Before you query an editor, make sure you can find expert sources for the magazine articles you want to write! Leading your article or query letter with a “real” story is a great way to hook readers (and editors). People love reading about other people – which means editors love articles that include compelling anecdotes.

Before the tips, a quip:

“I think I am starving for publication,” said American best-selling author Tom Wolfe. “I love to get published; it maddens me not to get published. I feel at times like getting every publisher in the world by the scruff of the neck, forcing his jaws open, and cramming the manuscript down his throat – ‘G*d d*mn you, here it is – I will and must be published.’ You know what it means – you’re a writer and you understand it.”

If you’re a freelance writer seeking publication (more, more, more articles and books in print, please!), then check out these tips for finding expert sources and real people to interview for magazine articles. And, click on The Renegade Writer by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell for more info on being a successful freelance writer.

How to Find Expert Sources for Magazine Articles

1. Email bloggers. I Googled the topics I’m writing about, and contact bloggers who write about the subject – they’re excellent expert sources and real people! This worked just yesterday for an “eco friendly lifestyles” article I’m working on for alive magazine. Some bloggers have even written books and given talks about their subject, which increases their credibility.

2. HARO (Help a Reporter Out). My new favorite way to find both expert sources and real people for magazine articles is HelpaReporter.com by Peter Shankman. He sends three sets of requests to hundreds of possible sources every day; if sources think they have what you need, they’ll email you.

3. ProfNet. My long-established favorite way to find experts to interview for articles is ProftNet.com. I’ve found it to be a little more professional than HARO – not in the way they run things, but in the sources that turn up. I’m finding myself using ProfNet for my “hard” stories, in which I need doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, etc…and HARO for my softer stories that focus on real people.

4. Ask your experts. To find more expert sources for magazine articles, I sometimes email my list of experts (which I’ve developed from past articles). They’ve quickly and easily led me to people on the street. And, if I’m including a particular expert in my article, I usually ask for real-life examples of their topic, or contact info of people they’ve worked with.

5. Email your friends. I tried this method of finding real people for my eco friendly article, and found it wasn’t hugely effective. Maybe my friends aren’t green enough, or maybe my request was daunting. Maybe I need to get me some more friends! Still, if you’re looking for expert sources or real people to interview for a magazine article, it’s worth a try.

6. Ask your editor. “If you’re writing an article for a trade magazine, or on a topic that near and dear to the general readership of the publication, your editor will often have a Rolodex or PDA crammed with the names of experts, industry analysts he’s met a trade shows, or authors who’ve written seminal books on the subject,” write Formichelli and Burrell in The Renegade Writer. “Often, your editor will happily provide you with several names and appropriate contact information.”

7. Find forums. To find both expert sources and real people to interview for articles, try finding forums on the internet. If I wanted to find forums about eco friendly lifestyles, I’d Google an assortment of searches: eco friendly forums, green discussions, etc. Many forums provide contact info for the posters, and many people use their real names, websites, and even email addresses.

8. Contact relevant organizations. If you’re writing an article on self-publishing a book and need real people, email the organizations that work with self-publishers. If self-publishing associations, self-publishing unions (as if), and self-publishing support groups exist, call them up! This is a bit of a silly example, but the idea is sound: contact the public relationships people of big organizations when you’re looking for expert sources or real people to interview for magazine articles.

9. Public relations people. I really enjoy using PR people as a source for experts; however, since they’re the middle man, their turnaround can be a little longer than direct contact with experts. Formichelli and Burrell warn writers about the potential pitfalls of working with pubic relations people in The Renegade Writer – and they also discuss the many benefits of PR people.

For more info on freelance writing, read 6 Tips for Building a Successful Writing Career.

What have I missed? I welcome your questions and tips about expert sources for magazine articles below…

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