Some Subjects to Consider
If being “open” to the world around you or your own mental meanderings does not give rise to material then you may need something more specific to get you going. The best way to determine a topic might be to consider some of the genres of article writing and see what flows from there.
How do I find topics that are suitable for articles?
Go to the magazine section of the bookstore and peruse the categories of magazines as well as the table of contents in the issues. Read articles that draw your attention. Examine the magazines and the categories listed in trade books such as Writer's Market.
Make a list of the different types of magazines. It's not as daunting as you think. You'll soon see that some genres are very popular with many magazines published in that category, such as health and fitness, parenting, religious, travel, sports, and business. Once you select one of these general categories, you may then want to narrow the subject further. For example, if you are drawn to sports publications, you might want to focus on magazines devoted to running or biking or golf.
Now that you have a subject, you may think you have reached the end of your search. And in some cases, this is correct. However, if you have a desire to have the piece published, you must ask two more questions: Is this something other people will want to read? Is this something an editor will want to publish? Usually, if the answer to the first question is “yes,” then the second answer also will be in the affirmative — it's just a matter of finding the right editor and publisher, which you will learn more about in Chapter 22.
