Even if you think your story is uninteresting, you can still get paid for it by selling it to newspapers and magazines.
Whenever it comes to earning extra money, the standard advice is to complete paid online surveys, sell items on eBay, Facebook, or Gumtree, change your energy provider, and use cashback.
What happens, though, if you have already done all that?
If you have a tale to tell, then by all means look to sell it; it will not take long to get paid for your efforts.
You might be able to provide unique perspective on a subject or have an intriguing or quirky true-life tale to share.
Print and digital media outlets alike are always on the lookout for the next scoop that will increase their readership and net you a few hundred pounds.
How to sell your stories to magazines?
Have you ever come across an instance where a magazine's headline seems absurd, yet the actual content is very different?
Okay, so these headlines seem strange and most people probably never experience them.
These are one-off tales that appear on the cover of some publications or become viral on social media.
However, it is not necessary for you to experience a unique event to be able to pitch your tale to a newspaper.
Your normal may be really unique for other people.
It is possible that you are in the right employment, following the right diet, engaging in the right hobby—the list goes on and on.
I have observed the following categories of articles being released by mainstream media in the past few weeks:
- Reducing coffee, taxes, haircuts, and smoking in order to save money for a down payment on a house
- Another woman who reduced her grocery budget by doing a number of things
- Individuals defrauded of hundreds or thousands of dollars in savings
- Another person whose kitchen makeover cost less than fifty pounds
- A family whose child downloaded applications and resulted in a debt for hundreds of dollars
Are any of those actions reminiscent of something you might have done?
Stories like this one seem to keep coming up. They are not particularly remarkable.
In addition to "normal-ish" stuff, your story may be sought after if you have experienced a medical emergency, a problem at work, a tale of revenge, a kiss-and-tell, stories of sadness and loss, or tales of miracles and life-altering events.
It is possible that you were unintentionally caught up in a news story and witnessed it firsthand or on camera.
It is possible that you may receive requests to utilize any videos or photographs you publish from newspapers on social media, so it could be a good idea to reach out to a content/press agency beforehand (scroll down).
Even when you do not think anyone will read it or care, publications will nonetheless pay you for the tale.
Where can I sell my stories?
The following is a list of potential outlets for your story:
1. Agencies that produce content
It can be worthwhile to get in touch with a press or content agency rather than going straight to a newspaper.
They may be able to get newspapers to place bids on your story akin to an auction since they have expertise selling stories and are familiar with where to find the best price for it.
Your charge may mount up when stories are sold to many newspapers and maybe television stations.
If you are marketing your tale, it is advisable to work with only one agency because they will all be vying for the same clients by offering "exclusivity."
They will typically ask the newspapers/magazines to compensate them for the job rather than taking a share of your charge.
PA Media
They are the British media agency with the longest history.
They look to help get your tales published in addition to creating original content for newspaper publishers; simply fill out an online form, and someone will get in contact to talk about your story.
KNS News
It is worthwhile to contact them by phone or to complete their form; a representative will get in touch with you.
With their years of knowledge in the industry, they can then comprehend the story you have to convey.
Cavendish Press
One of the industry's oldest agencies, they supply stories to numerous national publications and newspapers.
If you have a story, they will schedule a 45-minute phone conversation to discuss it; if your story is published, you will receive payment in two months.
Sell Your Story
(They are a component of SWNS) They offer and sell stories in about 20% of the UK newspapers that you see, such as Ladbible, The Sun, The Mirror, and Mail Online.
You just need to fill out a form, and someone will get in touch with you to express interest in your story and provide a possible assessment.
National Story
Fill out a form, just like everyone else, and they will get in touch with you.
In addition to getting paid 4–6 weeks after publication, you will likely need to have your photo taken and speak with one of their writers over the phone (this will only need to be done once, even if it is written in many papers).
Talk to The Press
Filling out the form should just take two minutes, according to the claim that you will hear from someone.
In addition to covering news in women's publications and the press, they also bring some stories to television.
Hot Spot Media
Tell them your tale by giving them a call or sending them an email.
After gathering some information, they will decide whether or not to proceed with pitching your story to publications like the Sun, Daily Mail, Reveal, Closer, and TV shows like This Morning, Sky News, and Good Morning Britain.
Sell My Story
If you would prefer to communicate via email or instant messaging, they provide an online form and a phone number.
If you recommend a friend, they will also cover the finder's fee.
Feature World
Send them an email with your story by filling out a form; they cover news, publications, and television all across the world.
Make The Press
If you submit your story using their contact form or by phone, they will attempt to sell it to publications such as The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, OK Magazine, NOW Magazine, Closer, and/or Grazia.
2. Real Life Magazines
For more thrilling tales, go here.
Love It Magazine
They pay a price for your experiences; you can submit an online form and they will contact you, or follow them on Twitter, where they will indicate if they are seeking specific individuals for their case studies.
They claim to be able to pay for your vacation!
Take a Break
Simply fill out their form, and they will pay you up to £2,000 for publishing your story. You will receive payment six weeks after it is published.
Real People
They can be reached by completing an online form found here. It requests a good deal of information, but it is laid out in a way that makes it seem like you will cover everything.
3. Newspapers
Of course, you can go directly to the paper of your choosing, but your earnings might not be as high.
An agency is usually your best chance if you have a large feature; but, if you have more of a tip-off, go straight to a newspaper.
Mirror
The contact information for the paper is available here if you would like to get in touch with it directly, online or in print.
The Sun
Reach out to them via phone, email, text message, or Whatsapp; they claim they want to eliminate the middleman, but that can mean you receive less money for longer stories.
How can I sell my story?
To begin with, companies offer to sell stories for free; do not pay for this service.
You may need to go into great detail when telling your story to someone, so make sure you have a chronology or have all your facts arranged, and be prepared with any supporting documentation you may need.
Having some pictures ready is a nice idea, though depending on the topic, some locations might send their own photographer.
Make sure to have them read your narrative aloud after they have written it.
This offers you the opportunity to take out any words that do not sound correct and will also keep them from adding items you may not have mentioned.
Before the piece is published, you could be required to sign a contract, particularly if it will be published exclusively in one newspaper or magazine.
Do not limit your search to regular periodicals and newspapers either.
Both independent writers and agencies look for their own sources.
If you would like to take the initiative, a fantastic place to look is Twitter.
Thoughts, quotes, or interviews might not be utilized in the full article, but they might be used in a case study of a larger topic.
You may get paid roughly $100 to share your daily experiences.
However, it never hurts to inquire. Increasingly, freelance writers are not given a budget (beyond their own price), so you might not get paid.
These case studies are likely to be published in mainstream publications such as The Mirror, The Sun, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, and The Times; thus, if there is a publication you would prefer not to be linked with, do check with the writer.
If you run your own blog, use the hashtag #bloggerswanted on Twitter to see if there are any more opportunities to monetize your site or receive freebies.
Is it possible to earn money selling stories?
You might be wondering why people post their unclean clothes online for everyone to see.
Perhaps they do not mind others knowing since they do not think anyone will read it and they will still be able to keep the money? Perhaps they want closure by being honest.
Though it seems wonderful to believe you may make money from your stories, is the investment really worth it?
In general, there are ways to get around payment:
- $50–$500 if you are featured in a case study
- $500–$2,000 for a story based on an event that is currently making headlines
- up to $10,000 for a very delicate, uncommon tale, typically involving a public person or celebrity.
Then there are all the intermediate costs that vary based on a myriad of factors.
Not every story is picked up by agencies or magazines, and others never make it past the first round.
If they believe there is a story that newspapers would be interested in buying, it never hurts to inquire since many of them can offer you an estimate of the amount you could receive.
Occasionally, the story might be released in a matter of weeks or it might happen extremely rapidly.
Typically, payment is issued four to six weeks following publication.
In certain cases, you might receive about £200, but if your narrative is really pertinent to current events, you might also receive $2,000 for it.
Can you sell your story without publishing your name?
You might not want everyone in the world, including his wife, to know every little detail about your life, including your family, friends, coworkers, and former partner.
You may be discouraged from pitching your article to a newspaper or magazine after reading this.
Since the narrative will resonate deeper with the public and provide proof that your statements are accurate, many newspapers and magazines will ask you to include your name and personal photos.
However, do not let it discourage you.
You can always inquire about the possibility of keeping your tale private, but be sure to provide a good explanation (perhaps your own or your children's safety).
The most important thing to do is to ensure that selling your narrative for a profit is a worthwhile endeavor.
However, you could be allowed to remain anonymous if the article is not specifically about you and you are sharing details about something else.
To find out how it will work, ask the person you contacted.
Would you consider selling your narrative?
Even if you might need the money, attempt to determine if it will be worthwhile in the end.
Could what you share hurt the feelings of anyone close to you? Could it affect your career?
Why not, if it isn't?
Maybe the money is not even what you are after.
Perhaps you would like to bring attention to a concern or issue that you have encountered.
If your company offers a unique product or service, perhaps you could earn some money and gain some free attention for your brand by having a story published in the newspaper.