If you have an Internet connection, the world is at your fingertips. Writers these days no longer have to restrict themselves to their local or national publications. No matter where you are based on the planet, you can write for a publication anywhere or everywhere.
With email, you can query an editor on the other side of the globe, send a manuscript or study a publication online. Writers guidelines and calls for submissions make it easy to reach out to thousands of new publications that you would otherwise not have written for.
Finding your market
If you have a writing niche, search engines will help you identify and narrow down market listings. Look at writing forums based in your target country or find writers from that country who will be able to give you some pointers. There is a LOT of information online, so make the most of your Internet connection. If you don’t have a connection at home, chances are that your local library will have a free or very cheap connection to offer. Or just make your way to the nearest cyber-cafe.
Studying your market
Writing for international markets can be a bit tricky if you are one of those people who insist of seeing a copy of the publication before querying. With postage often more expensive than the cost of the publication itself, try finding the publication online. This will give you a good idea of the latest topics, editorial guidelines and tone of the publication. You could ask friends and relatives to pick up copies for you on their travels. Alternatively, set up a magazine exchange scheme with other writers. The forum on Newbie Writers website has a topic for magazine exchange. Take a look there and at other forums.
Mind your language
While writing for a new country, do take the trouble to research their version of spellings, word usage, salutations and etiquette in general.
Reprints, Reprints, Reprints
The biggest advantage of writing for international markets is that you can sell First Rights to any number of countries. While selling any work, try and ensure that you retain reprint rights. Electronic rights need to be carefully reviewed too. Don’t give away everything. Selling reprints worldwide can be your biggest source of income.
There’s a lot of information on writing for international markets. Here are some links that you may find useful.
http://www.writing-world.com/international/index.shtml
http://www.worldwidefreelance.com/articles/writintlmark.htm
Writing for an international audience - an IBM perspective
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