How to Make Money Writing Filler
As a freelance writer, you may have heard the term “filler” writing. Some of the magazines that use fillers pay quite well. You can make anywhere from $5 to $300 or more, depending on the publication. It’s a fun way to establish writing credits and make extra cash.
What exactly is filler?
Filler is a short piece that editors use to “fill in” layout space in their pages. It's intended to be a quick and fun read that adds interest or provides information. The next time you are at a magazine rack, browse through several magazines and note the different types of short pieces.
“Filler can be a four-line poem, quotes, an anecdote or joke, statistics, a 250-300 word mini article...”
What are magazines seeking?
Before submitting filler to a particular market, review past issues to see the types of filler they use; that will give you an idea of what to submit. Filler can be a four-line poem, quotes, an anecdote or joke, statistics, a 250-300 word mini article, etc. Sometime magazines have a specific page dedicated to miscellaneous short content.
10 tips to help you on the path to getting your fillers published:
1. Use your computer (or typewriter) to type all fillers, double-spaced on an 8 ½ x 11 page or a standard postcard, depending on the submission guidelines.
2. Check the masthead. If there is no specific editor listed for fillers, address your submission to the appropriate editor of the section or column for which you are submitting.
3. Sending fillers via e-mail, rather than snail mail saves a lot of postage. But always check to make sure that the publication accepts e-mail submissions, so you won't send it that way and waste time and effort. If you submit via snail mail, make sure you include a SASE for your acceptance letter and/or include your email contact information.
4. Mail out at least ten to 15 fillers a week, so you will always have a number of them in circulation. This way, you increase your odds of getting published. Of course, it's not only about the quantity that you send out, but also the quality that will get your work published. Your submission needs to be something that the editor will take notice of and want to buy.
5. Don't send rejected filler to the same market again. Instead, if you feel it's good, send it to another magazine. Don't give up on it. Read it to others to see if they like it and can make any suggestions on how to improve it. It's always good to ask your writer friends for advice. They will give you a more in-depth critique.
6. Feel free to send a filler to another market if there is no word after four or five months. I've done that and editors don't mind at all. Also, there is no need to mention that you have sent it to another magazine. It isn't necessary to send a certified letter that you are withdrawing that filler either.
7. It is always smart to hold your fillers for a few days before submitting. Then go back and read them aloud. See if it's exactly the way you want it to be. You might find typographical or grammatical errors, or sentences that should be structured differently.
8. Don't rule out sending fillers to magazine that pay only in copies. At least you will get to see your byline and have great exposure for your work. Sometimes, another editor will see it and ask to buy your anecdote, etc. If you own all rights, you can resell it.
9. Send only to those publications that use fillers now. It's a waste of time to submit to magazines you hope might use fillers in the future. You will see them returned very quickly and will be disappointed. Do your homework and you will be well rewarded.
10. Most importantly, don't give up. Even if you don't get an acceptance within six months, just keep sending them out. Make sure the fillers are polished and your best work. Sooner or later, if you persevere, you will, no doubt, get that acceptance letter.
Filler Markets:
Women’s publications always have a need for fillers. You can boost your chances of getting published by submitting to these magazines.
Woman's World
Last Laugh!
270 Sylvan Ave.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Needs: Cute kids' sayings, and embarrassing moments: $50 each. Funny signs: $100.
http://www.bauerpublishing.com
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Woman's Day
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Needs: Tip Talk, pays $50 (send snail mail on a postcard)
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Family Circle
375 Lexington Ave. 9th Floor
New York, New York 10017
Needs: Best Reader Tips, pays $50
readerstips@familycircle.com (or snail mail on a postcard)
Best Reader Recipes, pays $50 (send snail mail)
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Catholic Digest
Filler Editor
1 Montauk Ave.
New London, CT 06320
Needs: Jokes and anecdotes. Payment varies.
"Sign of the Times" pays $4.
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Mature Living
Cracker Barrel or Grandparents’ Brag Board
127 Ninth Av. N.
Nashville, TN 37234
Needs: Cracker Barrel only uses 4-line poems now, pays $15.
Needs: Grandparents’ Brag Board, anecdotes about your grandkids, pays $15 also.
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Follow the tips above and try writing all types of fillers, not just the ones you feel familiar with. Branch out and write filler for specialty or trade magazines about topics you know. And when you do research for articles, think of how the information you don’t use in the article can be turned into filler for another similar magazine. Be creative and your odds will be much higher of getting the acceptance letter you crave and that welcomed check.
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Suzan L. Wiener has had many articles on writing, short stories, poems and shorter pieces published in major publications such as Mature Living, Mature Years, Complete Woman, Canadian Writer's Journal, The New Writer, Cross&Quill, FellowScript, The Writer's Ezine, Mocha Memoirs, NEB Publishing, Saturday Evening Post, MetroSeven (Australia), Family Circle, Woman's World, etc. She has won several contests. She also has her unrhymed love poems in an e-book, which is available Here.
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