Rather than write the whole article in full, and then submit it to a magazine, e-zine or periodical, which of course, if accepted, would most likely mean having to edit and shorten the story to the available space. A better approach might be to put together a short outline explaining the story idea, and approximate length; whether there would be supporting pictures or drawings, and the subjects related season. This outline could then be emailed or posted to the publication or publisher along with a query letter.
If there is interest in the story idea, you would be adviced what sort of word length for the story would be acceptable, Your price can then be negotiated. Usually one page stories range from 450 to 500 words; of course, this depends on whether pictures or drawings are to be included within the text.
Other points to keep in mind are the range of climate zones through out North America. This could make a difference where your story should appear, and whether the information would apply to some regional areas. Also, when recommending plant material, tools, accessories etc., providing a list of suppliers or resources would be helpful to the reader. For stories that are to be published on the WEB, which would cover many different environments, giving suggestions on how the reader might go about finding those resources in their particular area would also be useful.
Articles should be written in a friendly and informative way so as to treat the reader as an equal, leading them into the story with a promise of good information that will work for them, and then delivering on that promise. The reader should leave the article with a feeling of satisfaction of now being that little bit more knowledgeable about the subject matter. If it's a "how to" article the reader should be saying, "Yep, I can do that".
Any information given within your story should be accurate. You should verify the information with community experts such as: botanists, horticulturists, nurseries, growers, master gardeners, and landscape designers. Your story should have a logical order to the information supplied, a step by step progression, making projects easier to follow.
If it's not possible to take your own photos to support and illustrate the story, then a good resource is to purchase ready made pictures from a Royalty-Free stock photo site such as: www.alldrit.com Royalty-Free means that you and the publication have more freedom on how the picture is used. These freedoms and limitations can be found in the stock agencies licence agreement for picture useage.
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