Think you have what it takes to publish a self-help article, or even a book? I asked a few pros for tips for beginners.

Louise Lague, who has written self-help articles for publications like O, says, "My track record for self-help improved after I got my MA in Psychology. But you don't need that: most magazines make you quote somebody with a doctorate.

"To pitch magazines, you need an idea that everybody thinks about but nobody has tackled lately. 'Are you too good for him?' 'How to deal with a crabby man.' "Can men and women be friends?' These things are always in the air, and come up in conversations with girlfriends, etc. The top topics, methinks, are self-care, weight loss, self-acceptance, relationships, body image, self-esteem."

Jane Adams PhD has published self-help books like I'm Still Your Mother: How To Get Along With Your Grown Up Children For The Rest Of Your Life.. Her tips for publishing self-help topics are:

1.The best hook is a new angle on an old problem - examples are He's Just Not That Into You, and my own book, When Our Grown Kids Disappoint Us and Boundary Issues.
2. Credentials really help - either personal experience with an issue which you can highlight both in the proposal and the intro to the book or article, or a professional credential. I got a doctorate a few years ago after writing several self-help books without one - and it makes a big difference, to publishers and, especially, media bookers, to have one.
3. Voice - this is the most important thing of all - to sound accessible and real as well as authoritative - empathetic without being preachy.
4. Sources are especially helpful if you dont have a professional credential. Look at who's published in the field - check the American Psychological Association abstracts (or whatever field you're writing in - nutrition, money, etc ) - google the topic, see who's written on it, and interview them - every magazine will want you toi have an "expert" take on your subject, even if you yourself are already one - chefck the Yearbook of Experts, it's very useful.

On brainstorming and pitching:
I think that the best way to get ideas for self-help stories is to look at what's happening in pop culture and the news. Basically every self-help article has already been written, so to pitch effectively, you need to give it a new twist or a news hook. For example, I came up with the idea for a story I wrote for Cosmo about handling a trainwreck friend after reading in Page 6 that Tara Reid had allegedly gotten so drunk at a Hollywood party that she fell off a diving board. That got me thinking about what you're supposed to do if that girl is your friend and she's bringing you and your reputation down with her. It's the little things like that that can get the wheels spinning.

On finding sources:

I think the starting point for most any story you write should be Lexis Nexis. I always start by finding out what else has been written on the topic, who's been interviewed, who the experts are. You can also find expert or smart voice sources by searching amazon.com for people who've written books on the subject you're covering. Or do a Google search for psychologists who specialize in a certain area. You can call the press office of the APA as well, and they can direct you to the right people.

In terms of finding characters or anecdotes for your story, that's trickier. It usually comes down to asking everyone you know if they--or anyone they know--have been in the situation you're writing about. Another option--if you're interviewing a doctor or psychologist--is to ask them if they can ask any of their patients if they would be intersted in helping with the article. Obviously, this can be dicey because of confidentiality issues, but if the article is going to help people, you'd be surprised how many people are willing to talk.

On what you need to be qualified:

It helps if you have clips of other self-help pieces you've done, but really all you need is an inquisitive nature, which as a journalist, you probably already have. It's good to have a basic knowledge of psychology so that you can ask intelligent questions. But beyond that, the only real prerequisite is that you do as much research as you possibly can to educate yourself about the subject before you report and write the piece. I think that's the beauty of this job--you can sort of be a jack of all trades and you learn something new everyday.