The Target Audience-1

Hannah
Advanced Class
The Target Audience
(Before writing a query letter, you need to know the target audience).

TARGET MARKET ANALYSIS

         I chose the magazine "Girls’ Life," because it was rated the #1 selling magazines for girls.

Circulation: 2.16 million
Frequency: Six times per year
Special issues: None

         It targets girls between the ages of 10-15. To reach this audience, I think one could choose from a vast array of topics including: boys, makeup, hair and skin products, babysitting or how to earn money, dealing with bullies, dating, and the list could go on and on!

         I noticed some of the ads were for the following products, and all were targeted at young girls 10-15:

Facebook
Twitter
Lip Smacker by M & M
Clair's Boutique

         I felt the majority of the language was informal.

         I would like to submit an advice-based article on Cyberbullying, and it would include all the different types of bullying young girls could face on the internet, and how to avoid becoming a victim of this. I would have to shorten it to fit in the 850 word feature, or possibly, I could turn it into a quiz.

         Some of the things they recommend you pitch are:

Short, 850-word, one-page features:

         Advice on everything from getting your period, finding the right bra, to school and boy problems.

Mini-Features Sections:

1. "GL Friends," "GL Life," "GL Guys," and "GL Life" usually some sort of self-help or self-improvement angle.

         These should be service-oriented—an intro and then right into the advice section in bullet points—and don't need to be laden with expert opinions. The editors are just looking for sound advice that girls can apply to their lives.

2. The Feature Well is also freelance-friendly and stories—if they're not in quiz form—usually run about 1,200-1,500 words.

3. Friends Feature and then the rest of the Well is a mix of fun features, such as this month's piece on how to release your inner flirt, and serious features that cover issues like teenage drinking. The Well also usually runs one story in an "As Told To" format; this month featured a girl who was on the reality show Worlds Apart.

4. 3,000-word short stories published in the back of the magazine and the editors will consider any story that is relatable to teens. Most stories center on a friendship, a family situation, or a crush, but the magazine has published some wildly original pieces as well. For fiction, they warn not to send the first chapter of the young-adult novel you're working on. These should be self-contained short stories.

5. Quizzes They seem to love quizzes, so if one could come up with a witty one, you might be able to get that published too.

         Here are a few more things I learned about the magazine:

1. They accept unsolicited manuscripts on a speculative basis only. You should provide detailed story information.

2. You may send them an e-Mail (e-Mail queries are best and should go through Special Projects Editor Lizzie Skurnick), or a query letter. No phone calls, and they want you to know voice and content of the magazine first. Editors will typically respond to queries either right away or after a couple months, so if you haven't heard after a while, feel free to follow up. Lead time: At least 4 months Pay rate: $350 for the front-of-magazine one-page pieces; the rate goes up from there for features. Payment schedule: On publication Kill fee: Because many articles come in on spec, the magazine has never had to pay one. Rights purchased: All rights. They don't accept poetry (except for girls under 18). You should send to:

Mandy Forr
Associate Editor
Girls' Life Magazine
4529 Harford Road
Baltimore, MD 21214
[e-mail]

3. Story must include a title, blurb and byline. You should also include your name, address, phone and e-Mail address.

4. Documents should be double-spaced in 12-point Verdana font, and you can use Microsoft Word.

5. They are not responsible for the return of any unsolicited material.

6. You must state your work is to be a "possible work for hire," otherwise your submission will be considered property of Girls' Life magazine. No payment will be made until a memorandum of agreement is executed by both parties.

Personal Comments:

         Whew! This was a tough assignment. Thanks, Mystic, for putting this great assignment together. I am amazed at how much I have to learn about the publishing business.

Hannah


Sources:
http://www.freelancewriting.com/guidelines/pages/Detailed/102.php

         They took it a step further and offered an additional link on how to pitch:

http://www.girlslife.com/docs/Mediabistro.pdf