Stories in Women's Magazines

Why not? You have nothing to lose.

If there's no sex then there's no adultery!

I should perhaps have said no explicit sex. I'd also be interested to know if magazine readers would appreciate my type of stories.

Adultery in a story wouldn’t be a problem. The difficulty is getting your story read. Magazines receive many unsolicited manuscripts and unless they have someone dedicated to sifting through them it may be some time before anyone gets to read yours. Make sure your story is in the style of fiction published by the magazine so it’s worth a try. Good luck.

Yes. I think they would. Happy endings are very nice but it isn't reality. I always find them a bit twee.

Perhaps a 'hopeful' ending would be good - a bit like the film Sweet Charity?

They are a bit predicable, but I suppose that makes them safe.

Magazines have submission guidelines. Check them out.

If. you cannot get a magazine to accept them have you thought about using Amazon to self-publish for Kindle, there are many different types of short stories on there.

Elizabeth27

If. you cannot get a magazine to accept them have you thought about using Amazon to self-publish for Kindle, there are many different types of short stories on there.

Yes, I recently self-published a novella called 'New Year's Eve' on Amazon Kindle. I may well opt to put together an anthology of my short stories if they are rejected. Thanks.

My friend has just had her book published.For the last couple of years she has put a chapter up on Facebook each week and people liked it and asked for more episodes. This led to the success.

I've been trying to post this without success now the quote facility is not working. I agree with AGAA4 magazine stories tend to be predictable and bland. There should be some more edgy stories published

Sometimes they have competitions for new writers. Woman’s Weekly used to do this. I think you can write in and ask for advice on the kinds of stories they accept.

Just Google magazine guidelines! Don't need to write in. Fiction editors are very busy and inundated with stories.

It will depend on the type of magazine - I do have some experience in this area. Some mags do want happy endings - it’s what their readers like and expect.

TBH there will be no point in submitting the sort of story the editor is not going to accept. Studying your market first, including buying a few and analysing the sort of stories they want (and will pay for!) would be very necessary research IMO.

I don’t know whether it’s still the case, but one page ‘twist in the tale’ stories used to be very popular with certain weeklies. There was a certain word count limit, which needed to be strictly adhered to.

Lilly - is your book about Laura and Brandon? There are 2 with the same title on Amazon. I will buy and read, always looking for new authors.

Dottygran59

Lilly - is your book about Laura and Brandon? There are 2 with the same title on Amazon. I will buy and read, always looking for new authors.

Hi Dotty, yes that's my one. The main character is Tyler and the story is about his family's New Year's Eve party. Thank you so much for your support.

I've just downloaded it too lilydily9. You have some excellent reviews ?

V3ra

I've just downloaded it too lilydily9. You have some excellent reviews ?

Thank you so much! I'm really thrilled with the reviews. I fell in love with my characters and I'm now working on a sequel which I hope to self-publish in the new year. I really hope you enjoy reading the story and really appreciate your support.

You have to write for the market I'm afraid. You need to research the magazines you want to write for; they're all somewhat different but also they are also formulaic. What works for the People's Friend may not work for Take A Break (which used to be the best payer although I don't know if that's still true). Read a lot of back issues of the magazine(s) you want to target to get a feel for what kind of thing they accept.

Do you subscribe to MsLexia? I haven't for a few years now but I think perhaps I should once again. It's specifically a magazine for women who write and as well as accepting stories and poems for publication has lots of competitions and useful articles about matters of interest to writers, including markets. I think you'd have much more scope for the sort of story you want to write.

Think Mills & Boon – it's a notoriously difficult market to crack but if you ask them they will send you a copy of their detailed guidelines. They will be a big help not only in writing for M&B, which isn't to everybody's taste, but for women's magazines in general.

Don't get despondent. Like any writer you will get many rejections and you need to grow a thick skin (if you haven't already got one). Write each one off to experience. It's not unknown for a rejected story to be accepted on a later second submission. Don't scatter-shot magazines: send one at a time and if you get a rejection, sent your story somewhere else taking care to adjust it if necessary to the new magazine's requirements.

Hope this helps.

LadyHonoriaDedlock

You have to write for the market I'm afraid. You need to research the magazines you want to write for; they're all somewhat different but also they are also formulaic. What works for the People's Friend may not work for Take A Break (which used to be the best payer although I don't know if that's still true). Read a lot of back issues of the magazine(s) you want to target to get a feel for what kind of thing they accept.

Do you subscribe to MsLexia? I haven't for a few years now but I think perhaps I should once again. It's specifically a magazine for women who write and as well as accepting stories and poems for publication has lots of competitions and useful articles about matters of interest to writers, including markets. I think you'd have much more scope for the sort of story you want to write.

Think Mills & Boon – it's a notoriously difficult market to crack but if you ask them they will send you a copy of their detailed guidelines. They will be a big help not only in writing for M&B, which isn't to everybody's taste, but for women's magazines in general.

Don't get despondent. Like any writer you will get many rejections and you need to grow a thick skin (if you haven't already got one). Write each one off to experience. It's not unknown for a rejected story to be accepted on a later second submission. Don't scatter-shot magazines: send one at a time and if you get a rejection, sent your story somewhere else taking care to adjust it if necessary to the new magazine's requirements.

Hope this helps.

Thank you so much for all your advice, I really appreciate it. I have started to read My Weekly, People's Friend and a new magazine SevenDays. They seem to publish similar stories but, as you say, it does give a feel for what they accept. And means I can adapt some of my stories to fit.
I hadn't thought about Mills and Boon. I'll definitely request a copy of their guidelines.
Thanks again, your response really helps.

Just Google Mills and Boon writing guidelines. It's all there.

Well IMO your stories would make a refreshing change from the 'Mills and Boon' genre you usually get lilydily. Let us know how you get on if you submit one. Good luck.

Mills and Boon have a raunchy sub section. Check it out.