According to Meg Weaver, in her Wooden Horse Magazine News, the magazine industry is bouncing back.
Are you experiencing it? Are you getting more articles accepted? Are you being paid closer to on time? Is the pay scale going back up? Are the magazines you work for still in business or have they returned? Are the working conditions better—better communication, less flaking?
What about your competition? Have the newcomers and those simply hoping to make a buck in this field gone away? Is the field clear for those who are serious about article-writing and who know how to approach it as a professional?
Do you finally feel as though you can sigh a sigh of relief after a rough few years of trying to maintain your article-writing career?
To those of you who can answer, “YES,” I offer my congratulations. Good for you for staying true to your profession. Those of you who were forced to drop back to part-time—who had to get regular work to sustain you and your family—hopefully, you’ll be earning your living through article-writing soon again.
I had to supplement my article work by getting a regular job once many years ago. Probably like you, I spent every spare minute writing and submitting articles to a variety of magazines and doing freelance work on the side until I had built my business to the point where I could quit the job. That took about eight months. And I have been supporting myself through my writing ever since.
Today, I’m going to take time away from revising my book on book marketing and write the SPAWN Market Update. This is a newsletter that is posted in the member area of the SPAWN website every first of the month. You might be interested in the content. First, let me say, for those who don’t know, SPAWN is Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network. We are a networking organization and resource center for anyone who is interested in or involved in publishing (whether books, articles, stories or art). I include a lot of information in the Market Update about the magazine industry, magazines that are seeking articles and art, new magazines, etc. And our archives go back some ten years. For those of you who do not write articles, but who have books to promote or are seeking a publisher for your manuscript, we have your back, as well. The bulk of the 10 to 14-page newsletter is definitely directed at authors and article-writers. Ask for a sample and I’ll send it to you: PLFry620@yahoo.com
Learn more about SPAWN http://www.spawn.org
In the meantime, let me know how you’re going as a professional article-writer. I’d like a feel for what’s going on in the industry from your perspective. Leave your comments here.
Visit my websites:
http://www.patriciafry.com (sign up for a free book.)
http://www.matilijapress.com