Top 10 Specialty Markets

by Brenda Ramsbacher

Finding a niche in the writing business seems to be the easy portion of the game. This time, the markets featured range from the simple down-home magazines to in-depth publications that require massive knowledge about the subject. Neither are easy to conquer.

Air & Space Magazine
For the novice in understanding the aspects of flight.
Writers guidelines available at http://www.airandspacemagazine.com/asm/mag/WritersGuide.html.
Main website: http://www.airspacemag.com/
Clear, concise writing required without technical jargon. Suggests a short piece directed at a department for first time contributors.
Send a one-page proposal to:
AIR&SPACE Magazine
Smithsonian Institution
PO Box 37012
Victor Bldg 7100 MRC 951
Washington, DC 20013-7012.

Alaska Quarterly Review
Devoted contemporary literary art.
Writers guidelines available at
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/aqr/About%20AQR/guide.htm
Main website: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/aqr/
Encourages new writers. Manuscripts read between August 15 and May 15. Include SASE. Queries via email.
Full manuscript submissions directed to:
Editors
Alaska Quarterly Review
University of Alaska Anchorage
3211 Providence Drive
Anchorage, Alaska 99508

American Baby
F or the new parent up through age two. Obtain the current writers guidelines and editorial calendar by sending a SASE to the home office. Main website: http://www.americanbaby.com
Write in a straight forward approach. Include sources. Mail a query letter with clips to:
American Baby
249 W 17th Street
New York, NY 10017-5300

Army Magazine
A monthly magazine that looks at the Army worldwide. Writers guidelines available at http://www.ausa.org/www/armymag.nsf/(all)/F45E822294DD9904852569B400575C8C?OpenDocument.Main website: http://www.ausa.org/armymagazine
Does not accept reprints. Include a suggestion for your article headline. Send queries and submissions to:
The Editor, Army Magazine
2425 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22210-3385

Black Belt Magazine
Related to anything dealing with the martial arts.
Writers guidelines available at http://www.blackbeltmag.com/email/
Main website: http://www.blackbeltmag.com/
Query first with article ideas. Send to:
Black Belt Communications
24715 Rockefeller Ave.
Valencia, CA. 91355
Allow three weeks for a reply.

National Parks Magazine
Focuses on areas within the parks, including threats to wildlife and the trends in park use. Writers guidelines available at http://www.npca.org/magazine/writers_guidelines.asp.
Main website: http://www.npca.org/magazine
Query only with brief outline of idea. Send to:
National Parks
1300 19th St., NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036

Cancer Watch
Bridges the gap between research and published accounts found in newspapers and magazines. Writers guidelines not available online.
Main website: http://www.cancerwatch.org
Requires expertise in medical aspects. Send queries with published
clips and resume to:
Adenine Press
2066 Central Avenue
Schenectady, NY 12304 USA

Swim Info
The leading resource on everything to do with swimming. Writers guidelines not available online but does have insights within their faqs at http://www.swiminfo.com/mail/faq.asp
Main website at http://www.swiminfo.com/.
For further details, contact Bob Ingram, Senior Editor.
Email: bobi@swiminfo.com or write to:
Editorial Office
PO Box 20337
Sedona, AZ 86341
General editor mailbox: editorial@swiminfo.com

Good Housekeeping
Mainly for the woman who has children and works out of the home. Writers guidelines available at http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping/mail/contact/article s/0,,287179_290514,00.html
Main website: http://magazines.ivillage.com/goodhousekeeping Submissions reviewed only for Extra! Extra!, Real Lives, My Story and Light Housekeeping. Read back issues to gain an advantage. Send queries or submissions to:
Good Housekeeping
Article Submissions
959 Eighth Ave.
New York, NY 10019

Smithsonian Magazine
O ne of the tougher markets to break into, but does look for offbeat articles on history, art or science. Writers guidelines available at http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/writers.html
Main website: http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/
Written proposal required for most articles. "The Last Page" humor column requires full manuscript submission. May send submissions via email to articles@simag.si.edu. If including clips or supporting material, send via postal service to Address it to:
Marlane Liddell, Senior Editor
Smithsonian Magazine
Smithsonian Institution, MRC 951
PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

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Future topics include , Humor, Anthologies, History, Religion, Technology, Christian, Specialty and Songwriting, etc. Want to see a specific market listed? Let us know. Submit markets for consideration to scribbers@runbox.com. These markets should be freelance-friendly; paying markets always preferred. While they do not necessarily need to be easy to break into, please make sure the magazine does accept freelance work.

Brenda Ramsbacher lives in Mountain Home, Idaho with her husband, four children and two spoiled dogs. She likes to sew clothes for her children, quilt, scrapbook, and read. Over the years, she has penned hundreds of articles and book reviews. Currently, Brenda is working as a book reviewer. You may reach her at scribblers@runbox.com.