I'm not going to lie...the first time (or 10) that you see your mag on the stands does feel nice.

Actually, I learned this at 27, because that’s when I started to work at a magazine, but only now, at 29, do I feel I can dispense a little advice on the subject. (And believe me, I’m still learning everyday.) **Thanks to the lovely Cheryl from Starbucks Break for emailing me this question – I’ve wanted to posted it for a long time and, well, you gave me the motivation to do it.

Feel free to email me or comment with any Qs:

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Here are a few tips that I wish someone had given me. I mean, hey, what’s the point on gaining experience if you can’t give it away in the form of some really long-winded bullet points, right?

sandyb’s guide to making writing your bread ‘n’ buttuah (or at least so you can love your job more than you do right now):

-First thing’s first: Do you want to be an editor or writer? When you work at a magazine, there are rarely full-time writers employed there, so what you’re likely going to be is an editor. In that case, the bulk of your job is massaging the work of freelance writers into the final product – a polished article. Be prepared. I can tell you from experience that not all writers can write well and so you’re not always going to love the article you’re editing, which is why you have to love the work itself – taking something good and figuring out how to make it better. On the plus side, editors get to research story ideas, pitch them to senior editors and help shape the magazine’s content.  Decide if you want to be a writer or if you want to be an editor, because editing is a different ball game. Although I have learned that good editors often make good writers, too. And vice versa.

-Interning: Sucks, yes, but many internships pay these days. Those that don’t likely don’t have to or can’t afford to. Either way, I suggest getting hooked up with an internship asap. It shows prospective mags that you’re willing to do the grunt work (make copies, pull files, fact check, etc) and, if you do that well, they’ll sometimes give you editorial tasks to do, too. And sometimes that can lead to a byline down the road – bonus. Point is, get an internship and treat the application process like you would a job. Good internships are competitive and get scooped up right around the spring for summertime. Now go!

-Fact checking, anyone? Again, a great entry-level position to get your foot in the door that comes with pay (albeit, shitty pay for the most part, but pay nonetheless. Oh, and while we’re on the topic of dollars, you should know that publishing doesn’t pay well, unless you’re an in-demand journalist or Anna Wintour. It’s just a fact, so accept it and you’ll be a lot less resentful in the long run.) So, back to fact checking: It’s research heavy, which means that being curious is a very good thing. It’s up to you to read every article that goes into that magazine and make sure the details add up. You also get the opportunity to work alongside the copy-editor and other editors and really learn a lot about the industry your magazine is in (mine is women’s fitness, for instance).

-If you want to write for a magazine, submit, submit, submit. Especially the small ones. In the first few years of your career, become an expert on what you can: Fishing? Yes! Hiking? Absolutely! How to lose 10 pounds without even trying? Uh-huh. Kitchen decor? Hell yes! 100 Best celebrity hairstyles? Sure thing, chicken wing. Covering various genres is a solid way to find out what you are good at writing about (outside of what you “like” to write about, because the truth is that won’t always pay in the beginning). Writing across many industries is also a good way to show diversity in your work, but don’t get too scattered with it – eventually editors who hire you as a writer will want to see some consistency in what you do and what you’re well-versed in. Editors will give a writer work based on their experience with a certain topic, like nutrition or fitness or fashion, etc

-Think of the next year or two as as a weeding-out process. In the beginning, I pimped my words out to anyone willing to pay. In some cases, I even worked for free just to have the byline or reference to the work on my website (oh, and a website, get one of those.. I’ll get to that). At some point though, you do want to place a price on your work. If you’re in Canada, writers.ca gives you a breakdown of what writers charge these days.  Your work should not be free forever. This is your craft – hone it and respect it if you want other to do the same. That said, look at writing for websites, blogs, trade magazines and even companies who need marketing material. But be careful – it’s easy to get pulled into these “jobs” and then side-track your writing career. I made that mistake for about two years when I first started out, but it was a lesson well-learned and I paid off some school debt, so it served its purpose for the most part.

-Give to get – if you want to be a full-time writer, get busy being a part-time hustler, too. You will always be amazed by the amount of people who can’t, won’t and shouldn’t write. Medium-sized companies, web experts/producers and even the service industry don’t always want to tackle the written word. Don’t be afraid to step in and offer your help. Again, it’s about building the portfolio, your relationships and networks. Remember, you’re a hustler, baby.

-Apply to magazine postings. When you see a posting for a position, and you think you have a solid portfolio, apply. No second-guessing. Don’t ever think, “Well, I’m not ready,” because a good editor is always ready. Always. When I saw the posting for my current job, I just went for it. I remember looking at the posting, turning to my sister and saying, “I love fitness.. and writing and editing. Hell, I want this job!” Three interviews later, I got it.

-Build a portfolio. When you go to interviews, have it ready to go. This usually involves getting a binder then doing a little arts and crafts. Best bet is to Google what a typical writer’s portfolio looks like. Oh, and never leave it behind at an interview, no matter how much you want the job. (I’ve so done that.)

-Blogs. A blog is a good way to show that you can, in fact, write. It can become a sample of your work, the kind of audience your draw and your commitment to certain topics and content. The more you blog (say, about dating, fashion, GenY, travel, etc) the more people turn to you as the “expert” on that topic. This takes time though, so don’t expect you’re blog to be the ‘be all and end all’ of your samples. However, I would absolutely mention your blog to prospective magazines. Having a successful blog is a good, good thing, but not the only thing.

-Websites and business cards. I suggest building a website that has samples of your work. Mine will be undergoing a refresh in the weeks to come, but you can visit it here. Your site should have an “About” page that lists your education, skills and training. Think of it as a virtual resume. Also, you can make some inexpensive business cards to keep on hand. You want to be ready when you’re at a party or cocktail thing and happen to make a contact. When someone asks you for your card, you want to be ready. It should list your website, email address, phone number, Twitter account and blog URL.

Last point and if you take nothing away from this post, please take this: Working at a magazine, as fun as it may seem or sound, is still a job.  You will be busy with 40+ hour work week and little down-time. It’s a career that is very, very deadline driven, so if you’re not into meeting deadlines every other week and delivering under pressure, working at a magazine is something you might want to rethink. I don’t say this to discourage you, I’m simply laying it out there, full exposed. It’s a fast-paced industry. I liken it to the deadlines you have to meet in school, only you won’t have a professor who is forgiving about your “heavy work load” or “I had cramps” excuses. Instead, you’ll have one annoyed editor on your ass because, at the end of the day, your job is about delivering the goods and helping to shape the identity of a publication. Um, no pressure?

Now, if this sounds like your dream thing, go get it ‘er.

-sandyb