Five Ways to Boost Your Holiday Magazine Writing

Much of the publishing world becomes silent throughout late November until the New Year—including the magazine world. The holiday magazines were finalized months ago. As a magazine editor, I recall pulling out my Christmas music in July to begin planning the December magazine. It’s typical in the magazine world to be working three to six months ahead to assign articles and plan the publications.

When the editors aren’t responding and are taking a break, how can you boost your magazine writing? Yes many of us are focused on time with family and activities outside the writing world. I want to give you five ways to increase your writing during the holidays.

1. Keep pitching and writing query letters. When activities slow down in the editorial offices, it gives some editors a chance to dig into their unsolicited manuscripts and ideas. If you pitch ideas for articles which will be published in the spring or summer of 2017, then your material will be read and considered. Write the query letters or articles and email or mail to editors on a consistent basis.
2. Look for new magazines. What magazines do you read on a regular basis? Do they take freelance writing? Could you write articles for that magazine? Look online for the publication guidelines then follow the tips. Or use a Market Guide to learn more details about the magazine and their percentage of freelance writing. This time of year is a perfect time to be expanding your writing possibilities.
3. Write queries and articles for magazine theme lists. Many publications create editorial plans with themes. These lists show you what the editor wants to publish. Tailor your pitches to what the editor needs. Yes it can be this simple.
4. Write personal experience articles. Almost every publication takes personal experience articles and publishes articles tied to the holidays. Take advantage of your own experiences and right after the experience, write it down. Capture the sights, sounds and dialogue while it is fresh. Make sure your article has a single focus or takeaway. Then write queries or send it out later in the year to publications for 2017 issues.
5. Plan to attend a writers’ conference in 2017. Editors assign and buy articles and ideas from writers they know, like and trust. In this holiday season make plans to attend a writers’ conference in the New Year.  Look for one that fits your travel budget and schedule but also study who is speaking and if they are publications where you want to write articles.

Every writer whether you are much published or never published can take advantage of the quiet time of the holidays. As you take action, you will propel your magazine work to a new level.

Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor, Whalin has written for more than 50 publications including Christianity Today and Writer’s Digest. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His latest book is Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist and the book website is at: http://BillyGrahamBio.com Watch the short book trailer for Billy Graham at: http://bit.ly/BillyGrahamBT His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/terrywhalin