We always hear that the best way to break into magazines is by pitching Front of the Book pieces. Problem is, there are so many, and so many different kinds. A writer wrote into Allison Winn Scotch asking how to come up with the ever-churning material:

I would like to try to break into consumer pubs with FOB pieces, so I would like your advice on finding ideas that are new enough that a million other freelancers haven't already submitted them. Do you pour over press releases on PR newswire? Where do you go for info on recent studies (I've tried pubmed)? Do you usually get a source to quote for these queries? Are there other ways that you find sources? I want to avoid looking like an amateur when I query for FOBs and when I contact sources.

Read her advice here.