Tag Archives: alternative newsweeklies

Selling Your Seasonal Freelance Articles

If you are trying to sell articles for print publication (as opposed to the web, naturally),  the accepted wisdom found in every book about freelance writing and how to get your articles published in magazines is pretty basic. Many publications want your Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s-themed pieces well in advance. Usually when there is still suntan lotion being passed around.

It’s pretty common in the magazine publishing world to have an editorial calendar worked up six months in advance, but those who are just now starting to think about writing seasonal stuff do have an option for writing and publishing now. Last year Catherine and I sold a holiday piece to an alternative news weekly only weeks away from the Thanksgiving holiday.

Alternative news weeklies are often starved for good material from local writers and you may find yourself able to sell your holiday stuff now if you act quickly. With Turkey day so close at the time of this writing, you’re better off trying to hit the December holidays now, but don’t hesitate to try out your local newsprint options and see what you come up with.