Looking back over my writing records for 2014, I realised
that – apart from blog posts – I’d only written fiction during the whole year.
Nothing wrong with that, and I don’t think I could stop writing fiction even if
I wanted to, but as one of my 2015 ‘hopes’ is to earn more money from writing,
producing the occasional non-fiction article seems a sensible thing to do. In
the past, I wrote non-fiction on all sorts of subjects and usually found it
easier to sell than my stories.
I started by checking the latest editions of the women’s and
lifestyle magazines in the newsagents. I couldn’t afford to buy every one that
caught my eye, but I bought a couple of my favourites to do some in-depth
research at home and quickly leafed through the others.
In almost every magazine the main features were about
dieting and/or fitness. (Am I the only woman in the country who hasn’t made a
New Year resolution to lose weight or run a marathon?) The second most popular
subject seemed to be about saving money. There were headlines such as:
- Save £££s on Household Bills
- Best Budget Beauty Buys
- Feed The Family For Less
- Low Cost Travel
- Thrifty Home Décor Ideas
Inspiration! I was certain I could write a similar article.
After all, I’ve spent all my life finding ways of living within very
moderate means. I’m an expert in saving pennies here, pinching pounds there.
All I had to do was choose a subject that a magazine hadn’t already explored.
The answer was right in front of me.
How To Cut Your Magazine Bill.
Once I started brainstorming, the ideas came thick and fast.
I could include tips for starting a magazine-swapping club. I would advise
readers to seek out magazines online and in libraries. I could list sources of
free and discounted magazines …
And then I noticed the one, tiny flaw in my brilliant
article. Which magazine will want to publish it?
