The Complete Article Writer (The Practical Writer)

Do you dream of getting published in magazines — but aren’t sure how to turn your ideas into articles editors will buy?

Writing for magazines is one of the most accessible ways to become a published writer. But only if you know how to find the right idea for the right market at the right time — and how to pitch it to an editor before you've written a single word.

This book shows you exactly how to do that. And then how to do it again, and again, and again.

What you'll learn

• How to generate article ideas from everyday life — and stretch each one into six more separate sales to maximise your earnings
• How to analyse a magazine like a professional, identify its readership, and shape your idea into something editors are actively looking for
• How to structure any article, from the opening hook to the satisfying ending — with a toolkit of different approaches to choose from
• How to pitch confidently before you write, saving yourself time and increasing your chances of a yes
• How to negotiate publishing rights and keep control of your work, so you can do more with your writing

By the time you’ve finished this book, you’ll know how to spot article opportunities everywhere, pitch editors professionally, and build a sustainable portfolio-writing career.

Written by someone who's actually done it

Simon Whaley has published over 1000 articles in the UK, USA, and Australia, in magazines as varied as BBC Countryfile, The People's Friend, The Observer, Country Walking, Outdoor Photography, The Simple Things, and Coast. He also writes two columns for Writing Magazine, including the long-running (over ten years!) Business of Writing column. This book isn't based on theory — it's drawn from hard-won, practical experience, written with the warmth and humour that readers consistently praise.

What readers say

"I was looking for a book to give me confidence and yours has done just that. I'm only on page 68 and already feel like I've learned so much."

"Gold dust for those starting out as freelance article writers... He gives many helpful examples from his own writing and experience — and he's funny!"

"One of the clearest, most informative books on creative writing and publishing I have had the pleasure to study. Easy to read, easy to dip into."

Book 1 in The Practical Writer series.

Whether you’re picking up a pen for the first time or trying to break through after a few rejections, The Complete Article Writer will give you the knowledge, structure, and confidence you need to start seeing your byline in print. Start your magazine-writing journey today.

Simon Whaley is the author of over a dozen books, including the bestselling One Hundred Ways For A Dog To Train Its Human (Hodder & Stoughton), which spent three weeks on the UK bestseller lists. More than 650 of his articles have been published in the UK and the USA, and his work has appeared in publications as diverse as Outdoor Photography, BBC Countryfile, Country Walking, SelfBuild & Design, Cheshire Life, Cumbria, The People's Friend and the Daily Express. For six years he had a monthly walking column in Country & Border Life, and he currently has the Business of Writing column in Writing Magazine. Simon also enjoys photography and many of his photos have accompanied his articles, and over seventy of his images were used to illustrate his book Best Walks in the Welsh Borders. Several of his other photos have been used by the national press and companies producing calendars. Simon is a tutor for the non-fiction assignments of the Writers Bureau's Creative Writing distance learning course, and is regularly asked to facilitate workshops and courses for writers' conferences and festivals. For more information about Simon visit: www.simonwhaley.co.uk