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Writing Markets for Illnesses
By Valerie Benko
Write what you know.
It’s four of the most famous words in writing history. You’ll
read it in writing newsletters, countless books and hear its
echo in multiple creative writing classes.
Yet many struggle with what to write, including myself.
What did I know?
I studied journalism in college and worked for a short time
in that field before switching to utilities, but I didn’t
consider myself an expert to write for trade journals. I have
many cats, but I’m not a veterinarian. I like to scrapbook,
but I’m usually reading magazines to get other people’s
layout ideas.
So I didn’t write.
Then one day as a jolt of pain ran down my legs and ended
in my toes, I realized I was looking at those four words
too abstractly. When writing guidelines mentioned I shouldn’t
submit unless I was an authority on the subject, that didn’t
necessarily mean I had to have a specific degree to write for
them. It meant I needed to have a feel for the subject matter.
I have multiple sclerosis. I know what it’s like to wake up
in the morning and not feel the floor beneath my feet. I know
how difficult simple tasks can sometimes be. I’m all too
familiar with the painful diagnosis process. I may not hold
a medical degree, but I can write from a patient’s perspective
about life with the disease, and my doctors can be my “expert”
sources.
There are many publications that take personal essays for
which a writer can detail life with any disease or ailment.
Topics I’ve written on include how my husband became my care
giver and helps me through my weekly injections, how despite
disability I actively kayak, how I continue to work full-time
despite my symptoms, how the disease has helped me grow as a
writer and even how to travel safely with injectable medicines.
Here are some markets to get you started:
You & Me – Pay not specified - expect 25 cents/word
http://www.youandmemagazine.com/pages/submissions - Seeks
first-person perspectives about the human aspects of dealing
with all medical issues.
Guideposts - $100-500
http://www.guideposts.org/writers-guidelines - Seeks first-
person narratives written in simple, dramatic, anecdotal
style with a spiritual point that the reader can "take away"
and apply to his or her own life.
Chicken Soup For The Soul - $200
http://www.chickensoup.com -
Seeks inspirational, true stories
about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Now What? - $25-55
http://nowwhat.cog7.org - Seeks
personal experience stories
of 1,500 words that show a person's struggle that either led
him to faith in Christ or deepened his walk with God.
Full Spirit Magazine - $750
http://www.fullspiritmagazine.com
- Seeks testimonies of
1,000 words on such things as overcoming addictions, personal
limitations, fears and anxieties, false beliefs, and social
obstacles.
Self - $2 word
http://www.self.com – Seeks personal
essays of 1,200-2,000
words on topics important to women for the “Self Expression”
column.
Women’s Health - $1 word
http://www.womenshealthmag.com
– Seeks smart, funny pieces
of 1,000 words that will resonate with readers who are
between the ages of 25 and 39.
Shape - $1.50-2 word
http://www.shape.com – Seeks real life
essays of 600 words
that go beyond writing about fitness and are full of personal
insight. Has an illness caused you to get in shape or lead a
healthier lifestyle?
The Funny Times - $60
http://www.funnytimes.com - Seeks
funny stories of 500-700
words about any topic.
BIO
Valerie Benko is a freelance writer from western Pennsylvania.
She has been published in Woman's World magazine, multiple
Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies as well as Patchwork
Path. Visit her online at
http://valeriebenko.weebly.com.
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