11 Most Popular Articles to Write for Magazines (Freelance Writing is Easier Than You Think!)

Getting published in print and online magazines is easy when you know what types of articles editors and publishers need. You can get published anywhere if you have the right article for the right magazine.

This list of the most popular magazine articles includes feature length stories, roundups, personality profiles, research shorts, human interest pieces, and “how to” articles. I also included examples of magazines that publish each type of article. Whether you’re an aspiring freelance writer or an established author you’ll find lots of ideas in this list!

1. “How To” Articles (Dog Care Magazine)
Easily the most popular and the shortest and easiest to write, the how-to article with its self-help variant gives instructions for how to do or be something or how to do it better.
- Make a rousing promise of success
- Describe what you need in easy to follow instructions
- Give step-by-step directions (sometimes with subtitles)
- Include shortcomings or warnings
- Tell how to locate supplies
- Give proofs and promises
- Make referrals to other sources

2. Profile and Interview Articles (Oprah Magazine)
This popular type of article describes a contemporary or historical person – but a profile doesn’t have to be about a human being! Animals, communities, nations, states, provinces, companies, associations, churches can all be profiled (but not necessarily interviewed).
- Can have a theme or focus.
- Can be presented as a “Q & A” or a written article.
- Require strong interviewing and perception skills for the “best” information

3. Informative or Service Articles (Women's Health Magazine)
Informative articles are also know as “survey articles.” They often offer information about a specific field, such as sports medicine, health writing, ocean currents, politics, etc. Service articles are similar, but often used as shorter fillers. Service articles offer a few pieces of good advice or tips, but aren’t usually long or involved.
- Focus on one unique aspect, or the “handle”
- Describe what-to, how-to, when-to, why-to, etc.
- Answer the journalist’s who, what, when, where, why, and how questions
- Can end with a “how-to” piece as a sidebar

4. The Alarmer-Exposé (Reader's Digest Magazine)
A Reader’s Digest staple, the alarmer-exposé article is designed to alert and move the reader to action. Well-researched and heavy with documentation, this type of magazine article takes a stance and adopts a particular point of view on a timely and often controversial issue.
- Shock or surprise readers
- Include statistics, quotes, anecdotes
- Can range from author profiles to background intelligence on YouTube
“This article is best written by an established writer who is skilled in reporting an issue and building a case without flagrant – and apparent – bias,” says Hamilton.

5. Human Interest Articles (People Magazine)
- Usually start with an anecdote
- Are often chronologically organized

6. Essay, Narrative, or Opinion Articles (Writer's Digest Magazine)
This is my least favorite type of magazine article or blog post to write! I’m not a big writer of personal stories (nor do I like to read autobiographies, biographies, or personal blogs). I’d much rather encourage readers by sharing information – such as these 11 different types of articles to write magazines 🙂

7. Humor or Satire Articles (The Onion)
Humor or satire articles are really hard to write. I just read today – in the University of Alberta’s Trail magazine – that it takes the Simpsons’ writers and staff SIX MONTHS to write and produce a single episode! That’s because humor writing seems easy and fast, but it’s actually the hardest type of writing to learn…not to mention master.

8. Historical Articles (Canadian History Magazine)
- Reveal events of interest to millions (which means at least one of my examples wouldn’t work as this type of article)
- Focus on a single aspect of the subject
- Are organized chronologically
- Tell readers something new
- Go beyond history to make a current connection

9. Inspirational Magazine Articles (Woman's Day Magazine)
- Describe how to feel good or how to do good things
- Can describe how to feel good about yourself – this type of article can work for anyone from writers to plumbers to pilots
- Offer a moral message
- Focus on the inspirational point

10. Round-Up Magazine Articles (MSN.com, BuzzFeed)
- Gather a collection from many sources
- Focus on one theme
- Offer quotations, opinions, statistics, research studies, anecdotes, recipes, etc.

11. Research Shorts (Psychology Today Magazine)
- Describe current scientific information
- Are usually less than 250 words long
- Are often written on spec (at least by me)
- Are fast, effective ways to earn money as a freelance writer – if you can find the right markets

#writingformagazines #gettingpublished #whattowrite

[sharonturner]

Excellent video for new writer's on the best way to begin their career.

[smileyhappyradio]

This was so helpful Laurie, and I just wanted to thank you for sharing your knowledge. I passionately want to start writing content as a career, post divorce. I am at square one right now. I am in the process of educating myself. I am guessing it is feasible to start writing at any stage in your life? I am wondering what I need in a great portfolio to start. If you have a minute...

[LOLO-jjby]

Hi! Your info was very informative. I have a question? I am working on an article for Reader Digest. My article is about the COVID-19 pandemic, however I will be comparing the story with an old famous movie and the characters bringing them into the future. What type of article would this be labeled.

[Tahirazeshan]

do you have a tutorial on writing query emails to magazine publishing company

[writeralbertlanier]

A pretty concise guide to types of articles to write.
It was nice you included at least of couple points about how to make an article work.
I was a local/ regional freelancer for over 20 years .
Primarily worked as a magazine writer for the last 10 years or more of my career.
So i found this video quite effective .