It’s funny the things you get into when you comment on someone’s blog. I was over at Georganna Hancock’s A Writer’s Edge blog when I made the comment that writing for trade magazines is just as creative, if not more so, as writing for consumer publications. Georganna was quick to say “Want to make a guest post out of that?” Hence, I give you the link to my article, available for free on Georganna’s site, Trading Places. Give it a read and let’s discuss.
Back yet? Good. Okay, what stops you from writing for trade publications? Or, if you do write for them, what can you tell others about the work?
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It is indeed good work. I normally write sales copy, but a recurring monthly gig for a trade mag landed in my lap. It’s a 400-word profile of an industry figure. I call the featured person, interview him, and write a profile. I am paid $1/word, and it takes me all of two hours from start to finish. Maybe I should go looking for some more of these gigs.
Great article, Lori. I should write for some of the theatre trades, since that’s where I have knowledge. As far as other trades go, I never thought I had knowledge that’s useful, but I guess if I find something interesting — a piece on the use of specific types of lamps in lighthouses might be interesting for a trade publication on lighting or something — and since lighthouses are one of my favorite things, it makes sense to look at it beyond lighthouse magazines!
Thanks for helping me re-think.
My brain is mush right now and my feet are cold (no heat today in the building), so thinking’s not happening so well.
About 80% of my work is for trades. I love them. They’ve expanded my knowledge base and from the stories I hear, are so much easier to work with than many consumer pubs.
This is just a guess, but I am guessing that if you build a good relationship with a trade, you don’t have to be bothered with queries; they’ll just assign you something. That’s how it works for the profiles I write for a trade mag. A friend of mine freelances for a paid-placement trade mag, and she is assigned stories every issue (never has to query). Personally, I don’t like the query system, which is why I write sales copy.
Absolutely true, Eileen. I get assignments from the editors. I don’t bother with typical queries as they have a pretty focused calendar. But I do send out the “do you need any help this month” email.
I wanted to praise Lori here for providing a super article. Never having written for trades, I learned a lot. It sounds quite promising and less stressful than the consumer mags.
Thanks again!
Georganna @ A Writer’s Edge