Freelance writers supply 80 percent of the content of Family Circle, a long-running national women’s service magazine. It’s a high-paying market at $1 a word, and is published every three weeks, or 15 times a year. Its sister publications are More, Ladies' Home Journal, Better Homes and Gardens, and Parents.

Topics

Family Circle focuses on working women and homemakers who have families with children ages eight to 16. Its editors are constantly looking for well-written articles of interest to women on topics such as family and personal relationships; issues relating to babies, toddlers, children and teens; physical and mental health; food preparation and nutrition; self-improvement; and home improvement projects.

The editors are interested in stories on all subjects that include sound journalistic reporting, anecdotes and good writing. They may be essays, opinion pieces and personal experiences. Articles on topics like food and self-improvement may be how-to’s.

Audience

The typical Family Circle reader is a woman whose median age is 50.5 with a median household income of $52,500 and a home valued at $186,000. Roughly 56 percent of readers work outside the home, either full- or part-time, and 91 percent are the principle shoppers in their families.

Don't Send

Family Circle never publishes fiction or poetry.

How to Submit

The magazine prefers to work with published writers. Submit a detailed outline of your article. The article should include advice from experts, real-world anecdotes and study data. Include a one-page query letter describing your publishing experience and qualifications to write the article, two clips of previously published writing, and a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) or International Reply Card (IRC). The magazine buys 200 manuscripts a year. They should be between 1,000 and 2,500 words long.

Response Time

Editors respond in two months to query letters, and in another two months to completed manuscripts. Submit seasonal ideas at least four months in advance.

Success Strategies

Read Family Circle and other women’s magazines regularly to see what’s being published so you don’t pitch topics that have been recently covered. Make your query letter and outline as clear and concise as the finished article. It’s your only chance to make a good first impression.

Facts

Family Circle has been around since 1932 and currently has a circulation of 4.2 million readers. In its top 48 markets, the highest readership is in the New York Metro area (203,800), followed by Cincinnati/Cleveland/Columbus (201,600) and Philadelphia/Harrisburg/Scranton (194,600).