. Send the query letter to Sports Illustrated via email, [e-mail]. It could take up to six months for a response.

6. Send your query letter via snail mail if you'd rather not use the Internet. Make sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you would like a response. Address the envelope to Sports Illustrated Time, Inc., Magazine Co. Sports Illustrated Bldg. 135 w. 50th St. New York, NY 10020.

Tips & Warnings

• Before submitting a manuscript to Sports Illustrated, verify with the magazine that they are accepting submissions. Call the phone number, [phone], send the magazine an email or send it a letter through regular mail. All contact information can be found on its Website, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/. Be persistent. If your query letter is rejected, try again. Writing for Sports Illustrated will take endurance and determination.

• Do not send an unsolicited manuscript to Sports Illustrated without permission.