Contributing Editor

A Contributing Editor always contributes, but may not edit. The title basically means that you are a Writer who has become more than just an occasional contributor to a certain magazine or online publication; you are a regular contributor with a steady gig. So what’s the “ Editor ” designation all about? In most cases, it’s more of a title of respect than a descriptive title.

Becoming a Contributing Editor can be the best of both worlds for a freelance Writer: it offers stability and flexibility. Rather than having to pitch each separate story idea to an Editor, nervously hoping they remember you, think your topic is brilliant, and get back to you this month or this year… now you have an established relationship with the publication. The title of Contributing Editor means that your writing style, voice, and chosen topics are so in line with the publication that they trust you to just keep writing.

For a freelance Writer, human interaction can sometimes be hard to come by, so having the chance to develop a closer relationship with the staff of the magazine is another perk. For a smaller publication, you might actually be asked to do some of the work of an Editor too—generating story ideas, revising other Writers’ work, or reviewing submissions from new contributors. If you continue to freelance for other publications, having all of these bylines and a Contributing Editor status will help you get published elsewhere.