Write a letter to a magazine and get it published

I wrote a short piece and it was fact checked and my personal information was checked….......so it was close, but no cigar.

Maybe next time

I was lucky that a British fashion mag, Compapny, published a letter I wrote about a photo shoot where a caucasian female model was surrounded by poor Carribean kids. In my letter, I asked why this type of shoot is so popular and why magazines don’t shoot spreads with a model of color surrounded by poor white kids. I’ve never seen it. Evidently, neither had they because they published my letter and sent me some gifts of shampoo and conditioner.

I read in “TIME” about how much siblings can influence who you are, and the article struck me so much that I had to reply. I had written to them once before, to stop putting in smoking ads, especially since a few pages later they would give the latest statistics on cancer, etc. I couldn’t believe that just a few days later, I got back an email saying that my letter was interesting and that they would publish it in a couple of weeks. My advice is to write a letter that sheds new light on the topic. If you’re going to criticize, come up with a good back up, and humor wouldn’t hurt either. Also, send your letter as soon as possible- if you have a strong need to express your opinion, it shouldn’t take too long after reading the article/piece. I sent my letter a few hours after I finished the story. Email is always the fastest way, and be sure to provide all the info about yourself as detailed as possible. I think they like opinions from different demographics, so if you’re a student, let them know. If you’re a single dad, a great grandmother, if you’re from a remote city or foreign country, let them know. The more detailed, the more obscure and unique, the better, I think. Good luck!!

Started when I was 8. Crazy!

• Disney Adventures
• Teen People
• Seventeen
• Glamour

I got a chance to get my stuff published in a e-newsletter read by nearly 400 people. It would be a good opportunity to practise those non-existing academic writing skills.

It was on the Spanish edition of In Style and I did it just because I wanted to get the prize they offer (the previous week the winner was awarded with a mobile phone but I just got a huge horrible heart shape necklace!). The key to get published on these sort of magazines is telling them that you looooved the article X of their previous number but…and then you make a suggestion that you know most women agree with like…”Most people cannot afford they clothes you show bla, bla, bla”

PS: Not a great thing for someone who once dreamed about writing screenplays!