From time to time, I pass on information about places to submit other than the children’s book industry. I figure we are writers and being a children’s writer only helps make us more creative. Even though most of us are working on a novel or picture book, we could use our talent to write an article to make some extra money. Southern Living is a magazine you might want to submit an article to for consideration in their magazine.
SOUTHERN LIVING – LIVINGS SECTION
The Livings are a series of “insider’s guides” for specific Southern states within the pages of Southern Living. A Living section is delivered to subscribers in the state in which they live (i.e. subscribers with Georgia zip codes receive Georgia Living). Living sections to not cross state borders in delivery or content. Their goal is to provide entertaining and service-oriented stories which inform readers about aspects of their state that surprise, delight, and enrich. Each Living section contains stories based on designated franchises (themes); not all franchises run in every individual issue of a Living in a given month. We aim to provide a selection of the themed stories over the annual run of each section.
THINK: fresh, young, surprising, wow, relevant, visual, who-knew, Southern [or better, your specific state], energetic.
LIVINGS STATES AND MONTHS
Alabama–February, May October
Florida–January, April, November
Georgia–February, April, June, August, October, December
Mid-Atlantic*–March, May, December
North Carolina–March, June, September, November
South Carolina–March, May, September
Tennessee–February, May, August, November
Texas–February, April, June, November
* Mid-Atlantic includes DC, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware
OUR FRANCHISES (please match pitches to the following):
The Best xx in (state): Examples: Best Breakfasts, Best Cocktails, etc. Multiple locations throughout state are desired. This franchise is generally a lede due to its scope…2-3 pages.
Worth the Trip: An out-of-the-way location nevertheless worth the effort.
Day Trip: A 24-hour (or daytime) itinerary; a road trip of sorts with to-do along the way plus at destination.
Insider’s Guide To..: (vineyard, a garden, a neighborhood, an entity of interest). Local is knowledgeable and authoritative, giving info average reader won’t know.
Expert’s Guide To..: One famous (or not) expert picks the best of his/her subject. An overview from one who knows the subject well and shines a light on examples. (Sara Evans picks top music venues in AL, well-known/respected artist picks best examples of art in state).
Behind the Scenes With: A behind-the-veil at a Southern icon. Think big and well-known. Q&A format.
Uniquely (state): What was actually invented, originated, or only exists in that one state–and no other! Example: Ruby Red Grapefruit developed by scientist in Texas. Gatorade, on the other hand, is a Florida invention–but too well known. Needs surprise.
Only In (state): Not an invention, as above, but some thing, event, phenomenon that happens Only In that state.
Opening This Month (or New to xxx, if the “opening” is on an off-month for that Living schedule): Newsey. New museum? New restaurant? Very