How to Become a Contributing Writer for Essence

Essence Magazine was the first magazine published for African American women between the ages of 18 and 49. It features issues of interest to African American women that fall largely under the topics of news, lifestyle, fashion and beauty. It has a monthly circulation of around one million readers. Due to its position as a solid periodical in the African American community, many people want to write for Essence, but doing so is not easy.

Instructions

1. Read Essence. It's always advisable to have a good knowledge of a magazine before you attempt to get hired to write for it. Read the articles carefully, taking note of the kind of articles in the magazine (read several issues to get a real sense of this) as well as how the articles are written. You should be able to write in a similar tone.

2. Develop some credentials as a writer. To pitch an article to a magazine like Essence that is in major circulation, you should have good experience as a writer. If you have a college degree, but it's in an unrelated field like engineering or history, consider taking a writing course. Beyond that, write as much as you can for anyone who will let you. Consider writing some freelance articles for a local newspaper so you can get a byline on an article.

3. Write for as many magazines as you can. Though major magazines are hard to break into as a writer, it can be done if you start small. Without the proper experience and clips, you can't get a job writing for Essence. Pitch article ideas to trade publications and local magazines. Once you have succeeded in getting those writing jobs, move on to large publications like Essence.

4. Make contacts in the magazine world. If there's a local magazine that you write for, meet the editor in person instead of relying on email and the telephone. Introduce yourself and establish a more personal relationship with him or her. You never know which contacts will prove useful.

5. Pitch an idea to the appropriate editor at Essence. Use the "Writer's Market" for tips on submitting a query to the magazine, but find more current contact information so you query the right person.

6. Use the online magazine's information to help you determine to whom to send a query. At the bottom of the magazine's website home page, you can click on "Writer's Guidelines" and get information about how to query the magazine and to which editor to send a query.

Tips & Warnings

• Refine your writing skills by keeping a blog; you can send editors a link to your blog as a sample of your writing.

Resources

• Essence Magazine
• Writers Market