My Reader’s Digest editor is amazing - I’ve learned more from her than all my other editors combined. She makes me edit all the piddly details in my articles, which is making me a better writer. This Reader’s Digest editor works on Saturdays, is constantly trying to catch up on her work, and still gives me the time I need.

She really is a great editor.

10 Writing Tips From My Reader’s Digest Editor

Of course, these writing tips don’t apply to every magazine, nor do they apply to all Reader’s Digest editors.

1. No comments from the peanut gallery. When I’m writing for Reader’s Digest, I’ve learned not to provide a running commentary. “Just the facts, ma’am,” is a good motto. Everything in the article must be stuff that experts actually said or wrote (unless the article’s about me or my experience, or I’m an expert in the topic).

2. Provide accurate sources. I include interview dates, names, email addresses, phone numbers and website urls in the footnotes that source my experts. This writing tip from Reader’s Digest definitely isn’t the same for other editors. One of the other magazines I write for recently told me not to bother including footnotes with sources! Sure, it’s a time-saver not to have to include my experts’ details, but I gotta say that those accurately sourced footnotes are a great way for me to do quick research later, for different articles.

3. Only quote from primary sources. There’s no quoting from secondary sources such as websites or magazine articles with Reader’s Digest. If I don’t talk to the experts directly, I can only quote from press releases, journal articles, or recognized sources such as the Canadian government or the FDA.

4. Be specific. Don’t just say “a man from Canada quit his job to pursue his dreams.” What’s his name? What city does he live in? How old is he? What job did he quit? What dream is he pursuing? What made him quit his job? Is he a short or a tall man? This writing tip from Reader’s Digest is a good habit for any genre.

5. Guard your sources’ privacy. Be honest with your editor about the real names of people in your anecdotes, but indicate whether their names should be protected for privacy’s sake. (Also - don’t make up anecdotes or experts. This wasn’t a direct writing tip from my Reader’s Digest editor - I already knew it - but I think new freelance writers may do this to their detriment).

6. Always respond to editors’ emails. Once, this editor sent me an assignment and I was like “yay!” but didn’t tell her that. So, she had to follow up with me to ask if I was writing the article. That’s not cool. I did this with Flare, too. Double uncool!

7. Make sure your introduction ties the whole article together. This writing tip from Reader’s Digest reinforces the idea that the opening is a great place to put the best parts of the article - or the “takeaway.” For instance, if one of my takeaways is that crime scene cleaners the secret to getting bloodstains out of white carpets, then it’d behoove me to put that in my intro.

8. Be specific and clear. The best way to learn this is to edit your own work again and again and again. If you have a professional eagle eye (aka editor) guiding you, be grateful!

9. Don’t use proper names as verbs. “We don’t Xerox, we photocopy,” she said. This may be a common writing mistake - I think I read this writing advice in another writing book.

10. Tailor your pitches. This Reader’s Digest editor was one of the first to tell me what she prefers writers’ pitches to look like. This is one of the most valuable questions I can ask after I submit my first assignment: “How do you like your pitches? Long? Short? Detailed? Summarized? Do I have to talk to the experts first, or can I just name them?”