Things You'll Need:
- Typewriter or word processor
- Paper
- Envelopes
- Stamps
-
Step 1
Read several issues of a publication that carries outdoor articles, and study the style of writing, topics, columns and department subjects. Publications can include local or regional magazines, and club newsletters and bulletins.
-
Step 2
Obtain the publisher's address and editor's name from the publication masthead. According to www.thefreedictionary.com a masthead is "The listing in a newspaper or periodical of information about its staff, operation and circulation."
-
Step 3
Write to the editor and request the publication's submission guidelines. Include a SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) for the reply.
-
Step 4
Upon receipt of the guidelines, ascertain if the editor prefers a query or a completed submission. Choose what type of article fits your subject best or which department you will write for. Edit, proof and spell-check your query or submission until it is error-free. Check to be sure you follow all guidelines. For help with "outdoor-related terminology" the OWAA Outdoor Reference Manual is a good resource.
-
Step 5
For queries, outline your idea and your qualifications that pertain to the subject you will write about. Be specific and keep it to one page. Include a SASE. Tony Mandile in his article "Writing Outdoor Articles For Magazines & Newspapers," states, "too often when queries are rejected, it's the writer's fault because the query letter didn't do its intended job."
-
Step 6
For full submissions, follow instructions received with the query acceptance. If no query is required, submit your work with a SASE.
-
Step 7
Repeat step one while waiting for a reply.
