How to make money out of misery!

Magazines like Sugar or Bliss for example have a teenage readership so if your story is relevant to younger readers, perhaps about a family feud or being bullied, then it could be worthwhile going to a teen magazine first.

Whereas a medical horror story, or amazing weight loss story, for example, may be more easily sold to magazines such as Take A Break, Chat, and Woman’s Own, which have an older readership age range.

Equally, a more upmarket magazine like Marie Claire may feature completely different kinds of stories, such as how you were kidnapped by Peruvian guerillas and left for dead.

If your story touches upon contemporary issues and has widespread appeal, perhaps a failed operation or how you had to sell the family home to pay off debts, it may be more appropriate for a newspaper feature article.

Get in touch

Some national newspapers like The Sun and The Mirror have phone numbers and email addresses set up specifically for people selling their real-life stories. Equally some magazines like Take A Break have a separate section on their website to help you sell them your story. For those that don't, simply call the switchboard of your chosen paper or magazine and ask to be put through to the features desk.

For an alphabetical list of all the newspapers and magazines in the UK along with contact details go to the Mediauk website.

Also, consider using a press agency to sell your story for you.

A press agency will often have the best contacts to sell your story and although they will take a percentage of your fee you may actually end up getting more money because they will have the contacts, and knowledge to make sure it is not undersold. The main ones are www.nationalstory.co.uk, www.cash4yourstory.co.uk and www.featureworld.co.uk.

If you think your story will be highly sought-after it may be worthwhile using an agent or public relations company like Max Clifford Associates. These agents have the expertise to sell it for the highest price by creating a bidding war and they will also help you organise any legal contracts. They may even be able to help you get paid work on TV documentaries and chat shows.

Make money

According to one national tabloid feature writer, the amount of money a newspaper will give for a story can vary widely from £200 to £2,000, or even more for an exceptional story. Magazines may pay you less but they also feature more real-life stories than most newspapers so may be more willing to buy your story.

Take A Break, for example, says you could earn up to £1,000 by sending them a good tale.

You are likely to get more money from one of the tabloids but be aware that there is probably a greater risk that they will present your story in a way that you’re not necessarily comfortable with.

Jasmine Birtles is from moneymagpie.com - the website that gives you a richer life.