In honor of Independence Day, we thought you'd enjoy this special selection of writers' markets that celebrate being American. From cake decorating to motorcycling, there's bound to be something for you. So as you're barbecuing, picnicking, or enjoying a fireworks show, remember to take mental notes of potential story ideas. As always, although we try to be as accurate as possible, make sure you double-check with the editor for any changes in guidelines and their current needs.
Happy 4th of July!
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American Artist
http://www.artistdaily.com/
About:
American Artist is a magazine of ideas and inspiration for practicing artists living in the United States. It includes both profile articles and step-by-step demonstrations. Service articles provide methods by which artists can improve their skills and collectors can improve their knowledge of fine art. It covers a balance of art mediums including oil painting, watercolor, acrylics, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking.
Needs: Feature articles on contemporary American realist artists; instructional articles written by artists themselves explaining in detail their techniques, including brand names of materials used; articles on the business aspects of art; articles on art materials and equipment.
Pay: $500 for articles of about 1,500 to 2,000 words, on acceptance.
Guidelines:
http://www.artistdaily.com/media/p/45249.aspx
Submit: Send a query letter along with your resume and clips to Michael Gormley, Editorial Director, American Artist magazines, 133 W. 19th St., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10011
American Baby
http://www.parents.com/american-baby-magazine/
About: American Baby is a monthly magazine for expectant and new mothers with a child up to two years old. "It's the complete guide to new parenthood, giving young families all of the information they need on prenatal care, baby's growth and development, and family health and lifestyle changes, including mom's beauty needs, relationships and family finances."
Needs: How-to, general interest, humor, fitness, personal experience, beauty.
Pay: Varies, but writers report $600-$800 for a 1,000 word article.
Submit: Send a query letter with SASE to American Baby Magazine, 375 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017
American Cake Decorating
http://www.americancakedecorating.com/
About:
American Cake Decorating is a magazine for cake decorators of all levels--those who pursue it as a hobby as well as those who make a business of it. It publishes step-by-step instructional articles, hints and tips, expert commentary, quick decorating ideas, a gallery of cake photos, book reviews, new products, a calendar of events, and topical articles.
Needs: Birthday (including Sweet 16, Bar/Bat Mitzvah) cakes, novelty and special occasion cakes, wedding cakes. Looking for work in more traditional American media such as buttercream, royal icing, and/.or chocolate.
Pay: Varies, but writers report $0.02-.05 per word.
Submit: Mail or email a query letter with images to editor[at]americancakedecorating[dot]com or to Space Downtown, re: American Cake Decorating, 94 Ninth St., Fourth Floor, Studio 30, Brooklyn, NY 11215
American Cowboy
http://www.americancowboy.com/
About:
American Cowboy magazine strives to portray the spirit of the West and appeal to western enthusiasts. It features profiles of country-western musicians, rodeo performers, and western artists along with pictorials of the western landscape. It also publishes articles on western decorating and fashion, current events affecting the West, travel, food, history, rodeos, horses, reviews, and cowboy poetry.
Pay: Roughly $0.20-.25 per word, on acceptance.
Submit: Mail a query letter to Active Interest Media, Inc., American Cowboy Magazine, 921 Walnut Street, Suite 250, Boulder, CO 82801 or contact editor[at]americancowboy[dot]com
American Craft
http://americancraftmag.org/
About:
American Craft magazine is "a wish book that helps creative people to see the world with fresh eyes. Its memorable stories and images inspire readers to craft a conscientious, expressive life they feel good about. The magazine celebrates the age-old human impulse to make things by hand, in order to communicate, learn, heal, and connect."
Pay: Roughly $1.00 per word.
Writer's Guidelines:
http://americancraftmag.org/about.php
Submit: Send a query letter via email or snail mail. Keep your query short--a paragraph or two at the most. Please include images and published clips if you have them. American Craft Council, 72 Spring St., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10012 or Monica Moses, Editor in Chief: mmoses[at]craftcouncil[dot]org.
American Fitness
http://www.afaa.com/
About:
American Fitness magazine is the official publication of the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. "Viewed as the leading magazine by fitness professionals and dedicated enthusiasts,
American Fitness has pass-along readership in health clubs and corporate wellness settings that tops 100,000 readers. As an industry trendsetter, the magazine is renowned for breaking new ground in reporting health-related fitness research, current trends, advances in equipment and training applications."
Needs: Articles on the subjects of health, fitness, exercise, nutrition, sports medicine, innovations and trends in fitness and sports, fitness marketing, tips on teaching exercise, humorous accounts of fitness motivation, physiology, women's health and fitness issues. Features, news features, in-depth research articles, profiles and biographical accounts of fitness leaders.
Pay: $100-$200 per article.
Submit: Query via email with published clips or send the complete manuscript, with SASE if appropriate. Meg Jordan, Editor, americanfitness[at]afaa[dot]com or
American Fitness, 15250 Ventura Blvd., Suite 200, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
American Gardener
http://www.ahs.org/
About:
American Gardener is the official magazine of the American Horticultural Society. It is published for the advanced amateur gardener. The editorial covers profiles of individual plant groups; innovative approaches to garden design; profiles of prominent horticulturists whose work has a national impact; plant research and plant hunting; plant conservation, biodiversity, and heirloom gardening; events or personalities in horticultural history; people-plant relationships; environmentally appropriate gardening; and plant lore and literature.
Pay: $300-$500 for features, $100-$250 for departments.
Writer's Guidelines:
http://www.ahs.org/pdfs/Writers_Guidelines.pdf
Submit: Mail a query letter to
The American Gardener, American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Va 22308
American Heritage
http://www.americanheritage.com/
About: "
American Heritage, the oldest, most widely known and respected popular U.S. history magazine, provides high quality writing on the American experience for its half million readers." The editorial is written from a historical point of view on politics, business, art, current and international affairs, and changing lifestyles. The articles are written with the intent to enrich the reader's appreciation of sometimes nostalgic, sometimes funny, always stirring panorama of the American experience.
Pay: Varies, roughly $0.20 per word and up.
Writer's Guidelines:
http://www.americanheritage.com/about/magazine/guidelines-for-writers
Submit: Send a one page query letter in the body of an email (no attachments) to jrodibaugh[at]americanheritage[dot]com.
American History
http://www.historynet.com/american-history
About: American History is a magazine of cultural, social, military, and political history published for a general audience. It provides insights into the people, places, and events of the American past. The editorial includes listings of literature, CDs and videos, upcoming exhibits related to American history, as well as news of historical events.
Pay: $0.20 per word and up.
Submit: Mail a query letter with SASE and published clips to Weider Publishing LLC,
American History Magazine, 741 Miller Drive SE, Suite D2, Leesburg, VA 20175.
American Motorcyclist
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/
About:
American Motorcyclist, a monthly magazine, is the official publication of the American Motorcyclist Association, and is designed for the motorcycle enthusiast.
Needs: Interviews and profiles, personal interest, travel pieces
Pay: $8.00 per published inch.
Submit: Send the entire article as an MS Word attachment. In the body of your email please make sure you have all of your contact information listed. In the subject line include the title of your article. Send to submissions[at]ama-cycle[dot]org. American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147.
American Profile
http://www.americanprofile.com/
About:
American Profile is a weekly, full-color newspaper magazine insert that targets readers of smaller hometown and community newspapers. It "celebrates hometown life through feel-good content that pays homage to the people and places that still make America great." The editorial speaks to what is dear to hometown America residents: local heroes, historic treasures, food and recipes, country music, do-it-yourself and more.
Pay: $0.50-$1.00 per word.
Writer's Guidelines:
http://www.americanprofile.com/contributor-guidelines/
Submit: Send a one-page query with published writing samples and SASE to: Queries, American Profile, 341 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067.
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We hope you've enjoyed this selection of patriotic markets. Have a wonderful 4th! Happy writing!
Visit the MediaShower website and you'll notice that "Content is King," according to them. (We understand that at WOW! Women on Writing!) MediaShower, which has some good success stories, started nearly two decades ago to provide great content to its clients, which enables their clients to get to the top page of results when someone searches Google. John Hargrave believes that although everyone wants to get to the top of Google results, great content and promotion is what will get the clients there. WOW asked him about what MediaShower is looking for in its freelance writers and what opportunities are available. John shared what the company is looking for and some of the company's success stories. 
