How to Pitch a Column to a Women's Magazine

Most women's magazines have several columns written by single authors, which means that you could be their next columnist! Unfortunately, they are very discerning about the types of columns and writers they will contract, so your pitch had better be phenomenal. To pitch a column to a women's magazine, you must have an extensive knowledge of the magazine's readership as well as its current and past content.

What are you qualified to write?

Columns more than individual articles are based very heavily on the author's expertise. In order to pitch a column to a women's magazine, you must have intimate knowledge of the subject of that column and you should be recognized as an authority in that area. For example, a sex therapist might have a good chance of pitching a sex column to a women's magazine because she has applicable employment and educational history. The same goes for a personal trainer who writes a column on exercise or an obstetrician who writes about pregnancy health.

When are you available to write?

A freelancer's life is largely unpredictable and scheduling conflicts are common. If you are going to pitch a column to a women's magazine, you should be confident that you can turn in your column at the proper time each month. Furthermore, you should be able to assure the magazine editors that you have sufficient time on your hands and that you're enthusiastic about writing a column for that particular magazine.

Has the topic already been covered?

One of the main problems facing prospective columnists is the lack of uniqueness in the market. You must have a fresh, interesting, edgy idea if you're going to be successful when pitching a column to a women's magazine. For example, my wife reads a women's magazine column online called "Ask the Practical Vampire Slayer" by Claudia Cunningham. It's an ingenious little column about the concept of inviting troubles into one's life versus simply watching them "appear" (a vampire can't come in unless it's invited).

Can You Sell Yourself