This is a guest article.
Like any teacher & coach, I define my success by that of my clients, students and readers.
So when I get messages from motivated personal trainers asking me "How can I write for fitness magazines?", I feel compelled to deliver.
Today's post is going to cover personal strategies on how YOU can become a freelance fitness writer for any of the big shot fitness magazines.
I've had a great deal of experience as a freelance fitness writer, where in last few years I've written over 50 articles for over 20 major fitness magazines.
In doing so, I've found there are two major prerequisites the magazine editors are looking for, regardless of which magazine it is.
The 2 Prerequisites are:
1. You must have good ideas that are unique (have a hook), easy to understand and immediately applicable for the general population.
AND
2. You must be a credible fitness writer who's already proven that you can provide high-quality training articles, write them in a concise manner and deliver them in a timely fashion.
Magazine editors are overly busy, under lots of pressure and have deadlines to keep. They won't commission an article out to someone who hasn't already proven themselves as a credible personal trainer who's capable of writing their ideas in a solutions based manner with mass appeal.
In order to build credibility and to hone your craft as a fitness writer & professional, I recommend you follow this 3-step process:
Step 1 - START A FITNESS BLOG!
Blogging will help you become a better writer through constant practice by writing your ideas in a concise, solutions based manner.
Additionally, Blogging can help you find your "niche."
After blogging for awhile you'll find there are certain subjects that you write about most often, and which are the subjects you're most passionate about. Focusing on these subjects will allow you to "brand your style" by creating a unique value to your work and separate yourself from other 100,000 fitness bloggers.
So Blog, and Blog often!
(To jumpstart your writing career, check out sites like WordPress.com to get started blogging!)
Step #2 - GET YOUR ARTICLES PUBLISHED ON THE MAJOR FITNESS WEBSITES
If you can get your written work published on a fitness training website like T-Nation.com,WannaBeBig.com, EliteFTS.com, BodyBuilding.com, MuscleandStrength.com, thePTDC etc., you'll know that your ideas are worthwhile to readers because these websites won't publish stuff unless they think it'll get attention and benefit their readers.
Getting your articles published on these training websites will also help to build your credibility (as a writer & personal trainer) and bring lots of attention to your Blog.
Plus, many of the magazine editors I've worked with often read these websites (especially T-nation) and often pull talent from them when they think a certain writer's subject matter can easily be tailored to their magazine audience.
How to get in touch with Fitness Websites?
In order to get in touch with editors of these fitness websites, I recommend contacting someone who has already written for the site you desire to work with. And, when you do - Give them a finished article to review.
Now, I write for these websites and I'm far too busy with my own stuff to reply to every damn email I get from folks who want to write, which is almost every trainer and their brother. But, I'm more willing to take time out of my day to help other fitness professionals of whom I've already met in-person, talked shop with and found to have great ideas. I'll also be more inclined to help those who have Blogs, which are full of great content.
Basically, as I've told you - You need to have some CREDIBILITY!
Every trainer says their ideas are good. But, what do you have to show that's different from everyone else?
My Personal Story
After meeting Eric Cressey and talking shop a few years ago, I sent him a very rough video of an upcoming DVD I planned on filming. He liked it. So not long after - I sent him an article I had written, which he also liked.
Only then did he put me in touch with the great folks at T-nation. That article became my first ever published work for T-nation entitled "A New Angle on Cable Training".
Eric helped my early in my writing career because I built credibility with him. And, since then I've helped a select few writers in the same way because these individuals separated themselves from the herd and built credibility with me!
Step #3 - GET YOUR ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE FITNESS MAGAZINES!
To get your work published in a major fitness magazine, I again recommend you contact someone who's already written from the magazine publication your desire to write for.
But, I suggest before you do this, you have at least 3-5 articles already published on a major fitness training website(s).
You see, there's an old saying that "If you tell a good joke, people will say "That's funny". But, if you're ALWAYS telling good jokes, people will say "YOU'RE Funny."
Magazine editors are excited to work with writers who have shown a history of producing great content on a consistent basis. There are lots of people who have one good idea that gets published somewhere, and then you never hear from them again. But, there are far less of those who possess the ability to always crank out great work.
These are the people of whom we all will take the time to read their work simply because we know if it has their name on it, it's probably good! And, these are the people the magazines are looking for!
Having several articles published on a major website will give you the credibility as someone who's SMART, not just someone who had one smart idea.
