We’re talking about writing for teens this week — kids 16 and above. So, let’s look at some of the popular teen magazines and see what they offer. When evaluating magazines, it’s best to determine your audience first. Will they be male or female? In this age group, there is a huge difference.
- Image via Wikipedia
Once you choose a group to write for, then find some magazines. A great place to search is in Writer’s Market. You can buy the physical version, or just join the online site for like $2.99 a month, I believe. This is a good deal because the information for publishers changes so often that it’s usually out of date once you get the printed version.
When you hit on magazines you’s like to write for, go to their “media kit,” if they have one online. This will give you an idea of what age group the magazine is targeting, if you’re just cold searching. But you’ll be amazed at how similar the magazines are. They have different stories, of course, but they’re on the same topics.
For example, Teen Vogue says their readership has a median age of 19. Some readers are older, some are younger, but they’re definitely not the younger end of the teen market. Allure, another Conde Nast publication, has a readership 18 and above.
They’re the right age group, and obviously for women. They talk about hairstyles and fashion. There’s still some celebrity gossip, but you’ll see more serious articles, too — this month, about jealousy and some career advice. There’s relationship advice, too. Allure is much the same, with a heavier emphasis on style and fashion. And there are Elle, Seventeen, and YM, too. All of the magazines have similarities. It’s your job to figure out what they are, which magazine your voice fits best with and by all means… get the magazines guidelines before writing. That’s all-important.
Tomorrow, let’s talk about teen magazines for boys. They’re far different and talk about subjects that teen men are more interested in.
