Freelance writers can make an excellent primary, or second income, writing articles for money. If you can write knowledgeably and effectively about a subject, then you have a great potential to write articles and make money online. There are many types of articles you can write, but on this occasion I would like to discuss how to write a magazine article.

Magazine Article Subject Matter

The areas for writing magazine articles are simply limitless. The best way to get some indication of the sheer size of the writing business is to take a quick visit to your local bookstore and take a look around. There you will see the vast array of magazines and books with numerous subjects on display. Fact is, every single one of those magazines is packed with articles written not just by professional journalists, but also by people just like you and me, and because the magazine business is a fast paced industry with many magazines on schedule to be published monthly, one can only imagine how much material is actually needed. As a result, magazine editors are continuously on the lookout for fresh material with a unique personal view.

This is where you come in:

Many people just like you are now using there own personal knowledge and experience to successfully write short articles about subjects they are interested in and sell them to magazines to make money online. It's the prefect home business idea too. With access to a computer you are free to set your own schedule, and write on just about any subject you want too. In actual fact the real drive, aside from making money, is that to write a magazine article is actually fun. However to be successful, it is important that you take it seriously.

Here are a few simple steps to get you started on how to write a magazine article:

Choose a Subject You Love

The secret is to write from your own experience, to get your own unique perspective across. Whenever possible write knowledgeably, truthfully, passionate even, about the things that interest you or matter to you. This is easier than it might sound. Just make sure that you choose a subject that is something you are either knowledgeable about and love, or is something you are happy to learn about, as this way it is much easier to write.

Do Some Research

Even if you think you know a particular area well, it is still a very good idea to research the area online, and find out what has already been written on the subject. This will give you a grounded perspective of what other people understand about your particular subject is all about. Reading extensively on the subject is also the best way to get your ideas for your magazine articles.

Also, go to a magazine store and spend time looking and reading the magazines which carry articles related to your interests. Look at more than one of these magazines. Buy the magazine that are most relevant to your subject, take them home and study the general writing style and average length of articles in each magazine.

Content Matters

Make sure any article you write is informative and original with interesting content. The main thing that any special interest magazine will want from you is that your magazine articles will be of interest to their readership. This is the primary reason it is always best to choose a subject you love or enjoy.

Draw up a list of all of your personal interests such as your work speciality, hobbies, sports, interests, etc.; whatever you can think of that interests you sufficiently that you would be happy to write about it.

Work related writing is often a very good idea because this is often an area which you can write about with knowledge without much effort. For example if you are a stay at home mother, why not write article about raising children, as you can imagine your subject matter areas are limitless.

Also try to be original - think about any unique angles that you could cover in your particular area of interest.

Write your article.

Choose a quiet time and place where you will not be disturbed, and sit down and write. Once again make sure you know your subject. Write in a style and character that matches the style and approach of the particular magazine(s) that you are targeting.

Save your work. Take a break. Then go back and read over what you have written. Read it out loud, and make any changes you think necessary. Continue until you are happy with your article but be careful not to overwork your writing, as this can cause your article to loose some of its spontaneity and personality. Remember that your article does not need to be perfect as there are magazine editors whose job it is to edit your final article once submitted.

Ensure that your final article is of the preferred length for that magazine, has the appropriate word count and ideally it reads as if it was written by one of the authors already published there.

Submit your article

The hard part is over. Now you simply send your article out. Use a short cover letter to explain your interest, background and subject, and ask them if they would be interested in publishing your attached article within their magazines. Send a copy of your work to all of to the magazine(s) that you are targeting.

You will find that the response time may vary, but you will be pleasantly surprised at how many positive responses you can get for an article that is original, personal and informative and those appeals to the readers of your targeted magazines.

Finally, if writing articles for money is something that interests you, then give it a go. By doing so you will be in good company, as everyday more aspiring writers just like you are turning their own personal hobby or passion into a successful business venture by writing magazine articles to make money.

Chris Holden

This article was written by Christopher Holden who is a Business Consultant and the author Entrepreneur Essential.com an online home based business guide specializing in helping individuals succeed online.

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