How to come up with publishable article ideas
Are you a nonfiction writer? Do you write for magazines or newspapers? You want to make sure your ideas are publishable.
If your goal as a writer is to be published, then you have to write pieces that are publishable. They have to be pieces that fit a publication’s needs, and then their readers’ needs.
We writers need to recognize that not all of our ideas for articles or other pieces are meant to be published. While we may hold tightly to our ideas—oftentimes thinking that they’re perfect for a particular publication—we need to learn instead to relax our grips on them. We need to look more objectively at our ideas and, if our goal is to be published, to make sure that they’ll be of interest to both editors and readers.
How can we do that?
First, let’s consider what needs a reader has in respect to articles he or she will read.
Those needs revolve around these facts:
~ Readers want to be entertained.
~ Readers strive for emotional and physical health.
~ Readers want to have meaningful relationships.
~ Readers need help with their daily lives and work.
~ Readers want to be inspired by something bigger than themselves.
Ask yourself:
Does my article idea meet at least one of these reader needs? If it doesn’t, you might want to reconsider your idea.
Where do publishable ideas come from?
In considering what you want to write, think about the following sources of ideas. These are great places to find ideas that will fulfill a reader’s need—AND that will get an editor’s attention.
~ What you know
What are you an expert at? What do you have special knowledge of (from education, work experience, special training, personal experiences, etc.).
~ What you don’t know…yet
Also consider the things you don’t have an expertise in, but that you have an interest in learning more about. By thinking of topics that interest you, you can develop good article ideas (you’ll just need to research and talk to experts).
~ Other people
What interesting people do you know? Do you have friends who are experts in a certain subject (either through work, experiences, hobbies, etc.)? Are there any local “celebrities” who could be written about? People are the backbone of most stories, so utilize other people’s experiences (and not just yours).
~ Things you read
Books can provide you with a lot of article ideas, because you learn interesting facts and also see what topics are trending in popularity. You can also consider things you might read online, in newspapers, even in magazines themselves; by reading copies of the magazine you’d like to get published in, you can come up with ideas that are very publishable.
~ Seasons, holidays, and anniversaries
When I first began freelancing, I relied on seasons and holidays for many of my article ideas; these are publishable ideas because magazines and newspapers are always looking for stories related to holidays (think Christmas, Fourth of July, Mother’s Day—both big and small celebrations). Anniversaries are also a great source of ideas; if you can connect something to its 10th, 25th, 100th, even 250th anniversary and make it relevant today, that could be a great, publishable idea.
~ Evergreen topics
These are topics that are “ever green,” meaning they are consistently popular. In a women’s magazine, for example, consider how often it publishes stories about health or relationships; for a travel magazine, for example, consider how often it publishes stories on Summer vacations or small towns. Think about the types of topics that are perpetually found in publications, then see if you can come up with a new slant on them.
~ Creative exercises
Sometimes you can come up with publishable ideas simply by brainstorming or engaging in creative exercises. Read this great list of “119 best creative writing exercises for authors in 2025.”
Don’t forget:
If your goal is publication, you need to make sure that the ideas you propose are publishable. They must fit into what a publication needs, and they must also meet the needs of a typical reader. You’ll save time and energy by keeping this in mind as you develop ideas.
Come up with some ideas…
Come up with 10 ideas for articles that you think are publishable, paying close attention to the readers’ needs listed above.
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Want to have more resources for coming up with article ideas and for finding places to get published?
The annual Writer’s Market lists hundreds of magazines that accept articles from freelancers
Check out this article from MasterClass: “How to pitch an article to a magazine”
Check out this article from The Freelancer’s Year: “Where to find the best story ideas for articles”
Read our “Calls for submissions” each Saturday here at “The Ready Writer” to find opportunities for publication (** note this is a special feature for paid subscribers)
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Cheryl Wray is the editor of “The Ready Writer” and the coordinator of the Southern Christian Writers Conference. She’s written thousands of articles over the years for newspapers and magazines, and is currently a contributing writer for It’s a Southern Thing and the cover story writer for ChristianFamily Publications, Inc. Her books on writing are popular with writers and students.