Tips on how to submit articles to Craft Magazines

One of the most effective ways to get exposure for your craft business/book/brand etc. is to submit articles to magazines. The number of folks who will get to read your article could be potentially HUGE depending on the circulation numbers of the magazine.

When you consider how much it costs to get ad in the magazine for a lineage/a credit card sized, a quarter/half/whole page (a whole page runs into 100s upon 100s) getting yourself a half page/two page/even three pages in a magazine for nothing or even a payment is absolutely amazing!

This all might sound like really daunting stuff, but believe me there’s nothing to be scared off. Craft magazines are always on the hunt for interesting craft tid-bits to fill their pages. I know for a fact that loads of craft magazines would LOVE to hear from the likes of you crafty people (many of which are far more talented in their field than I am). When people like you and me approach magazines with well written articles we are actually making their lives easier. I should know; I’ve been writing every month for a UK craft magazine for almost 2 years. It honestly isn’t that difficult and if the editor says “no”, it’s not the end of the world is it? Just try somewhere else, refine your article/s and try again or perhaps cut your teeth on a more local level magazine.

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I write for Sewing World Magazine – see the bag on the bottom right-hand corner? That’s my bag!

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Tips on how to submit articles

1. Be well versed with the magazine that you want to submit to. Read a good few issues so you understand the flavour of the magazine. What sort of articles do they already feature? What appears to be the target age range of the magazine? Could you submit an article that is in keeping with their other articles or can you provide something fitting, but different?
2. Find out what the submission guidelines are for articles. These are often found within the magazine itself or on the magazine website.
3. Bear in mind magazines typically work months in advance. My deadline for article submission for Sep 08 was 2nd June 08 for example. In line with this, magazines typically like to be seasonal i.e Valentines issues, Easter, Xmas etc. etc. So it’s important to find out what the deadline dates are for submitting your articles.
4. Write a friendly, polite, and to-the-point email to the magazine submissions editor with your article suggestion/proposal. Be succinct, but give enough information about your article idea to give the subs editor a clear picture (they are busy folks!)

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Suggestions for articles

1. Tutorials - this is my specialty. I offered to write one bag making tutorial for a UK sewing magazine for free. I was able to show them past examples of bag tutorials on my blog. The tutorial was popular, my mum was really proud, and now I am the resident bag lady of the magazine How about making a tutorial (of any kind) for something pretty and simple (magazines tend to prefer simple) and posting it on your blog? That way you can show the subs editor the link.
2. Product reviews - do you have an item that sells well? How about offering one or two of those items to the magazine to give away as freebies to their readers in return for a a little magazine piece about your shop?
3. Craft events – do you run craft fairs, charity events, community projects? If so let the magazines/local newspapers know about it!
4. Tips, advice, stories, - if you think about it we are are all walking wells of knowledge and experience. Are you expert in something that would fit in a craft magazine? Could your experience and skill be useful to others? You bet it could!

See also: How to appear in the big Craft Websites.