Certain Farewells Can Be Harder than Others

Certain farewells can be harder than others. Now that it’s time to say farewell to this particular blog, I’m glad that I came across this Gilda Radner quote:

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.

Finally, after nearly four years of blogging and numerous hours spent on research and writing posts, I find that I need to spend more time on my writing business. I’ll miss the writing here and all the wonderful folks who have supported this blog. I’m truly grateful for your support.

Even though I won’t be blogging, I hope I’ll always have time to answer your writing and publishing questions. Don’t hesitate to email me if you need help. (ldaley6155@bellsouth.net)

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business writing.

More Magazines that Pay $1.00 a Word

Back in 2008, when I first posted a piece about magazines that pay $1 a word, I had no idea that the post would be as well received as it has been. Nearly 3 years later however, it still holds the record for the most hits on this site.

For a long time, I’ve wanted to add more publications to the list but other work has always shoved that onto my “later” file. This week, however, I found time to come up with several other publications that pay $1 a word. You’ll find them below.

If you read that 2008 post, you may remember that I cautioned about magazines going in and out of business and I advised checking the publication schedule before sending a query. That advice holds true for these magazines too. Guidelines will give you details about how you should approach each publication. Remember, most want a query, not a completed manuscript. Also before you query, read the publications (check at your local library or college library or phone the magazine and ask how to get a sample copy). Send in your query exactly following the publication’s requirements.

Here’s the latest $1 a word list:

AARP The Magazine is published for people 50 and older and covers these categories: Finance, Health and Fitness, Food and Nutrition, Travel, Consumerism, General Interest and Relationships. Their guidelines want you to send a one-page letter explaining the idea for a piece, show how you would approach it as a writer and mention the category of the magazine for which the piece is intended. The guidelines are online here. http://www.aarp.org/magazine/

Cottage Life is for and about water-based cottagers in Canada and the northern U.S. The publication has a strong service slant, using “how-to” journalism and coverage of the people, trends and issues in cottage country. Rates range from $750-$2,000 for columns, and $1,800 to about $4,000 for features. Guidelines say that its front-of-the-book department, Waterfront, is an excellent place to break into the publication if you haven’t written for the magazine previously. Waterfront features short news, humor, human interest and service items with a maximum length of 250 words.Visit their website here.

Whole Living is a magazine that offers natural solutions for stress, sleep, allergies and more and includes healthy recipes, customized fitness for body and mine, and beauty. They pay $1 to $1.25 per word on acceptance. Articles run 1,500 to 3,000 words and departments up to $1,500 words. Whole Living buys all rights. You can send a query here.

Attach Magazine. The US Airways Attach magazine wants entertaining articles for travelers, 400 to 2,500 word articles on “the finer things in life.” for ongoing departments and some features. The “Paragons” department offer short pieces touting the best of the best; “Informed Sources” contains experts’ opinions and knowledge on a variety of topics. They do not want any politics or Hollywood issues and they pay $1 a word on acceptance. Their address is Pace Communications, 1301 Carolina St., Greensboro, NC 27401. You can visit their website here.

Family Fun is the nation’s number one magazine for families with children aged 3 to 12. It has a heavy emphasis on activities and ideas that distinguishes it from other parenting and family magazines. Editors are looking for freelancers who are experts in the art of being fun-loving, creative parents.

Be sure to query early with your ideas because articles are scheduled and assigned at least five months in advance of publication. Do not query by telephone, fax or email — be sure to send in your query by U.S. Mail.

Most departments pay at least $1 a word. Their website lists names of individuals who receive queries. All queries should be addressed to them at Family Fun, 244 Main Street, Northampton, MA 91060.

You probably can find copies of Family Fun at your local bookstore or library but you can also get a sample copy for $3. See the website for these and many more details about the publication.

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pays $1 a word,
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An Opportunity to Help Other Writers

Last week when I wrote a post about Making Time to Write, I included one of my favorite ways to get started writing: Making an appointment with myself and keeping that appointment.

That post inspired the one you’re reading now. This week I’m asking you to share your tips for getting started writing. I’m a great believer in writers helping other writers, so your tips might go a long way in helping a newcomer to writing become successful.

Yours can be a tip that we’ve already talked about or it can be something entirely new. Please share all your tips here so everyone can take advantage of them. I think you’ll find that it’s really great when one writer makes it possible to help another writer.

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writing,
writers helping writers,
tips for getting started writing.