Perhaps you’re in a rut, writing for the same publication, and it’s time to branch out? Or maybe you’re comfortable blogging but you’d like to try writing for magazines?
Whatever the reason, it’s always exciting to see a new crop of magazines. Here’s a short list of what emerged recently, followed by tips on how to pitch:
- Alo. A Middle Eastern lifestyle and culture magazine with a food section.
- ACQTaste (As in “Acquired Taste”). A Canadian journal of food culture and lifestyle, focusing on chefs and restaurants, not necessarily in Canada. A recent issue focused on New York food artisans and chefs.
- Cherry Bombe. Here is a bi-annual magazine that celebrates women, high fashion, art and food. Issue one includes articles on food stylist Victoria Granof, pit master Helen Brown, and Gabriel Hamilton of Prune. Here’s a look at the first issue.
- Fool. A Swedish husband and wife team started this publication earlier this year. Kitchen Arts & Lettters calls it “adventurous and insightful,” making connections between “different elements in the world food scene that most other publications seem to overlook.” Read more about the third issue here.
- Modern Farmer. This new quarterly focuses on food journalism for “window-herb growers, career farmers, people who have chickens, people who want to have chickens and anyone who wants to know more about how food reaches their plate,” says the editor in this interview with Bon Appetit. And research the managing editor. (It’s always good to know who you’re pitching.) Submit your story pitches here.
Once you’ve researched the magazine you want to target, review this post on 10 Feature Story Formats for Freelancers to help you see what kinds of stories editors prefer, and develop your story idea.
When writing the pitch, here’s good advice from Columbia Journalism Review:
“A good query email is one that’s sent directly to the assigning editor for the specific section you’re pitching. The email features a compelling subject line (think of it as a proto-headline) and a tight paragraph explaining the piece you want to write, why it’s timely, and why this outlet is the perfect place to publish it. A second short paragraph in the email explains who you are and why you’re the best writer for the job. It also includes a link to your personal site, which has an easily navigable archive of your work. It ends with a note about when you’ll be following up. Depending on how timely the piece is, that follow-up date can be anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks away. Basically, it’s just to help you set a timeline and enable you to pitch the piece elsewhere before the time hook expires, rather than twiddling your thumbs for weeks waiting for a reply that may never come.”
Bonus: An newish online magazine called Dark Rye. This is Whole Foods Market’s online magazine that “explores the realms of food, health, sustainability, design, tech and social enterprise.” There are videos, recipes, and splendid page design. The magazine won Best Group Food Blog in 2013 from the James Beard Foundation.
Good luck! If you don’t hear back, find another home for your story. Just don’t give up.
Thanks for the info! Looking to re-enter the magazine-writing market. My recent cookbook, “The New Ukrainian Cookbook” (Hippocrene Books, Inc) has gone into its second printing and will be available in hardcover again in just a few weeks! My blog…”Refueling Your Fork” is just about 2 months old and can be accessed directly or through my website. I am so glad I found your blog and I faithfully read your posts on Facebook. Thanks again!
Nice to hear from you, Annette. Congratulations on your second printing.
Lists like this are always welcome Dianne, so bravo. But are we sure these pubs will accept uninvited contributors? Fool publishes articles by well-established writers and foodie “illuminaries” (chefs etc) and ACQ has a huge list of “contributors” on its website — always an indication that freelancers are probably not welcome. For anyone pitching Modern Farmer — find a real person’s email rather than submitting ideas via the form. I know of four writers, two with impressive enough bylines, who used the form and never received a response.
Wow. No response to writers with impressive bylines? That’s lame. And depressing.
I agree that chances of getting into some of these magazines are pretty slim. Someone of your caliber might have a fighting chance.
As always .. so informative. Thanks for this Dianne.
I have a piece in mind already for Cherry Bombe!
You’re welcome. Go for it, Mona. Just keep in mind that there are only 2 issues a year right now, so you’ll have lots of competition.
Dianne – this is a really fascinating post. I’m not a writer but these 5 profiles are very interesting and have sparked some ideas for me. I appreciate the work you put into development of your posts. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Lynn. Thanks for taking the time to write in. It’s lovely to get your comment.
Morning Dianne,
How did you know I was in a rut? Ha ha. I love your posts-they speak to the group and the individual. Although I don’t claim anyone but me is in a rut! This is a fantastic resource. I especially appreciate “10 Feature Story Formats for Freelancers.” One of my goals is to create a regional quarterly food magazine. I’m encouraged to see new zeens emerge in today’s crazy publishing market. Now I going back to my InDesign course.
Thanks again!
Hi Maureen, I could write a whole other post about all these new zines, but I bet most of them don’t pay for content. Very cool that you’re taking an InDesign class.
Thanks for this great list of sources. I like what you said at the end “to find another home for our stories.” You are so right, we should never give up. I always believe some editor out there needs content and new ideas. There will always be someone who will listen to our story. Thanks for sharing, Dianne!
What wonderful tips on how to write and get submitted into a magazine. I love hearing of new media outlets and I think I will really enjoy the Modern Farmer. 🙂
Thanks for the heads up on these and the tips for pitching too. I find I write endless pitches and then I just… email them to myself! I’ve had some small successes of late so hope to get more confidence in actually sending the pitch off in the first place. So much is tied up in just hitting the send button.
Yes, it’s true. But people who freelance a lot hit the send button several times a week. That way, when they don’t hear back from 4 editors, 2 others might be interested in a story. Less is attached to hitting “send,” if you get what I mean.
Dianne, this could not have come at a better time! I am working on two pieces and I have been trying to figure out where to pitch them. Terrific! And who doesn’t love discovering new food magazines?
Oh good. I don’t know how easy it is — see Robyn’s comment below — but another freelancer emailed me to say she just had a piece accepted by Cherry Bombe and she is in discussions with Modern Farmer, so it’s possible.
Thank you Dianne! This helpful article is so timely, I was just deciding to pitch to new magazines, and expand my freelance writing with novel stimuli.
As usual you provide us writers with excellent advice and tips. We love you!!
Ciao,
Eleonora
Aw thanks Eleonora. Very nice of you to speak on behalf of my readers. And I mean that in the most sincere way.
Thanks so much Dianne for compiling this list. One question- when you pitch to magazines, is it better to prepare a piece and send it or to just do a pitch with an outline of the proposed piece?
Unless you’re pitching a personal essay, it’s better to query the publication first.
Really exciting to hear about new approaches to food magazines, often it is the samex we use again and again. In http://www.madbutler.dk we shall take advantage of the modern farmer magazine in the future. Thank you so much Dianne!