Writing Nationally...

I live in Podunkville, where do I find a topic with national appeal?

The simple answer is anywhere. The hometown newspaper is a good source. For example, in my paper last week was an article about a high school principal retiring. This principal began as an elementary school teacher in the same school system nearly 40 years earlier. National topics stemming from this story could include: "Burn-Out in Our Schools: Why Some Teachers Leave and Some Teachers Stay," or a story on how very few people stay with one company through their entire career.

If you have a family, you have topics galore! Say your daughter wants to compete in the local "Little Miss" pageant, which goes against every empowering feminist bone in your body. You could write "Confessions of a Reluctant Stage Mother: How to Handle Your Daughter's Beauty Queen Dreams" or "Today Corn Queen, Tomorrow Madam President? The Pros and Cons of Beauty Pageants Today." Maybe you found your son down Mountain Dews so he could cram all night for an exam. You could write about what kids will do and take to give them that edge for exams.

Your own locally published articles can be expanded for universal appeal. Your article about the tour of homes could be transformed into a tip sheet of interior design ideas or a guide on how to complement your home with the right landscaping. Of course, some local profiles will appeal to broader audiences if the person is truly unique or inspiring.

So you can find a national story anywhere. Even in your own backyard.

Do you need help finding magazine editorial info?


The Internet has transformed market research. Not ever magazine has a website, but most do and you can find submission guidelines and up to date contact information that way. Start by searching the magazine's name. Then there are some directories online.

Writers Market - a subscription service that you can pay by the month, by the year or by two years. It has other feature that can help you track your submissions and allow you to make your own categorized market lists. In addition to magazines, the listings include book publishers, greeting cards, agents and contests and more.

The Magazine Boy - I just found this site and its listings are not complete but they are extensive. They're broken down by topics, then subtopics.


Magazine Publishers of America - You can search the membership by keyword, location or alphabetical listings. It does list the publishers, which sometime have a number of magazines under them but you can usually get to the individual magazine through the publishers' page.

Always, ALWAYS go to the magazine's webpage and find the submission guidelines. These directories do not update their information frequently (probably once a year).