Help Please! Women's magazine short stories

[Afell1]

Hello
I'm interested in submitting some short stories for the women's magazines market. I've looked on the internet and purchased some magazines. I've put together some information about which magazines still publish fiction, word counts, rates of pay, how to submit etc. But some of the information on the internet was quite old and so possibly out-of-date.
Does anyone have any up-to-date information that they'd be happy to share?
I've got a story ready to submit, probably to Take a Break Fiction Feast, but I don't want to submit until I'm sure I'm following their current guidelines.
Thanks
Andy.

 

[E G Logan]

My knowledge of this sector is dated now, but the basics don't change.

The key thing is to identify which magazines want what. It is impossible to generalise. Obviously it is pointless to bombard magazines with short stories that are not the type of thing they publish, when another outlet might welcome them.

Do NOT
write a story then look for somewhere to place it. Many writers starting out do that, and it is often a complete waste of time – even when the story is good. Feedback was always limited and may now be non-existent...

Do
First, I would suggest asking the individual magazines for any fiction guidelines they have. If any, these are likely to be pretty broad brush, but useful nonetheless. At least they will help you to exclude the no-nos.

Second, but most important, you absolutely must READ the magazines. You will need SEVERAL RECENT ISSUES OF EACH ONE. (I suggest five or six.)
Often a magazine will publish a variety of differing stories, so that this week's or this month's could be totally different from the last one. If you only read one copy, you may have picked out an unrepresentative story, or stories, which proved less popular with readers, of a style or topic which the magazine subsequently does not choose to repeat.

Do not skim – go through them in detail. Note the subject matter, but also the tone and presentation, the settings and details like characters' names.

Good luck. If I can help, just ask.

 

[Afell1]

My knowledge of this sector is dated now, but the basics don't change.

The key thing is to identify which magazines want what. It is impossible to generalise. Obviously it is pointless to bombard magazines with short stories that are not the type of thing they publish, when another outlet might welcome them.

Do NOT
write a story then look for somewhere to place it. Many writers starting out do that, and it is often a complete waste of time – even when the story is good. Feedback was always limited and may now be non-existent...

Do
First, I would suggest asking the individual magazines for any fiction guidelines they have. If any, these are likely to be pretty broad brush, but useful nonetheless. At least they will help you to exclude the no-nos.

Second, but most important, you absolutely must READ the magazines. You will need SEVERAL RECENT ISSUES OF EACH ONE. (I suggest five or six.)
Often a magazine will publish a variety of differing stories, so that this week's or this month's could be totally different from the last one. If you only read one copy, you may have picked out an unrepresentative story, or stories, which proved less popular with readers, of a style or topic which the magazine subsequently does not choose to repeat.

Do not skim – go through them in detail. Note the subject matter, but also the tone and presentation, the settings and details like characters' names.

Good luck. If I can help, just ask.

Thanks for the advice, E G Logan.
I had some stories published in Take a Break, but the last of those was nearly 20 years ago. The stories in the recent copy of Take a Break Fiction Feast that I purchased (along with some other magazines) didn't strike me as massively different to those I read many years ago. The formula I used back then (and intend to use now) was a story with a twist, usually involving some sort of comeuppance for someone following a wrongdoing. At the time, I didn't think they were quite like other stories published, but the editor liked some of them. I think there's only a small intersection between the sort of stories I would want to write, and the sort of stories these magazines want to publish! So all I can do is try to find something that fits both criteria.
I certainly take your point about understanding the style of each magazine. I'm sure the stories I submitted to Take a Break would not have been published in The People's Friend, for example. But The People's Friend does have a 'cosy crime' category, which sounds interesting, and might be something I could try to write for. First, I need to buy some copies of The People's Friend Special Magazine.
Cheers,
Andy.

 

[Claire G]

https://www.thepeoplesfriend.co.uk/writing/submissions/our-new-fiction-guidelines/

 

[E G Logan]

I worked at DC Thomson & Co, too – publishers of The People's Friend – in fact, I trained there. Those words have a resonance: bearing in mind “The People’s Friend” heritage and values. Aim for a “feel-good” tone with engaging characters. Not much changes, obviously.

I also worked at IPC Magazines, in the Fiction departments of Woman and Woman's Own. Back in the dawn of time.

 

[E G Logan]

think there's only a small intersection between the sort of stories I would want to write, and the sort of stories these magazines want to publish!

I suspect you'd definitely find that with the PF!

 

[Pamela Jo]

think there's only a small intersection between the sort of stories I would want to write, and the sort of stories these magazines want to publish!

Words set in stone. But try Ireland's Own. They are not so oriented towards women, but have a broader audience. Ireland's Own – The week wouldn’t be the same without it!

Note they expect the same understanding of their readership. In fact that is the single most important thing to remember when submitting to magazines.

 

[E G Logan]

I think the key 'notes' for all the DC Thomson publications, including especially the PF, are:
heart-warming and wholesome, & absolute and total sincerity.

I can't remember exactly where I heard it, but I know someone dinned it in firmly: "You just can't fake sincerity." Any hint of fake, and it's a rejection.

If it's not really what you want to write, or you feel – as many do – that the publication might be a bit beneath you, believe me, it will come through in the writing.

BTW, I've been trying to find if The Sunday Post has a short story competition this year, but if it has, it's keeping it quiet. Worth looking out for, though.
The paper used to run a short story every week, but doesn't seem to now.

 

[Afell1]

https://www.thepeoplesfriend.co.uk/writing/submissions/our-new-fiction-guidelines/

Thanks Claire. I've had a read of this article. And I picked up a copy of the People's Friend Special No 277 in Asda this morning.
Andy.

 

[Afell1]

I suspect you'd definitely find that with the PF!

I've read a few PF stories today (from the 'Special') and I've read a few from the regular magazine recently. One story in the Special looked like an example of 'cosy crime', which is the sort of story I might try my hand at.
Andy.

 

[Afell1]

Words set in stone. But try Ireland's Own. They are not so oriented towards women, but have a broader audience. Ireland's Own – The week wouldn’t be the same without it!

Note they expect the same understanding of their readership. In fact that is the single most important thing to remember when submitting to magazines.

Thanks Pamela
I've just ordered a copy.

 

[Afell1]

I think the key 'notes' for all the DC Thomson publications, including especially the PF, are:
heart-warming and wholesome, & absolute and total sincerity.

I can't remember exactly where I heard it, but I know someone dinned it in firmly: "You just can't fake sincerity." Any hint of fake, and it's a rejection.

If it's not really what you want to write, or you feel – as many do – that the publication might be a bit beneath you, believe me, it will come through in the writing.

BTW, I've been trying to find if The Sunday Post has a short story competition this year, but if it has, it's keeping it quiet. Worth looking out for, though.
The paper used to run a short story every week, but doesn't seem to now.

I'll need to give a lot of thought to my writing style if submitting for PF, but I won't underestimate the challenge of producing their kind of story.
Andy.