How to Become a Fashion Columnist ~ Starting a Fashion Column



Career eGuides Marketing eReports

Virtual Face-to-Face

Fashion Column
Fashion Columnist
Fashion Writing
Fashion Blog
Fashion Web Site
Fashion Publication
Fashion Magazine Columnist
Fashion Syndicated Columnist

Breaking Into and Succeeding as a Fashion Columnist
Starting a Fashion Column
Starting a Fashion Syndicated Columnist

Do I have what it takes to become a fashion columnist?

You've been thinking to become a fashion columnist. It sounds more than cool, it is fascinating, but you might be thinking that you don't have what it takes to become one. Creative writing may be a born talent, while technical writing is a learned skill. To be a good fashion columnist, having both skills would be to your advantage, but by far the most important aspect is creativity.

I’m a freelance writer, but I’d like to become a permanent columnist in a fashion magazine. How do I approach it? I don’t know any editors in fashion magazines.

This is a question that editors and publishers hear a lot. Most freelance writers prefer the steady income of a guaranteed monthly column. It is one of the best jobs that any freelancer can land.

The good news is that there are new columns opening up everyday and all one needs to do is be persistent in their pursuit to attain one of them. The best way to approach any column possibility is make sure that you know a lot about the subject matter and be prepared to prove it. Quite often, columns are filled by an editor who actively seeks out someone who they think has the talent, skill and knowledge to pull it off.

This is a good reason enough to write as much as you can, stay in touch with magazines on a weekly basis and have an updated blog to showcase your talents. Keeping up on your education and training is also important, as it goes without saying.

If you think that you don't know anybody in the field, think again. You will really not need to know any editors of fashion magazines to get into this industry as most every one of them has an e-mail address and you can let your previous work speak for you. You do not even need to concern yourself if you do not have any published examples of fashion articles.

Be prepared, however, to write an example piece to show the editor, or better yet, have one already written to send along with your queries to give the editors an idea for your talent and specialty area. When you are keeping in touch with contacts that could get you a column, the squeaky wheel always gets the grease. But also keep in mind that an overly loud and screeching wheel will just get thrown out. Keep in touch, but never be annoying.

I have written a few fashion articles and want to become a syndicated columnist. How can I start it?

Welcome aboard those of us who have the passion and drive to write about fashion on an ongoing basis. There really is no better pleasure than writing about a true passion every week or month and have an attentive fan base to listen to our jive. And even better than this, is to have an even larger fan base all over the world, who gathers before our very words to read what advice and stories we have uncovered for the newest edition.

Many syndicated columnists are simply sought, which is why it is always important to have as much of your work out to the public as you can. If the right person happens to see it that could be the very break you have been waiting for.

However, if waiting were the only thing to do, that would not only be boring, but would not leave any room for the chase. Many syndicated columnists had to prove themselves and get noticed through countless phone calls, interviews and e-mails.

Sometimes an agent can be brought into the picture if you do not have enough time to devote to this purpose as you would like. This will all be explained in Section Five. But making it to the top would never be as sweet if it were easy, so as long as you are determined to get that syndicated column and you have its vision planted clearly in your mind, there is no reason you won’t achieve that.

I’m a fashionista and very opinionated about fashion and celebrities. Am I dreaming too big to become a fashion columnist?

There is never a dream that is too big. Some of the biggest dreams in the world have changed the way people would think forever. Imagine becoming one of the columnists in our world history who literally changed the thinking of an entire generation. Talk about a very big dream, but even this is possible. And if this is possible, then the thought of writing your own fashion column should be easy in comparison.

It is interesting to see that most fashion columnists are very opinionated and many of them even go against each other in their likes and dislikes. Fashion is very much an outspoken individual opinion. If you do have a boisterous opinion that you firmly stand by, then you will have the best chance to become a columnist. Half the battle is proving to the reader that you know what you are talking about and as long as you believe in yourself and it shows through in your writing, then others will believe in you to.

Becoming a fashion columnist could be said to be very much a catch 20/20. You need to have the audience and confidence to grow a successful column, but without the audience it is hard to build the confidence and without the confidence it is hard to build the audience. It will be up to you to give yourself a running start on confidence and this can be done in a number of ways, such as training, internships and starting your own blog. These will all be described in the Sections ahead.

Above all, being a fashion columnist is one of the most rewarding jobs out there. You will be able work with fashion, the people, and professional environment. The fun is always an added bonus. If you've made it to a certain point, you're likely to be as famous as the fashion designers and models you've been working with.

I’d like to become the next Pulitzer-prize winning fashion columnist Robin Givhan. Can I? How do I start?

Of course you can. Robin has been giving us fashion tips through the Washington Post for 10 years. While we don’t have Robin Givhan to help you along, we have pulled together an assortment of professional columnists from all walks and stages of their career to give you a complete feel for what it takes to be a successful fashion columnist.

I have a fashion blog and it is doing really well. I’d like to become a syndicated fashion columnist. How do I start?

Many columnists have within recent years begun their career simply through a popular blog that caught either a magazine, a traditional newspaper, or an e-zine’s attention. In fact, this would appear to be a very good way to get yourself acquainted with the fashion world, without having to gain that all important first job. Waiting for the perfect job to come to you is not the most advised way to be successful as a writer.

A writer writes as they say and whether or not you have a job as a fashion writer, you should keep yourself busy in your off time with fashion writing. A blog is one of the best ways to showcase your talents and it also makes an easy way to link an editor who is considering you for a job to a whole collection of your ideas and writing style.

There is no better time to be starting this career. The jobs are fruitful and abound and the media coverage of fashion writers has brought positive attention to them in magazines and websites, giving them credibility and popularity to that of a sports star in some circles. Sit back and relax as we unfold the lowdown on how to break in and succeed as a fashion columnist.

Now, what's the latest trend in fashion magazine industry? It is going to be wiped out due to the growth of Web-based publications?

Price Waterhouse Cooper is a great source of outlook information for various forms of media. They are predicting right now that the consumer magazine print advertising is going to slow with its migration over towards Internet sources of advertising. However, they do speculate that the new launches of magazines might compensate slightly for the decrease and keep a healthy readership. The magazine industry is far from becoming extinct in other words, but just as in anything else, they may have to adapt and modernize to stay in the game.

One such trend of adaptation will be the migration of magazines to the Internet in one form or another. We are not talking about becoming e-zines, but having a portion of their information tied to the web in some way. This might take the form of a sister webzine, blog, forum, etc.

Almost every magazine today has to have a website and blogs to keep the newer generations in the know of their publication. Any magazine that refuses to go World Wide Web within the next five years will probably suffer the consequences of a loss of an entire generation of readers and will subsequently not survive.

These trends will open up doors for bloggers to step into these magazine power houses and show their stuff, so to speak. The good ones will be promoted to running their own blogs and possibly even a position in the magazine itself. The rise of technology in this industry should allow people with less experience to work with these magazines at the bottom rung and there should be a lot of room to grow with all the different segments of media that magazines are going to need to be staying in touch with. We are talking cell phones, cable, satellite and whatever else comes our way in the future.

Also according to their reports, not all overseas magazines are going to be suffering a decline and in fact might be on an incline. This gives a great opportunity for worldwide syndication. Perhaps a column here in a magazine you are writing may do even better in a Latin or Asia market. Both these would appear to be on the rise in spending and are predicted to keep this trend at least through 2011.

Great news, indeed.

How much you can earn as a fashion columnist?

If you write a permanent column for one magazine, you may earn anywhere from $100 to $2,000 per article depending on the pay rate.
If you write for a syndicated column, you can expect to earn 15% to 50% of the pay rate assuming you need to split it with a syndication agent.
Assuming a very successful scenario, you can expect to earn a few thousands of dollars per article, which can translate to five to six-figure earnings annually.

About the Authors

Jennie S. Bev is THE fashion, image and fun careers expert, whose reputation has been acknowledged by prestigious media internationally. She has been profiled and mentioned in Entrepreneur, Teen People, Canadian Business, Home Business, Dong (France), San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent, Daily Southtown, The Arizona Republic, Chic (UK/Asia), Fit (Asia), Femina (Asia) and Dewi (Asia).

Editor-in-Chief Jennie S. Bev was named an EPPIE Award finalist in Non-Fiction How To category for excellence in electronic publishing. She has published over 70 books and 1,000 articles in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Southeast Asia. She is also a college professor based in San Francisco Bay Area.

Co-author Eric J. Leech was born into this world without a GI Joe (with a Kung Fu grip) or silver spoon, Eric J. Leech grew up on the streets of the small town of Grand Junction, Colorado. After high school, Eric found his way to Colorado State University where he attained four degrees in Psychology, Social Sciences, English and Theater Arts.

Eric has since put every degree to good use with a variety of career accomplishments. These accomplishments include seven years as an actor/model and Production Assistant for various television and film projects. He also maintained a successful business as the co-owner of an outdoor living structure design company for several years before pursuing his full-time career as a freelance columnist/writer.

Since that decision Eric has been featured on such international magazines as the Circle (India), Urban Male Magazine (Canada), UNO (Philippines) and Coffee House Digest (International).

This 78-page instantly downloadable StyleCareer.com eGuide Breaking Into and Succeeding as a Fashion Columnist brings you valuable insider tips, advice and suggestions not available elsewhere to help you embark on this highly lucrative career path.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Myths, Realities, and Basics
I’m not a professional writer, but I do have a passion for writing and can write quite well.
I’m a freelance writer, but I’d like to become a permanent columnist in a fashion magazine. How do I approach it?
I don’t know any editors in fashion magazines.
I have written a few fashion articles and want to become a syndicated columnist. How can I start it?
I’m a fashionista and very opinionated about fashion and celebrities. Am I dreaming too big to become a fashion columnist?
I’d like to become the next Pulitzer-prize winning fashion columnist Robin Givhan. Can I? How do I start?
I have a fashion blog and it is doing really well. I’d like to become a syndicated fashion columnist. How do I start?

Fashion and Fashion Publication Industries in A Nutshell
Magazine Publication Industry
Fashion Magazine Publication Industry
Top Players in the Fashion Magazine Industry
Blogging

Getting Started
What is A Fashion Columnist? How Does It Differ from Fashion Editor? A Fashion Stylist?
Fashion Columnist
Fashion Editor
Fashion Stylist
Top Fashion Columnists Worldwide and the United States
Celebrity Fashion Columnists
Top Syndicated Fashion Columnists
A Day in the Life of A Fashion Columnist
A Day in the Life of a Fashion Columnist
Trainings and Courses Specific for Fashion Writing
Publications about Becoming A Fashion Writer

Breaking In with Confidence and Be Successful
Personality Traits
Breaking in Scenarios
The Importance of Creating A Writing Portfolio
Networking
People to Know
Editors on Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Stylist
Fashion Show/Event Producers
Designers, PR People and Fashion Boutiques
Writers’ and Fashion Writers’ Organizations to Join
Publications to Subscribe

Syndicating
Hiring a Syndication Agent (Caveat Emptor)
Syndication Agencies
Beware of Fake Syndication Agencies

Success Profiles

This eGuide literally saves you hundreds of dollars spent on professional workshops and training and hundreds of hours of research. It will help you break into the career of your dream faster without having to repeat the same mistakes that most newcomers do.

You can have this exclusive eGuide right away by instant download for only $27.95, which you will earn many times over with your first paid job. This special low discount price is reserved for today, Thursday, 11-Mar-2010 06:28:01 PST only. (Regular price: $37.95)

Breaking Into and Succeeding
as a Fashion Columnist
78 Pages
Regular Price: $37.95
Sale Price: $27.95

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
If you pay by eCheck via PayPal, it will take 3-4 days for it to be cleared by the bank. You will be sent the automatically-generated download link upon clearing of your eCheck.

The fastest way to enjoy your eGuide is by paying with credit card (the download link will be sent to you immediately without any delay).

Ordering from us is completely safe and secure as we have partnered with two of the most trusted names in providing utmost security to the e-commerce industry: PayPal and E-Junkie.

Within minutes of the approved payment, you will receive an e-mail containing the link where you can download your order.

*Please note that when you place an order on our website, your download link is sent to the email address that PayPal has for you on file.

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

Satisfaction Guaranteed: You've got nothing to lose.
You have 10 days to review your eGuide. If you're not satisfied for any reason, contact us via this form for full credit that can be applied against future purchases. Due to the nature of digital info products, we cannot provide any refund.

Read your new eGuide with