Before pitching a publication, a writer has to do one very important thing – read the publication. You wouldn’t believe how many writers skip that part and wonder why their idea was rejected.

Once you’ve read the publication, go back and read it again. Most experts suggest reading six months worth of information. At the very least, look at the last three months. This will help you determine four things you need to know before you craft your query:

1. Publication Tone
2. Target Audience
3. Type of Topics
4. Frequency of freelancer use

All four of these points will help writers determine how best to craft their query. Matching the tone and audience is imperative so that the query speaks to the publication’s audience. When reading through take note of the tone. Is the letter from the editor friendly? Cheeky? Authoritative? Are the articles edgy or family friendly? Are the graphics and colors bright or subdued?

When researching the target audience, start with the media kit. The media kit tells advertisers important information about number of subscriptions, audience demographic, type of lifestyle, etc. The media kit is not enough to “get” the audience, reading the publication will help you feel the audience. Ask yourself how does the publication make you feel? This is an area where checking out the advertisers helps.

Advertisers work hard to find just the right publication for their ad dollars. Their ads are targeted and heavily researched. You can tell a lot about a publication and who they think their readers are by checking out the types and styles of advertising.

Next, study the topic. Topics help shape a publication’s tone so be sure to look beyond the cover stories. What are the regular sections? And perhaps more importantly, what topics have they covered recently? One of the biggest waste of query time and power is pitching a recently written about subject.

Finally, check for the number of freelance writers, also known as contributing writers. Actually, to be honest, that should be the first thing to check for before getting started with the other stuff. In magazine markets and writing guidelines, magazines often note that they use freelancers, but the question writers must answer is how many are used within the pages on a regular basis?

One easy way, beyond checking the contributing writers section, is to check the masthead and then thumb through the publication to see if any of those names appear. Also, be on the lookout for articles – especially regular features – that do not have a byline, often these are written in-house.

If the majority of the work is completed in-house, a writer knows they face tough competition to get their foot in the door. Plus, looking over a few month’s worth of work can also help you learn if they have a small or larger pool of regularly featured writers.

While it sounds like a lot of research for a one page pitch, it’s important to remember that each pitch has the potential to lead to more work and contacts within the industry. So before you pitch, read!

What do you do to learn more about a publication? Share your query tips!

Our list of freelance writing markets paying over $100 per article was such a success, I thought I’d research a few more for you.

These freelance writing markets are all current, and , if I could, I added a link to their guidelines page. If no link or online guidelines were found, I added whatever information I could gather so you at least have a place to begin with contacting the editors for current guidelines and submission policies.

May 2010 be the year you prosper and profit!

Unless linked to full guidelines, please contact the publication directly for complete guidelines before querying. Also, before querying, please take the time to read through several back issues to familiarize yourself with the magazine’s tone and style and to ensure you’re a good fit. One of the biggest pet peeve of magazine editors are blind queries where the writer knows nothing about the market. Because buying all those past issues isn’t very cost-effective, I usually browse back copies at the library.

40 MORE Freelance Writing Markets Paying $100 or More

1. AAA Living – Pays $150 – $1800/assigned article
2. American Kennel Club Gazzette – Pays $300 – $500 per article. Scroll down for email address to request guidelines.
3. America’s Civil War – Pays $300+.
4. Art Calendar – Pays $250.
5. Astronomy – Pays $100 – $1000
6. Auto Pilot Magazine - Pays $100.  Contact for guidelines.
7. Baby Talk Magazine - Pays $500 – $2,000. Query by mail to 530 5th Avenue, NY NY 10036 and be sure to include a SASE.
8. Bee Culture – Pays $100 – $250
9. Bike Magazine – Pays .50/word. Follow contact info for guidelines.
10. Blade Magazine – Pays $200 – $300. Contact for current guidelines.
11. Bridal Guide – Pays 50/word. I’d query for more comprehensive guidelines.
12. Broken Pencil – Pays up to $100 – $400.
13. Business Traveler - Pays .50/word. Contact for guidelines.
14. Car & Driver – Pays $750 – $3,000 per article.  Send email to editors@caranddriver.com
15. Chidren’s Advocate – Pays $225 -$450. Contact for guidelines.
16. Chile Pepper – Pays $600. Contact for current guidelines.
17. Credit Today - Pays $200 – $1400.
18. Dance Teacher - Pays $100 – $300. Try emailing jtu@dancemedia.com to request guidelines.
19. Discovery Channel Online - Pays $1/word.
20. Dog Fancy – Pays .40/word
21. International Living – Pays $100 – $500
22. Family Fun – Pays $1.25/word.
23. Family Motor Coaching  Magazine - Pays $100 – $500. Contact for guidelines
24. Her Sports - Pays $200 – $600 per assigned article.
25. Kitchen and Bath Design News – Pays $200 – $650.  Contact for current guidelines.
26. Laptop Magazine – Pays $150 – $1250. Contact for guidelines.
27. The Meeting Professional - Pays .50 – .75/word for assigned articles.
28. Minnesota Conservation Volunteer - .50/word.
29. National Parks Magazine – Pays $1300 for features and travel articles.
30. The Network Journal – Pays $150 – $200. Pitch career articles or articles related to business.
31. New York Spirit – Pays $150
32. Northwest Travel - Pays $100 – $500
33. On Wall Street – Pays $1/word. Contact for guidelines.
34. Persimmon Hill – Pays $150 – $300
35. Robb Report - Pays $1.oo/word.
36. Romantic Homes – Pays $500. Contact for guidelines.
37. Snafu Designs – Greeting card market. Pays $100/idea. Guidelines at info@snafuguidelines.
38. This Old House – Pays $1 per word. I’m not sure how old these online guidelines are as they’re from another site, so I’d contact for fresh guidelines.
39. Threads - Pays $150/page. Contact for current guidelines.
40. Wine Enthusiast – query by sending email to tmoriarity@wineenthusiast.com – Pays $750 – $2000

If you found this useful, you might also be interested in reading:

• 75 “Write for Us” Pages
• 21 Poetry Markets
• 16 Greeting Card Markets
• Our regular Monday Writing Markets listings

…stay tuned. More spefic market lists are coming up in the upcoming days and weeks!! Hopefully all our markets lists will give you a good idea of the variety of opportunities available for freelance writers in 2010.

Please offer your comments, thoughts and suggestions regarding this and our other markets lists. As always, if you have tips for pitching or if you landed a gig from one of our lists, please let us know.

Edited to add: A member of the FWJ community asked how I/we know these sources are open to freelancers, if the pay rate is accurate, etc. Please be assured I researched each opportunity using a variety of online and offline resources including the Writer’s Market, online guidelines and I even made a phone call or two. As of January 2010 these listings are accurate.

Last week’s post “6 Tips for Finding New Freelance Writing Markets” received a comment worth mentioning. Though I was brief in my roundup, the commenter Robert Earle Howells offered some good reminders:

These are all ways to troll, and they’re good. You can find great titles and get inspired. But remember, that doesn’t mean you’re ready to pitch them. One issue of a magazine, or even writer guidelines (which are often outdated), or a WM listing (ditto), can’t prepare you for a decent query. You need to look at the archives. You need to find the name and e-mail address of the exact editor to pitch. It’s also smart to check out the publication’s media kit for demographic info and other clues.

Robert is exactly right. Sending a blind query isn’t the best approach, there are steps to take before firing off your pitch. If you’re going query a market, be sure to take the time to do it right. For example, the last thing you want is to pitch an article idea only to learn they ran with a similar article two months ago.

Here’s a “before you query” check list to consider. Taking these steps before submitting a query can better your chances of success.

Read Back Issues

Visit the library and catch up on as many back issues as possible. There are several reasons for this: browsing the masthead will provide information regarding the editors and staff. By comparing these names to the articles inside, you can determine how many articles are written by staff writers vs. freelance writers. Moreover, familiarizing yourself with past issues will allow you see the market’s voice, get a feel for the readership and note what types of articles they generally publish. It’ll also give you an idea of what types of articles have been published in the past year or so, allowing you to submit a fresh idea.

Find Current Contact Information

Robert makes a very good point, your five year old edition of the Writer’s Market is sure to have outdated material, ditto for a past issue’s masthead. Read current editions to learn names and contact details, call the main office if necessary. Websites might also contain the current contact details. Don’t pitch a query until you’re sure you have the right person and the right department.

Research the Market’s Audience

Demographics are important. There are several ways to learn about a market’s readership. Contact the sales or marketing office for a media kit. Reading several issues cover to cover, especially the letters from readers, will give you a good idea about the age, gender and interests of the market’s reader base. Look online, read the Q&A’s, browse the forums and read demographic information provided to advertisers. Now you can tailor your pitch to meet the market’s needs.

Query or Manuscript?

Some markets prefer you pitch a completed manuscript, while others only wish to receive a query. Browse the Writer’s Market, online submission guidelines, or a current masthead to learn each particular market’s preference.

Critique Your Pitch

If you’re new to pitching markets, have a few experienced eyes critique your query before you drop it in the mailbox. Seasoned vets will help you punch up your pitch and recommend whether or not to add or omit certain details. After a little practice you’ll be able to fly solo, but it can never hurt to receive constructive criticism at first.

What are some of things you do before querying a market?