How to Create Ideas for a Teen Magazine
Writing content or creating ideas for a teen magazine is difficult. You need to like teenagers, know what they are interested in and be able to communicate without preaching, talking down or using what you think might be current slang. If you write like you speak, do better than adequate research, can find the right tone or "voice," and know your age group, you may be able to find a teen audience.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Back issues of popular teen magazines
- Writer's guidelines
- Some investigative work
- Reader/editor for corrections
Instructions
-
Explore, Examine and Exploit to Write for Teens
-
1
Exploit your library for background research. There's no better place to find a good selection of periodicals. Look at popular mainstream titles like "Teen Magazine," "Seventeen," "YM," "Teen People" and more. But don't forget to look at other specialty titles such as "Scholastic Action," "Gumbo Magazine," or "Listen." Don't just breeze through them---read some articles, note the language, be aware of the ads, and see what's current.
-
2
Send away for magazine guidelines. Each magazine has its own audience. Know what age group it caters to and what the editors want in terms of content. While some magazines are beauty oriented, like "Teen Vogue" for example, others might feature more career-related topics, and the magazine guidelines will spell that out. Type the magazine name into a search engine; once at the site, look for "writer's guidelines" or "submissions."
-
-
3
Take notes on what teens like. There are only so many times that teens can hear about the dangers of drugs, how to study and unsafe sex. If you can't provide new information, skip these overdone diatribes.
Talk to some teenagers and find out what they'd like to read about. And remember that, like adults, teens want to find inspiring stories or articles with humor. -
4
Give it a twist. When you come up with an idea, turn it on its ear for a new angle. For example, for older teens nearing adulthood, the late summer issues will be full of "doing up your dorm" articles. Why don't you pitch an article about how to get acquainted with a new town for college-bound readers instead?
Plan ahead. That brings up another point. Magazine articles are planned, at the minimum, six months ahead, so it's not out of line to think Christmas in March. -
5
Go where teens are. This most obvious advice is most often ignored. Attend school specialty groups as an adviser---perhaps you can be assistant director of the next school play or help set up equipment for the next big debate. Join the parents who raise funds by selling snacks during sporting events. These activities offer lots of interaction with teenagers and good opportunities to make new friends and get the lowdown on teen life.
-
6
Look for personal stories. Whether you are writing about style, fitness, health or career, bone up on your interview skills and find true, informative perspectives. Personal opinion pieces are important to teens as they are always looking for direction and experience.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Specialize. If you zero in on a topic and become an expert, you will find many ways to skillfully view the subject area from different angles. Break into college planning magazines, pet periodicals, eco-oriented periodicals, entertainment mags and more specialized titles to find your niche. • Plan to look for quizzes, puzzles and games. Lovingly called "fillers," these types of pieces are always needed and sometimes in short supply. • Cross over into new territory by combining ideas. Instead of writing about hot teen stars, write about teen stars who work for charities or teenagers who champion a cause. • Quick test: If it would interest an adult, it's probably a good topic.
Writing for teens is a business just like any other. Look for ways to empower teens without selling out by pandering to the cosmetics companies---most of those are handled in-house anyway. • Life experience pieces must be crafted much like fiction, using highly descriptive techniques and incorporating narrative style.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Clipart.com
