Ever read an article on how to mash potatoes or fix your toilet? Chances are, if you’ve typed anything in Google search starting with “how to” or “what to do when,” you’ve read articles written by content farmers, freelance writers who work for sites like eHow and Livestrong.com.

In the latest Mediabistro AvantGuild feature, a former Demand Media writer tells what it’s really like toiling on the content farm. On a typical day, she writes, she’d find assignments ranging from “the serious to the completely inane.”

There were usually plenty of writeable titles to choose from, but occasionally I’d come across a dud like “How to Furnish a Giraffe” or “20 Benefits of a 3CQ On the JLRM36.” There were also a thousand iterations of the same article: “How to Dye Your Hair Pink,” “Best Pink Hair Color for Brunettes” or “How to Change Your Hair from Blonde to Pink.” Sometimes these redundancies were beneficial, because I could use the same resources for multiple articles and save time on research. At others, the droning nature of this process made me wonder, “What am I doing?”

For more, read My Year as a Content Farm Writer.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

– Sherry Yuan

Editors at Sister 2 Sister are looking for journos with fresh, vivacious language, so if you’re looking to cover the biggest stars in music, film and TV for this pub, skip the fancy language. “Our stories are really more like conversations than interviews,” explained senior editor Ericka Boston.

The magazine prides itself on educating African-American women 18-49 in all aspects of their lives. Recent articles included a fitness story on the benefit of working out in pairs (along with a quiz to identify what type of exercise partner you are), a guide to achieving perfect spring curls and steps for preparing Afro-French cuisine.

Heads-up, freelancers. Sister 2 Sister accepts submissions in a variety of sections, both in print and online. For pitching etiquette and editors’ contact info, read How To Pitch: Sister 2 Sister.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Riding high on the groundswell of pride and honor felt among most members of the black community during President Obama’s 2008 election, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Donald Graham, chairman of The Washington Post, partnered to launch The Root, an online publication covering the nation’s biggest news stories — with an African-American angle.

How does The Root stand out from Huffington Post Black Voices, The Grio and other sites with a similar mission? “We try to differentiate ourselves in the quality of the writing and reporting and in taking perceived wisdom about race and racism and factors that affect the black community and challenging them,” said Lauren Williams, deputy editor. “One of the things that we are noted for is just having really smart content.”

Whether you’re looking to write a reported piece or a personal essay, The Root welcomes submissions from contributors — in fact, half of the site’s content is freelance-written. For pitching etiquette and editor’s contact info, read How To Pitch: The Root.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Born into XO Media Group’s publications designed around three life-changing events — namely marriage, establishing a home and parenthood – The Nest is all about making loving and living together easier for couples. It launched as a website in 2005, was converted into a print magazine shortly thereafter, and made the move back to digital in 2012.

“We still do the traditional magazine stories, just in a digital format,” said site director Heather Morgan Shott. “It’s a really great service for our readers.”

Good news, freelancers. The Nest frequently depends on freelance writers to keep the content fresh and fun. Readers of The Nest have access to both the Web content on TheNest.com, as well as the PDF version of the mag, which means that you have more opportunities to share your fabulous food, home décor, or relationship advice .

For pitching etiquette and editor’s contact info, read How To Pitch: The Nest.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

After spending years at major record labels marketing some of the biggest pop artists during the 1990s, Alan Miller and Alan Sartirana wanted to promote music outside of the boy band/teen queen craze that was taking over America. The result was Filter Music Media, a company that, according to its website, was created to “expose music in new and effective ways, with an unwavering commitment to credibility and integrity.” The company expanded into publishing in 2002 with FILTER magazine, which currently has 85,000 readers and is available on newsstands in over 10 countries.

Eager to share your love of music and writing style with FILTER editors? “Be creative and show us who you are,” said editor-in-chief Pat McGuire. The pub offers opportunities for freelance writers who make lasting impressions.

For pitching etiquette and editors’ contact info, read How To Pitch: FILTER.

– Sherry Yuan

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

The tagline of “Healthy kids, happy families” encompasses both Parents‘ content and attitude. The magazine is primarily a service magazine, and editors deliver what readers initially come to the magazine for: information about children’s health, safety, nutrition, discipline and development. However, editors also want to help readers enjoy family life (not escape it), delivering positive stories about keeping a marriage happy and celebrating the holidays.

Parents has “a nice balance between the content related to children and content related to being a parent,” said deputy editor Diane Debrovner. And, lucky for writers, almost every section of this service pub is open to freelance pitches, and there are numerous ways for newbies to break into the book. 

Get all the details in How To Pitch: Parents.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Unlike most parenting magazines, Working Mother focuses on moms instead of kids. The service mag aims to help moms throughout a busy work day, and there are plenty of opportunities for freelancers to break in. The feature well is especially friendly, and a well tailored pitch could land your byline in one of the columns, too.

“Our readers are striving to find work-life satisfaction. They’re a driven bunch who are juggling not only work and children, but often aging parents, pets, you name it,” said editorial director Jennifer Owens. “They’re also highly social, communicating with us directly through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.”

Think you’ve got an idea that might work for their readers? Get details on who and what to pitch in How To Pitch: Working Mother.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Launched back in 1951, JET has been the authority on news in the black community for decades. With a loyal readership of over 7 million, freelancers with the right pitch will get prime real estate for their bylines.

Since the pub is largely news based, editors are looking for local stories from stringers who live in different parts of the country and can report on influential, headline-making topics in their own areas. They want to hear about news-making trends, like the outbreak of bigotry among fans at high school sporting events. So if you spot a breaking topic, pitch it with a vision for what the story will look like. “I’m always on the lookout for new trends at both the regional and national level,” said editor-in-chief Mitzi Miller.

For more, read How To Pitch: JET.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Even if you don’t live by the sea, Coastal Living welcomes your pitches. Just make sure your story has a coastal connection. Freelancers can break into the book with a well-tailored pitch and land $1 a word for their efforts. Topics include everything from home and design to travel and food.

Designed to be a breath of fresh air, Coastal Living “captures the joy of life by the sea by giving our readers the relaxed feeling and sense of renewal that you can only get by the beach,” according to the magazine’s mission statement. Coverage includes the East and West Coasts of North America, as well as the Gulf Coast, Great Lakes, Alaska, the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico.

For more, read How To Pitch: Coastal Living.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Land just one assignment for Every Day With Rachael Ray, and you’re well on your way to establishing a relationship with the editors there. Sixty percent of the book is freelance written and editors regularly assign ideas to their trusted stable of writers. A couple of sections are particularly friendly to newbies — just make sure your pitch fits the pub’s lively tone, and soon, your byline could be traveling to the mag’s 1.7 million-plus readers.

Reading the magazine is “like your best friend is helping you cook dinner or helping plan your trip,” explained executive lifestyle editor Sonal Dutt. “So I think what sets us apart from anybody else is that we do have a real person that our reader can relate to, can see on their television and can feel like she’s there with you, guiding you through the process.”

For more info, read How To Pitch: Every Day With Rachael Ray.
The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.