What writer hasn’t wished for regular income from a regular column? This year is my third year as a columnist, and I love it.

Believe it or not, some markets are looking for columnists. They are also open to serials, which are similar to a column. You can pitch column ideas to your local newspaper, magazine or regional publication. Some markets that are open to columns include Wellcome Collection (https://wellcomecollection.org/get-involved/propose-a-story), The Cut and Inc.com.

You can also go solo, writing a column on Medium or through Substack, and once you get traction and regular readers, an editor may approach you to write your column for their publication. If not, approach them with statistics under your belt; statistics showing you have the material for column writing, and you have the talent to attract followers. Any editor would love you bringing your readership with you to theirs.

Once you land a column, or are in the throes of establishing one, here are tips to keep it going:

Know the Audience

Know and understand who you are writing for. The editor who enlisted me to write a column about books emphasized that the audience is readers, but I need to be able to reach any age and address any genre.

Questions to ask yourself:

•    What would the general audience of a given publication like to read?
•    What are their needs?
•    What topics are relevant to unrepresented and marginalized members in my audience?

Pay Attention to Patterns

Like my column audience, I’m a booklover. I scan bookstores, online, and reading apps in a search for patterns. This logic came in handy recently for an article idea on new dessert cookbooks.

Questions to ask yourself about your topic:

•    What’s in high demand?
•    What do I see a lot of?
•    What similarities and patterns are developing?

Special Days and Observances

Readers are always interested in books and articles about special occasions. National Poetry Month, Teacher Appreciation Week, and Veterans Day are all prime occasions for articles. I wrote about LGBTQA+ books for Pride Month and spooky books for the October (Halloween) issue.

Notice Trends

Trends are great but must be broken down into a topic. Suppose celebrity memoirs are trending. Break it down. For example, write an article on memoirs by celebrities who are also children’s books authors.

Questions to ask yourself:

•    What’s trending?
•    How does it relate to my audience?
•    How can I break it down to a more specific, unique topic within the trend?

Recognizing What You Love

I am not just a booklover but also a book collector. I collect Guinness World Record books and biographies of the U.S. presidents. My own collections have generated ideas.

Questions to ask yourself:

•    What do I love that my audience would love, too?
•    In what way can I use my personal interest as a column topic?
•    How can I give it a fresh spin?

Going With What (and Who) You Know

As a columnist, you position yourself as a voice of authority whether about motherhood, technology, or cars. Mine your expertise for topics. Tap other experts in  your field, tap them for quotes or extra resources.

Questions to ask yourself:

•    Who do I know that my audience would care about?
•    Who do I know is the right person for a quote?
•    What other resource can complement my expertise in the topic?

These tips can help you create topics for your columns. Soon you’ll have unlimited ideas to keep it going strong.

BIO: Dawn Colclasure is a writer who lives in Eugene, Oregon, USA with her husband and son. She writes poetry, essays, articles, short stories and books. She is the author and co-author of over five dozen books. She is also a book blogger. This year marks her third anniversary as a columnist for First Chapter Plus Magazine. Her methods in this article have helped her come up with a new topic to cover month after month. Her work has appeared in magazines, newspapers, websites and anthologies. She publishes the free monthly newsletter for writers, the SPARREW Newsletter. Her nonfiction has appeared in Women Who Submit, MUTHA Magazine and The Ability Toolbox.

https://dawnsbooks.com/  / https://www.dmcwriter.com/ / Instagram dawn10325