Writing for nursing magazines?

[moonischasingme1]

Hello,

I was wondering how an RN might be able to write for any of the nursing magazines? I think that would be a pretty cool gig, but I don't how I would get into it...any ideas?

-Nicole

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

ALWAYS check out the magazine's submission guidelines. These can usually be found on the page that contains all the info about its editorial staff, circulation etc. You can also obtain them online or by mail. Some periodicals don't accept unsolicited morificecripts; you don't want to waste your time sending articles to them. Others will accept morificecripts "on spec" after you write a query letter, meaning you ask them if they might be interested in an article on a particular subject and they say "Maybe---we'll take a look at it".

Only rarely do publications accept unsolicited morificecripts with a "Hey, this is great, we'll take it, here's a check for $500". Their requirements are also pretty stringent; articles MUST have verifiable references (here's where that APA format we all learned in school comes in really handy), and rest assured, they will be thoroughly vetted by other nurses and/or scholars. If it's a personal experience story, there is usually a word limit (generally 750 words or less), so you have to 'grab' the reader in the first couple of sentences, which isn't always easy to do.

Always, always, always send a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you are using snail mail and want an answer to your query letter or your article. Editors are busy people and they won't even look at a hard copy of a submission not accompanied by SASE, let alone respond.

Oh, and one more thing: don't quit your day job to write articles for nursing journals. They generally pay no more than a few hundred dollars, if that much; some only pay in author's copies. Some pay on acceptance; others, unfortunately, don't pay until publication, which can be months or even years later.

It's fun to write articles, and there's nothing better than seeing something YOU wrote in print, unless it's reading the good comments on the piece after it's published. Just don't count on it as a way to pay the bills. :wink2:

[Destination1]

Why limit yourself to nursing journals? Grab yourself the newest copy of Writers Market and thumb through it. There are hundreds of magazines you could potential submit articles to. If your new to the writing world and really wish to pursue this I would also recommend subscribing to Writers Digest. Its a bi-monthly writers magazine filled with writing tips. Some are very useful!

A few other things to keep in mind:

1. Read a few copies of the magazine you plan on submitting articles to. Many receive morificecripts completely off topic or unrelated to the magazines focus.

2. Know their submission guidlines.

3. Don't let rejection slips stop you from writing! Eventually you will get published.

4. Don't plan on getting rich.

5. Learn to write a query letter.

Good luck!