Jul 01 2010
Article Ideas in Three Easy Lists
This blog talks a lot about fiction, but writing nonfiction is just as important and has more potential to be lucrative. An e-mail from Writer’s Market last week gave this fantastic advice for coming up with story ideas:
Here’s a quick weekend assignment: Make a few lists. The first list should contain anyone you know who may be an expert in their field—use friends and family, but also any doctors, dentists, landlords, etc., who may have knowledge in their field. The second list should have things you understand well, either from professional or personal experience, including hobbies, activities, etc. Finally, make a list of issues about which you’d like to know more.
Once you have your lists, try crafting one story idea. Then—using WritersMarket.com—find three magazines that might be interested in such an article and query them.
WritersMarket.com isn’t a free service; you have to buy a subscription. But if you’re serious about freelance writing, it’s a worthwhile investment. Haven’t thought about using your skills this way? The article also linked to this book, which I thought looked really good: 102 Ways to Earn Money Writing 1,500 Words Or Less.
