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Know Your Market
Home » Freelance Writing » How Do I Find My Niche? » Know Your MarketOnce you have determined your niche, it is time to start your research. It is important that you have an understanding of your potential markets. Go to your local library or bookstores and look for publications in each of the markets in which you are interested. You may need to buy a few of the magazines and read through them thoroughly. Determine the types of story lines they publish, the number of words they require, and whether your can meet the needs of this particular publisher. Many publishers require that you request a copy of their guidelines before submitting a query or manuscript. Many magazines publish by themes and will not accept articles that do not relate to these themes.
Searching through current magazines issues will help you to determine what the interests of readers are at this time. A current edition of Writer’s Market will give you an idea of what type of articles publishers are looking for, the number of words required, and the editor’s name and address. The Writer’s Market also gives advice concerning query and cover letters. This publication is printed annually, as this information continually changes.
Before you spend too much time researching a particular subject, check to see how much has already been published on that subject. The Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature is published at the end of each year and can be used to see what articles were published during the year. This will save you from having to search through each magazine to see what types of articles they have recently published.
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