By Jennifer Braddock – Editor
Would-be writers are sipping matcha at the bohemian coffee shop. Laptops are open as they write their latest piece. This piece may or may not actually exist outside their heads.
If you’re seriously considering becoming a short-form magazine writer, here’s what you can do. Make it a stopgap job while you work on the Great American Novel. Start by moving beyond the yoga café daydream. Focus on transitioning into paying work.
Think beyond “I want to write.”
Write a Business Plan:
Build a Portfolio Before You Pitch: Magazine publishers, whether glossy print or digital, want proof. They need to see that you can deliver clean, on-point writing. Get that first byline someplace, somewhere.
- Local publications: Neighborhood papers, city lifestyle mags, or regional travel guides.
- Nonprofit newsletters: Many will be thrilled to give you a byline in exchange for volunteer writing.
- Online guest posts: Even unpaid, these give you links you can show editors.
Your goal: a handful of well-edited, published clips to link in your pitch emails.
Consider Medium and Substack, but Know the Costs: Self-publishing platforms offer writers space to write and publish their work. They can also earn a little cash for their efforts.
- Medium: You can post for free, but to earn from the Partner Program, you’ll need a paid membership. This is currently around $5 per month. The first step is attracting at least 200 followers. After that, you’ll make money based on the time members spend reading. Not exactly rent money unless you build a following.
- Substack: There is no fee to publish. They take a 10 percent cut of subscription revenue. They also charge credit card processing fees (around 3 percent). This means if you charge $5/month, you’re netting around $4.25 per subscriber.
These platforms won’t magically bring you readers. You’ll have to actively promote your work. As with all self-publishing, having a large number of social media followers is a big help.
Develop a Short-Form Skill Set: Short-form magazine writing isn’t the same as writing essays or blog rants. You’ll need to do some research.
- Follow the magazine’s style guide. If they say one-inch margins, make one-inch margins.
- Nail the hook in the first sentence. This is true for any writing, but more important if you’re limited to 500 words.
- Keep to strict word counts. If they say no more than 800 words, stick to that limit.
- Fact-check like your career depends on it, because it does. Watch a movie called Shattered Glass, which is about the worst possible scenario of stories based on made-up facts.
Have a Safety Net: Creative entrepreneurship isn’t for wimps. Get a part-time job, ask your grandmother for a float from your inheritance, leverage your unemployment benefits, anything. You’ll deal with all kinds of excuses from publishers.
- Late payments.
- Kill fees. Publishers may pay you less than promised if they decide not to accept your piece.
- Pitch rejections that read like “We’ll keep your idea in mind. That translates to “No.
Treat freelancing like a business, not a hobby.
Bottom line: Becoming a creative entrepreneur is like climbing the Flatirons in a windstorm. Have a safety net, a business plan, and a clear-eyed view of how you’ll make your writing pay. It’s not enough to just look like a writer. You’ve got to deliver the words.
If you have questions or comments, message Besty Bot. We’re always learning something new!
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Want to write magazine articles as a side hustle? You can’t swing your yoga mat without hitting someone who calls themselves a “freelance writer.” 🧘♀️✏️ But turning that latte-fueled dream into paying magazine work takes more than a laptop and vibes. Build your portfolio, know the platforms, and have a safety net. Creative entrepreneurship isn’t for wimps. 💪📚 https://bestchancemedia.org/2025/11/27/mastering-short-form-writing-essential-strategies/ #FreelanceWriting #WritersLife #BoulderLife #CreativeEntrepreneur #WritingTips #ShortFormWriting #MagazineWriter #ContentCreation #BusinessOfWriting #WritersCommunity #WriteAndThrive
