| you been repeatedly snubbed by consumer | | | | trade magazines? |
| magazines? Do you have little to show for your | | | | While it may help immensely to have an education |
| research and querying efforts other than a folder | | | | or background in a particular trade or industry to |
| of form rejection letters? If your writing dream | | | | break into writing for its trade magazines, it's not |
| includes earning a halfway decent to excellent | | | | essential. As with querying consumer magazines, |
| income writing magazine articles, there are editors | | | | showing that you have done, or can do, research |
| at thousands and thousands of publications | | | | on the topic, and mentioning the sources you'll tap |
| worldwide who would open their doors (and their | | | | when writing the actual article, will go a long way |
| wallets)to work with you. You've probably never | | | | in piquing an editor's interest. |
| heard of most of them, but they have loyal | | | | 3. What types of articles do trade magazines |
| readerships. They're called "trade magazines." | | | | carry? |
| Trade magazines are periodicals that are published | | | | Except for the fact that trade publications have a |
| for and read by members of specific trade | | | | narrower focusthan their consumer cousins, the |
| groups, occupations, and/or personsinvolved in | | | | types of articles they carry fall into familiar |
| particular types of business. From nurses to | | | | categories: |
| buildingcontractors, electrical engineers to | | | | · news items specific to the magazine's |
| restaurant owners, there's amagazine (and | | | | occupation or industryfocus |
| sometimes several) that is produced with | | | | · products and trends |
| theirinterests, needs and issues in mind. Most are | | | | · how-to articles |
| available bysubscription only, or as a premium for | | | | · personal/professional experience articles |
| membership in an organization or association. They | | | | (e.g., case histories, company and professional |
| range from award-winning glossies to modest, | | | | profiles, etc.) |
| staple-bound publications. | | | | As stated above, use your own experience as a |
| And many of them would love to hear from, and | | | | springboard or yourinterviews with people in the |
| work with, reliablewriters. Moreover, most of | | | | field to generate article ideasappropriate to the |
| them pay--some of them, very well. | | | | magazine's readership that you are targeting. |
| But how do you get started writing for trade | | | | 4. Where can you find or learn about available |
| magazines? Whatqualifications do you need to | | | | trade magazines? |
| write for them, what types of articles do they | | | | You can obtain fre^e one-year subscriptions to |
| need, and where do you find them? Let's look at | | | | hundreds of different trade magazines at |
| each of these questions separately. | | | | TradePub ( |
| 1. Getting Started | | | | _m=01.009i.2f.mfm.2f ). From "Today's Chemist |
| My personal experience in writing for trade | | | | at Work" to "Poultry International," from |
| magazines came afterexamining my own career | | | | "Beverage World" to "Diesel Progress," you'll find a |
| background. What did I know about, what jobs | | | | bountiful garden of potential markets that can |
| had I held, with what industries was I familiar? I | | | | keep you in writing business for years to come. |
| listedeverything, from my high school and college | | | | You'll also find Kendall Hanson's book, "Writing for |
| job as a supermarketcashier to my experiences | | | | Trade Magazines" ( enormously helpful. In it, he |
| as a trainer and supervisor. I thendecided to focus | | | | includes information on many of the major |
| initially on the occupation that most interested me, | | | | publishers in the trade magazine industry, as well |
| supervision, and began to brainstorm article ideas | | | | as many additional tips on breaking in. |
| and search for potential markets revolved around | | | | Finally, just keep your eyes and ears open--trade |
| that. | | | | magazines lie inm waiting rooms everywhere, |
| This isn't the only way to break into writing for | | | | from doctor's offices to automobile repair shops. |
| trades, however. Are there occupations or | | | | And don't hesitate to ask your friendly |
| businesses you would love to learn and write | | | | neighborhood plumber, hair stylist, CEO, |
| about, but have no work experience in? Do you | | | | salesperson or pet shop owner if they receive |
| know people who do them, or could you go | | | | any magazines specific to their industries, and |
| through a local Chamber of Commerce or trade | | | | whether or not they have back copies they could |
| association chapter to meet such people? You can | | | | lend to you. |
| also conduct a search for professionals in nearly | | | | While writing for "Aqua" (the pool and spa |
| every field online, via such sites as or (typing "find | | | | trademagazine), "Equipment Today" or "Sign |
| an expert" into the Google search box will provide | | | | Builder Illustrated" may not sound as glamorous as |
| you with a plethora of similar sites). | | | | getting published in, say, "Glamour," you'll find |
| Once you find your "experts," ask questions and | | | | these markets immensely more accommodating, |
| listen. What aretheir work days like? What tools | | | | their editors more accessible, and the bylines and |
| and skills do they use to do their job? What | | | | paychecks satisfying. Plus, you can always use |
| challenges do they face? What would make their | | | | your clips to make the leap into better known |
| jobs easier, faster, of higher quality, and/or more | | | | magazines, or re-slant your trade articles for |
| cost effective? What kinds of information, | | | | consumer publications. |
| products or services would make them more | | | | No matter how you look at it, writing for trade |
| successful? The answers to these questions will | | | | magazines is anexcellent way to get published, |
| lead you to all sorts of possible article ideas. | | | | and get paid for your writing. |
| 2. What qualifications do you need to write for | | | | |