Q: I’m thinking new publications might be an untapped resource for freelance writers. Where can I find out about magazine launches?
A: Yes, new magazines can be a great place for experienced AND beginning writers to break in. Although most new magazines do have a staff in place, some are still interested in using freelancers but may not know where to find them. Also, new publications aren’t as likely to be saturated with queries as those that are already established. Here are some places to learn about new launches:
- www.MrMagazine.com. Samir Husni is probably the leader on what’s new in the publishing world. He also interviews editors and publishers so you get a behind-the-scenes view of what’s going on at certain magazines. He also has a blog that is updated much more regularly than his website.
- www.mediabistro.com Although most people think of Media Bistro as a job site for those in the creative industries, it’s also a good place to find out about magazine launch parties. (READ: launch party = new magazine)
http://www.minonline.com Min Magazine and Min Online are dedicated to leaders and branding experts in the magazine industry. Although access to some material is limited, you can view quite a bit about magazine launches for free. - http://crazedlist.org This site allows you to search ALL cities on CraigsList.org at once. Do a search for “new magazine” in the “jobs” section. Sometimes the ads will be for salespeople, but that doesn’t mean you can’t track down the publication with a Google search and pitch a query.
Wendy Burt-Thomas is a full-time freelance writer, editor and copywriter with more than 1,000 published pieces. Her work has appeared in such varied publications as MSNBC.com, NYTimes.com, Family Circle and American Fitness. She is the author of three books: Oh, Solo Mia! The Hip Chick’s Guide to Fun for Work It, Girl! 101 Tips for the Hip Working Chick (McGraw-Hill, 2003); and The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters (Writer’s Digest, 2008). Visit her at http://www.GuideToQueryLetters.com or her blog, http://askWendy.wordpress.com.
