Learning how to write a magazine article can be tricky for those trained in traditional newspaper writing. Magazine article writing uses many of the same concepts as newspaper writing, but for a different readership-one who is interested in a deeper look at the story and has more time to read it.
Consider The Audience
All magazines serve a specific niche audience, whether it's fly fishermen, parents, sports fans or political junkies. Therefore, when writing a magazine article, it's crucial to consider who will be reading it. When you write specifically to the reading audience, the article will better serve their interests and is more likely to be published. The audience often determines the topic of the article and the level of comprehension required to read it.
Study The Submission Requirements
Magazines receive hundreds of queries for articles in any given week. Many editors simply will not look at a submission when their guidelines have not been followed. Some magazines may ask for just query letters, while others want a 500-word sample as a pitch. Still others will accept the complete article for review but won't return it without a self-addressed stamped envelope. In order to ensure success, magazine article writers will study the magazine they hope to submit to. Getting to know the voice and style of the magazine will help you tailor your own article to be a better match.
Magazine-Style Writing
A magazine article is written differently from a newspaper article in many ways. Magazines are intended to be more evergreen; that is, they should be relevant for a longer period of time. A good magazine article should also contain plenty of research and statistics to back up the information presented. Interviews are also an important part of magazine article writing, but they will be more in-depth than an interview for a newspaper article.
Remember that newspaper articles don't take much time to read, and the audience is interested only in a quick recap of who, what, where, when and why. Because readers devote more time to a magazine article dedicated to their special interests, they are looking for entertainment and enrichment, as well as information.
The Structure Of A Magazine Article
Like any good piece of writing, the introduction should be informative and enticing enough so that readers want to continue. You can use a variety of techniques for a "hook," such as an anecdote, eyewitness account or startling statistic. As you write, try to answer the following question: How does the topic affect the audience? The body of the magazine article should blend hard facts with the human interest.
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