The Trade of Trade Journals

by Terri Pilcher

My first publication appeared in Physician Assistant Journal and paid $200.  Not bad for a periodical most people have never heard of, one not found in Writer’s Market.  Most writers know that consumer magazines make up only a small percentage of the periodicals that pay for articles.  Trade publications make up a significant portion of the hidden source of funds for professional writers.  Breaking in can be surprisingly easy – when you know the tricks. 

Finding a Specialty

Trade publications require professional knowledge of a topic.  Start making a list of areas in which you have a depth of information.  For me, my degree in Health Sciences makes me ideal for health and medical publications.  If you have a college education, the focus of your degree may be the first item on your list.  A hobby or area of passionate interest could increase your list of possibilities.  For instance, if you love drinking coffee and tea, then the Coffee and Tea Trade Journal may be for you.  Check the guidelines.  Some trade publications accept articles of personal experience or interviews with recognized authorities in their field.  Including your connections with professionals will expand your list.  Keep this list handy and add to it regularly.

Locating Trade Publications

Almost every profession has a trade journal.  I have included a list of online resources, but it includes only a few of the possibilities.  As a physician assistant, I receive five journals on a regular basis that I do not pay for and that are not found on any online lists. 

Several years ago, I joined the American Association of Physician Assistants, and they placed me on their mailing list.  I receive free journals, information from pharmaceutical companies, and invitations to medical conferences without any effort on my part.  Search for a professional organization within your specialty and join.  Rates are often cheaper if you join as an affiliate member and not a practicing professional in the field.  Even if you only join once, the publications and resources will appear in your mailbox for years.  For a one-time fee, you will continually receive the information that will keep you on the cutting edge of your chosen industry. 

Even joining a professional group will not cover all of the possible publications for you to consider.  The Encyclopedia of Associations found in your local library contains the most complete list available.  It may take days for you to wade through it, but when you find ten trade journals for which you are qualified to write, it will be worth the effort.

How To Start

As with any magazine, begin by requesting at least six months of back issues and a copy of their writer’s guidelines.  Pay attention to the journal’s style.  Many trade magazines use technical terms that are a foreign language to industry outsiders.  When you write for them, make sure you use the language they are used to, or you will sound amateurish.

Make a list of published topics.  Trade journals often recycle subjects with fresh information on three to four year cycles.  If you can approach old ideas in a new way, you can give them an article that they will buy.  I offered Painting and Wallcovering Contractor an article on dealing with government lead regulations, but was turned down.  I had committed the faux pax of not checking past issues; the journal had published a similar article that year.  Instead, the editor asked me for an account of my husband’s personal experience with the subject. 

Query or Complete Manuscript?

Query first, but if the editor does not know you then he or she will want to see a complete manuscript before making a commitment.  Many writers do not write on speculation, but in this case they should.  Most journals are in desperate need of good writers, so as long as you have a topic they can use and can match their style, your article will sell.

Research Resources

If articles about your topics of interest can be found in journals at university libraries, then you have a source for free research.  Using the Internet, find the title, author, and journal of the article you want, and request a copy of it from your local community college library or perhaps your local public library.  Most libraries will order the article if they do not have it in their collection and call you when it is ready – all for the amazing cost of FREE!  I ordered six articles on anorexia from my community college library.  The librarians requested the articles from another university whose librarians found and copied the articles.  I received a call when the articles arrived at my community college, and I picked up a manila folder full of useful resources.  In my opinion, libraries are the best resource after personal experience for an article requiring professional research.

Sending away for as many free trade publications as possible will provide you with free market information, free industry information, and place you on related mailing lists.  Other useful sources of information include government regulators, local businesses, the business section of the phone directory, and professionals in the industry. 

Your Future in Trade Journals

Trade journals need qualified writers.  Finding professional writers with the knowledge and ability to fill their publications with useful information is difficult.  Once they discover you, they will give you assignments.  Payment is usually at least $200-$300 for a 1,000-word article, well worth the effort it takes to approach and write for a trade publication. 

Trade journals are not the flashiest places to publish.  Your friends may not be amazed by your publication in Pit and Quarry, but as a writer trying to sell work, do not ignore the journals that want to find you.

Sidebar “Internet Resources for Trade Publications:

One library’s journal holdings listed online.

http://staff.lib.muohio.edu/~hurstsj/busi/trade.html

List of free trade magazines that you can subscribe to.  (Many others also listed that require a paid subscription.)

http://www.bigbooksavings.com/freetrade.htm

List of journals with online websites

http://www.britishlibrary.net/journals_content.html

PubList: A comprehensive directory covering the publication details of 150,000 journals.  Requires free registration.

http://www.publist.com

Copyright © 2003 Terri Pilcher. All Rights Reserved.

Terri Pilcher is a physician assistant and has published award-winning medical articles. She focuses her energies on her business, "Professional Writing Services", which helps companies to promote themselves through articles, brochures, advertisements and slogans. Contact her at prowriter@prodigy.net.