While at a recent writing retreat, an attendee cornered me, asking questions about entering the freelance writing industry. She told me what she’d like to write about, but she felt she really wasn’t an expert at anything. So I mined her life.

That lady left floating off the ground, so thrilled, so empowered, and so endowed with ideas that I couldn’t help but laugh aloud. She made my day, and, apparently, I made hers.

Everyone forgets trade magazines. There’s little romantic or enthusiastic about these publications, but they are highly targeted publications with a solid readership base. They are funded by targeted advertising, and they usually answer back and pay more quickly than the average mag that goes out to the general public.

Trades cater to certain professions, hobbyists, and enthusiasts. From how to make jewelry to managing police department. From airlines to pizza restaurants. From teaching to lawyering. From agriculture to architecture. I could go on and on.

Another retreat attendee had published in general areas, but not in the area in which she worked….that of being a chef. She wanted to branch out writing in the food industry but was worried she had no clips. No worry, I said. Pitch yourself as an expert, as the chef you are, not as a writer. Let your expertise come through in the article you pitch and don’t mention clips. Write an article on spec if you have to. Just don’t mention you’ve never published in your niche.

Think outside the box. What are you an expert at? Pitch those magazines. I have published in landscape magazines multiple times, not based on my writing experience, but on my agronomy degree and my history working in agriculture. Writing was never mentioned. I landed a half dozen gigs that paid fairly well.

Do a search for TRADE MAGAZINES or TRADE PUBLICATIONS. Here are a few:

https://www.webwire.com/industrylist.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_trade_magazines
https://www.magazineline.com/professional-trade-magazines