Trade Magazine Writing Tips

Anne Wayman reports:
 
“A trade magazine is a magazine written for members [of] an organization or a particular industry or trade. In contrast, consumer magazines are much more broadly focused and have a potentially much larger audience. For example, you won’t find a magazine aimed at the plumbing industry at the newsstand in your local supermarket, although you might find articles about plumbing in several magazines there…The reason to write for trade magazines is [twofold]: For the most part they are more open to new writers than consumer magazines. And trade magazines often pay at least as well, and sometimes more[,] as many consumer magazines. For example, according to Writer’s Market[,] HPAC pays 25 cents a word – not a fortune, but better than content mills. Something called AeroSafty World pays up to $1,500 for a feature. Plumbing and airplanes not your thing? How about horses, or hospital, or houses or… chances are if you can think of it there’s at least one trade magazine for it…Writer’s Market lists literally hundreds of trade magazines. In fact it has a whole category called Trade Magazines. Another approach is to simply google trade magazines. That search will bring up various directories of the publications. Some are better than others, but looking at some of the directories will give you a feel for the wide variety of trade magazines available. It also works to search for a specific industry or topic…You can also find trades by asking for them where you shop. Yes, there are trades for supermarkets, specialty markets, coffee, tea, gifts, retail, clothing – the lists just go on…Don’t overlook organizations and clubs…If you find a trade you’re interested in through a market listing there will probably be instructions on how to get a sample copy. Many trade publishers will be happy to send you an issue or two for free. Just pick up the phone and ask. You’ve got to get at least one copy or you’ll not be clear on what the magazine wants. As usual, if you find a current market listing[,] follow the instructions about queries and submissions. However, there are a ton of trades out there without market listings. In that case, send a query by email or snail mail. If [your] idea is accepted[,] make sure [you’re] clear on how much you’ll be paid and when you’ll be paid before you accept the assignment. Not all trades pay or pay well and most of them don’t have market listings. You may be able to find out if they pay and roughly how much on the magazine’s website, but often you’ll have to ask. Again, you can pick up the phone or you can take time to go through the query process…You don’t have to be an expert in the field to successfully sell to a trade magazine. You will have to figure out something to say to the readers, but an article on what a consumer really wants from her plumber could work. Read at least one issue of the magazine and let your mind soar. Not so by the way, credits in trade magazines are golden. It’s not unusual at all for a writer to move from trade to consumer. If you want to write for publications, trades are a great way to go.”