1 of 8

Write now Article Tools

Most errors made by writers new to the magazine market are correctable. They usually fall in the category of lackadaisical research. That's the good news. The not-so-good news is that editors don't have a lot of tolerance for beginner's mistakes. There's just too much competition. You are competing with experienced writers who know how to turn a phrase and how to please an editor.

Make a professional entry into the magazine market by avoiding these common errors.

1. Not Reading the Publication

Most publications assume freelance writers will be familiar with their magazine before submitting. Surprisingly, this doesn't always happen, and the consequence could mean the difference between a rejection letter (or silence) and a published article.

Get a copy of the magazine. Many now have online versions. Scan a few articles. Get a feel for the tone and the writing style. Don't make the mistake of sending a personal experience piece written in first person to a journal that expects objective, documented writing. Check out the various columns and departments. Look at whether the magazine is heavily illustrated, whether it uses fluff pieces as filler. Decide whether you'd want your work appearing in the publication. Sometimes in our rush to get published, we don't consider the repercussions of having our writing appear in a disreputable magazine.

2. Not Reading Submission Guidelines

Develop the essential habit of reading Submission Guidelines Sometimes these are flexible. But the majority of publications are explicit about numerous items ranging from delivery of submissions (i.e., electronic or by email), reading periods, themed editions, what they do not want and the type of articles they need. For example, trade magazines shape content around themes, special occasions, seasonal trends, products, services and their advertisers. Human interest publications are looking for features that have meaningful appeal to their readership. Special interest magazines will naturally want work that is customized to their area of expertise. Guidelines also give the response time for your submission and reveal the magazine's pay rate if relevant. They also note when the writer will receive payment and provide information regarding rights of ownership.

3. Not Following the Submission Guidelines

From the editor's point of view, there is no excuse for not reading their guidelines. Flaunting these written requests is the quickest way to have your writing trashed without a moment's hesitation. Keep in mind your competitors, and the fact that the editor has finite editorial space to fill. There are always more submissions than white space.

4.
Not Proofing Your Work

Don't just run a spelling check, read your work. And if you don't trust your grammatical skills, then ask someone to edit the article for you and highlight questionable material. You don't want the editor being your second set of eyes and finding a "their" instead of a "there." Proofing for grammar, typos, spelling and facts are all marks of a professional writer. A cleanly written, mistake-free article with punch and energy will delight the editor more than you know (unless you are an editor).

5.
Writing "Bad" Copy

"Bad" is a strong word. This isn't necessarily an article marred by typos or lacking basic data. It is writing that lacks vital ingredients. Editors want originality and versatility. They are looking for that article with staying power; the one that floats in a reader's mind a day or a week after reading it.

Editors are dying for a muscular sentence, a discussion that combines passion with substance, and a rhythm and a style that pleases the ear and engages their imagination. Give them this, and who knows? They may just forgive the errant typo.

Learn more about this author, TA White.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Mistakes new magazine writers make and how to avoid them?
We want to hear your view. Write now!