Speaking From Experience…10 Markets for Personal Experience Articles

Did you know that there are many different kinds of personal experience articles?

Personal experience articles come in all forms: travelogues, memoirs and essays are the most common. They can also incorporate elements of how-to, current events, history or suspense. They can inspire, instruct, inform, entertain or persuade readers, too.

The topics include anything with which you have…well…personal experience. The markets listed below include sports and recreation magazines, as well as others about pets, hobbies, parenting and religion. Most men's, women's and general interest magazines, like Reader's Digest, seek personal experience articles. And don't forget the anthologies like Chicken Soup for the Soul or A Cup of Comfort. All they want are personal experience pieces.

How long and how much?

In the markets listed below, most of the personal experience articles fall under the category of departments or columns. This means the editors are looking for short articles, definitely under 1000 words, but commonly under 700 words. On the other hand, Northern Breezes wants feature length personal experience articles of 1000-3000 words.

Payment, of course, is based on the article length and the size of the magazine, with some smaller magazines only offering contributor copies for short personal experience articles. Payments in the markets listed below vary.

Are there keys to getting a personal experience article published?

Humor always sells. The majority of the markets below mentioned humor in their guidelines. Look for the absurd in every situation. Play up the "fish out of water" angle. Readers don't want to read about perfect people living storybook lives, they want to read about people like themselves who make mistakes, who find themselves in unexpected situations, who might even fall flat on their backsides.

Play up personal struggles and triumphs. Use language that will illustrate what you are feeling - the old adage "show, don't tell." Again it is about getting the reader to identify with you and these are personal experiences you're writing here after all. Photos are always good to include with your personal experience article.

The magazines listed are just a handful of the markets that publish personal experience articles. Click the titles to go to the guideline pages.

Ancestry Magazine - genealogy magazine seeks stories about your hunt for ancestors, stories behind old photos or relatives involved in making history, etc., 50-700 words depending on the column, submit by form on the website.
Family Circle - Parents.com - seeks stories about women with families and children ranging in ages 8-16, 600-700 word in the departments, query by mail or use online submission form to submit your idea.
Fiberarts Magazine - seeks articles from fiber artists about their craft, query with one paragraph synopsis, clippings and sample slides, transparencies or digital photos, NO e-submissions.
Guideposts/Guideposts Sweet 16 - seeks stories about significant events or incidents that helped to develop personal courage and strength, 250-1500 words, Sweet 16 is for teens and pre-teens, e-submissions by online form or send by snail mail.
I Love Cats - seeks "interesting or odd happenings with cats" and other topics, feature length or shorter articles, 500-800 words preferred, 1000 words max, artwork: photos or drawings encouraged, query or send complete manuscript, e-submissions OK.
Northern Breezes - a regional sailing magazine in the Great Lakes area, seeks articles on day sailing, cruising, vacation trips and destinations, cover stories and main features must be first person/personal experience, word count 1000-3000 words, photos required, e-submissions OK, prefers text embedded in email, reprints OK.
Ocean - celebrates everything about the world's oceans and promotes their protection, stories maybe scientific, creative, environmental, recreational or spiritual, no word count or payment mentioned, submit query or full manuscript by email.
Paddler Magazine - magazine about canoeing, kayaking, rafting, whitewater, etc., "Opus" - anything about paddling - or "My Trip" are key break-in columns for freelancers, 600-800 words, photos boost chances of your piece being accepted, prefers e-queries and submissions, attachments OK.
Plain Truth Magazine - Plain Truth.com - seeks print and online content from Christian writers, wants articles that offer biblical solutions to real-life issues, query ONLY by mail or email.
Runner's World - "Personal Record" seeks essays on running-related experiences, one of several break-in columns for freelancers, submit the complete manuscript, e-submissions encouraged but NO attachments.
Twins - seeks stories about raising twins and other multiples, must include tips and resources, 650-950 words, query with résumé and clippings.