special report

teen

Readership: Girls, 10 - 15

Teen magazine does not accept unsolicited submissions of nonfiction – though they will accept queries. The bulk of their nonfiction covers celebrity topics and therefore would not be applicable for most freelance writers. For noncelebrity topics, Teen editors say they aren’t really looking for new subjects, but new approaches for familiar topics of interest to young teens and tweens. Teen fiction can be sent unsolicited. Most pieces have no byline, underscoring the fact that the bulk of content is not freelance.

WHAT THEY WANT:

Fiction: 1000 words. Teen is interested in romance and inspirational (not religious) fiction. Inspirational fiction is defined by being upbeat and positive. No science fiction, no historical.
Nonfiction: 800 words. Informational and how-to. Personal experience pieces from teen viewpoint only.

Pays on Publication. Buys all rights. Tries to respond within 2 months.

From the Masthead:
Editor-in-chief: Jane Fort
Executive Managing Editor: Heather Hewitt
Editor: Erin Zimring
Assistant Editor: Gigi Hooghkirk

Teen.com editor: Audrey Fine

TEEN magazine
Hearst Magazines
3000 Ocean Park Blvd
Suite 3048
Santa Monica, CA 90405

ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC ISSUE

Contents:
TEEN
Winter 2006

New Stuff. Highlights new products for target audience: clothes, jewelry, make-up, and technology – usually in trendy forms.

Tech Girl. More new techy gadgets with trendy looks – pen computer, music devices, computer cameras. This section also includes game reviews.

Celeb Stuff. Lots of pages devoted to this section: 8. Sound bites on young celebs – Justin Berfield, Ashley Tisdale, Katie Cassidy, Lindsay Lohan, Aaron Carter, and a look at TV shows of interest to tweens and young teens. This section also had movie reviews and new to DVD movies, books (lots of YA chick lit) and music. Then TEEN asked celebs about whose fashion style they would steal: Danielle Panabaker, AJ Michalka, Sara Paxton, Francesca Catalano, Raven-Symone, Kay Panabaker, and Amy Bruckner. Then a look at how to reproduce the make up style of 2 celebs. And a reader report on opinions on celeb fashion choices. Finally, a “quiz” that advertises specific celebrity fashion purchases and asks readers to guess who bought them.

Celebs. There are longer pieces with a celebrity focus.

• Hogwarts 101. Mini facts and quotes from the young stars in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• On the Road With Ricky Ullman. A photo essay of a young celeb on a promotional tour
• Hollywood’s Next Generation. Teen predicts which young celebs will “make it” with a short feature on celebrities/show stars/bands
• Posters – full page photos of 6 guys: Adam Brody, Jesse McCartney, Omarion, Sean Faris, Justin Berfield, and Chad Michael Murray
• Which Celeb Are You Like? A multiple-choice quiz

Looks. Beauty articles.

• Hair Hassles. Different hair problems and how to fix them
• A Girl’s Guide to Beauty. Short how-tos on basics like tweezing eyebrows, applying make-up, self nail care, facials, shaving your legs, and self haircuts
• 45 Best Beauty Secrets. Beauty tips from readers
• About Face. Quiz of sorts – what does face shape say about you?

Fashion. Clothing articles.

• Knits – a photo essay showing new looks, and giving prices/stores for the items
• Fashion for Every Shape – buying clothes to suit body shape. Include photos of young celebs wearing clothes that worked and clothes that didn’t
• Jeans Gone Wild – Display of designer jeans covered with all manner of stuff
• Add it on – How to create one-of-a-kind looks…crafty bits to decorate shoes, hats, shirts, belts, and jewelry
• What’s Your Style IQ? Quiz on style vocabulary, and celebs with fashion lines

Get Real – these are more of the kinds of articles open to outside writers.

• True Stories from Real Teens – Best Buddies.org, a girl who was arrested for assault, a girl who was raped, and a girl who lives in a kibbutz
• Hitting the Slopes. Mini profiles of four teens who ski or snowboard
• BFF – Winners of a contest on Best Female Friend stories
• Friendship Fiascoes – celebrity friends that went wrong and how readers can avoid similar problems
• Ask Sophi – Dating questions
• Do You Get Your Way? – Quiz about how bossy you are

Absolutely You – more possible outside content.

• Are Your Boobs Normal? Questions and answers about breasts
• How Alike Are You? A quiz to share with your best female friend
• Sneaky Ways to Show Him You’re Interested. Four tips to show a guy that you like him without being embarrassed
• Take the Wimp Test… Quiz to see if you’re just nice or a doormat
• Your Space Your Way. DIY room improvements – vanity skirt, decorated shoe boxes, pillows, switch covers, valances, photo display, covered hangers, etc
• Does He Think You’re Fun? Quiz to see if you’re charming, deep or fun

More. End of magazine hodge-podge.

• Roll the Dice. Fortune telling with a page from the magazine and a pair of dice
• Just Beautiful. Fiction – a girl who learns to care more about her mother than herself
• Winterscope – horoscopes
• Oh, no you didn’t. Celebrity photos turned into comics with joke captions
• Why Me? Reader embarrassing stories

This page last updated on 01 January 2006