By W. Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

What if you could write a magazine article which could be published year after year in different publications? In the magazine community, these articles are called evergreen because they can be used over and over. To write this type of article takes a bit of planning on the front end of the process.

Years ago, I was actively listening to recordings of the Bible. If you listen to the Bible 20 minutes a day, you can hear the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation in four months. There are numerous audio versions of the Bible with various styles. Some versions include different voices for each character while others use the same reader for the entire Bible. Reading through the Bible is a common goal for many Christians. This topic on how to listen through the Bible can be an evergreen magazine article. There are several points you need to consider in writing an evergreen article:

1. Rights: What rights are you selling to the publication? An evergreen article is something you want to publish repeatedly. Some magazines will acquire all rights when they purchase an article. For an evergreen article, you want to avoid these publications—or negotiate with them for “First Rights.” When they purchase first rights, after the article is published, then the rights return to you. Ultimately for an evergreen article, you want to have “reprint rights” where you can recycle the same article in many different publications.
2. Format and Contents: Your article can include personal stories and how-to information yet as you write it, the contents need to be timeless or something that will work year after year. For example, an article about how to make a new Christmas tradition can be specific yet this how-to information can be easily recycled.
3. Publications: The world of print publications is constantly changing with new magazines starting and long-lasting ones disappearing. I recommend you get the latest version of the Christian Writers Market Guide. Use the current version because it will contain the most up to date publishing information. Use this reference book to find appropriate publications for your reprints. For example, different denominations have distinct publications. Your evergreen article is something the Methodists could publish as well as the Presbyterians.
4. Publications Log: Keep a simple publications log with a page for the particular article, the date you sent it to the publication and the response from the editor.

My article called Listening Through the Bible has been reprinted in many different publications and I expect I can reprint it again for years in the future. With some careful planning as you write, you can create an unlimited supply of evergreen articles which you are getting out into the market—and continuing to earn from it—as well as have the exposure and publication experience.

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor and former literary agent, Terry is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams and Billy Graham. Get Terry’s newest book, 10 Publishing Myths for only $10, free shipping and bonuses worth over $200. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success. Check out his free Ebook, Platform Building Ideas for Every Author. His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com