Do you think you have a story to sell? It can be tough to know whether your experiences make a good story or not. It might not be the kind of sensational, headline-grabber often seen on the front pages of newspapers, but that doesn’t mean it can’t earn you money. While we’re more than happy to chat to you about whether or not your story would sell, here are a few ideas of the type of stories newspapers and magazines will pay for;

Relationship Stories
Sex Stories
Family/Friendship Stories
Crime Stories
Illness and Disease
Sex-Change Stories
Diet and Weight Loss
Eating Disorders
Surgery
Addiction
Odd Jobs
Birth and Pregnancy Stories
Celebrity Stories

Relationship stories
Mags love stories about relationships, from love rats – maybe your man ran off with your neighbour, or a family member – to conmen lurking on dating sites, stories about divorce, affairs, betrayal and plain old adultery are always popular. But, it’s not all doom and gloom. Happy relationship stories, where love has won against the odds also sell. Maybe you’ve proved your family and friends wrong by marrying your toyboy, holiday fling or friend’s ex. Perhaps you found love in an unlikely place like a graveyard or sexual health clinic?

Sex stories
Did the threesome you thought you craved end up ruining your marriage? Or did a drunken snog with a same sex friend turn out to be the beginning of the most exciting sexual experience of your life. Maybe you’ve got a sad story of sexual abuse you feel you’d like to speak out about. Or are you having a sexual relationship with someone totally out of bounds like a long lost family member, or even a cousin? Perhaps you’ve even been sexually assaulted by someone completely unexpected like the gasman or family doctor. Maybe you’re in your 30s or 40s and still a virgin or perhaps your partner has a kinky fetish that he can’t perform without. Or maybe you just can’t stop sleeping with anyone who happens by. Sex stories, good or bad, are a staple of British women’s magazines and are guaranteed to pull in the pounds.

Family/Friendship stories
It’s not just the relationships with the man in your life that mags want to hear about. Stories about friendships that have fallen apart, or family ties that have been severed are always interesting. Maybe you fell out with your best friend or sister and didn’t speak for years, but have now buried the hatchet. Maybe you discovered a relative you didn’t know you had, or one you thought you’d never see again over Facebook. Maybe you were betrayed, or stolen from by someone close to you. It might be that your sister, mum, friend or daughter is making life decisions that you just don’t agree with.

Crime Stories
If you’ve been the victim of crime then you’ve definitely got a story to tell. Maybe you were cheated out of money by a fraudster, or, more dramatically, your hubby tried to kill you! Maybe you’ve had to shop someone you love, like a friend, partner or child to the police and doing so broke your heart. Or maybe you’ve been a bit of a have-a-go hero and thwarted a crime yourself.

Illness and disease
Stories about people overcoming medical odds never go out of fashion. Perhaps you’ve beaten cancer when doctors told you there was no chance or had a baby when it looked like you were destined to be childless. Perhaps you have been told you’re dying and want to do something amazing and life changing in the short time you have left, like marry your sweetheart. Maybe you share the same illness as a celebrity, did you nearly die from malaria like Cheryl Cole. Perhaps it’s not you who is poorly. Mags will pay for stories about sick babies, whether they’ve ended in tragedy, or have had a happy outcome.

Sex-change stories
Maybe you think you’re in the wrong body and have spent years wishing you were a different gender. Maybe you live a secret double life and no-one knows that you are a man/woman outside of office hours. Maybe you’ve actually had surgery to change your gender, perhaps even to look like someone famous. Or maybe someone in your family has decided to change their sex. Maybe you’re married to a transsexual, or caught your hubby prancing around in your heels and make-up. Has Dad become Mum or maybe your darling son has decided to become your darling daughter? However you may feel about their choice, you can be certain a mag would want to hear your tale.

Diet and Weight Loss
Magazines love a good old fashioned story about losing weight. Maybe you got skinny in record time. Perhaps something unusual, like seeing your ex with a new partner, prompted you to shed the pounds. Maybe you’ve made up your own unusual diet and now have friends and family following it. Or did your weight loss lead to a whole new life for you? Maybe your best friend was jealous of your new figure and fell out with you because you now look better than her! There are literally hundreds of different stories related to dieting and weight loss. And they can all earn you cash.

Eating Disorders
Maybe you and your daughter were both bulimic at the same time. Or did your daughter die from an eating disorder, and you secretly blame yourself. Perhaps you’ve hidden an eating disorder from those closest to you for years and now want to speak out about it. Or maybe you were close to death and still didn’t think you were thin enough. Maybe you watched your best friend waste away, and couldn’t do anything to help her. Or perhaps you’ve been out with a man with an eating disorder and you’d like to speak out about what that’s like. Or you could be obese and your children picky about their food because they don’t want to end up like you. Tragic or inspiring, stories about eating disorders are always sellers.

Surgery
If you’ve been under the knife, then you’ve definitely got a tale to tell, and sell! Perhaps you had surgery to look like your favourite celeb. Or took the easy route with weight loss and everyone is criticizing you for it. Maybe you stole the money you were saving for your children’s uni or wedding and spent it on getting yourself a new face. Maybe a divorce or break up convinced you it was time to go under the knife. Or did a flippant comment from someone about the size of your nose or ears become an obsession, until you got it ‘fixed’. Perhaps you were convinced surgery was going to change your life and are disappointed it hasn’t. Or maybe you just really hated the results, then asked to be changed back! Maybe you were at the mercy of a dodgy doc who left you with a hole in your face, scars on your legs or wonky boobs. Maybe you had a disaster after travelling to another country for treatment and forgot to take out any insurance. Or maybe your hubby left you after your op, for someone who looks like the old you! Surgery stories are always a compelling read that can bring the pounds rolling in.

Addiction
Have you got a weird obsession with someone or something that keeps getting you into trouble. Maybe it’s a celebrity and your partner is getting sick of it. Perhaps you’re a total shopaholic who has been hiding your mounting debt from your family and friends. Maybe you’ve become a master liar thanks to your addiction and now want to come clean. Are you a sex addict who can’t stop sleeping with people you just know you shouldn’t. Or maybe it’s your partner who’s the addict and it’s ruined your relationship.

Odd Jobs
If you earn a living in an unusual way then you can earn more for sure by telling others about it. Perhaps you’re an escort and your boyfriend doesn’t mind. Or a kinky kiss-o-gram. Maybe you’re a plus size porn star and you earn more money than the skinny girls in the biz? Sex industry jobs are always popular and the more outrageous, the better.

Birth and Pregnancy stories
Did you have a baby without knowing you were even pregnant? Or maybe your little one was born too soon and survived despite doctors saying it was impossible. Maybe, like Lily Allen, you’ve lost more than one baby and don’t understand why. Maybe your partner cheated on you while you were expecting and gave you an STI which almost resulted in the loss of your baby. Or perhaps your baby was born in an unusual place. Maybe you were beyond surprised when more than one baby popped out during your labour. Maybe you’ve been pregnant despite being anorexic, in jail, homeless etc and continued with the pregnancy. Maybe a surprise pregnancy changed your life, making you quit drugs, partying or booze before it killed you. Maybe you had to make a heartbreaking choice between your own life and the one growing inside you.

Celebrity stories
Magazines and newspapers love stories catching celebs doing something they shouldn’t be and can earn you serious cash. Maybe you work in a ‘gentleman’s’ club and have been propositioned by the same married soapstar time and time again. Or maybe you’ve had a relationship with a celeb who has some rather odd requirements in the bedroom department. Perhaps you’ve had a one night stand with a footballer who promised to call you, but never did, and now you want revenge! Perhaps a celeb is in town for panto and gave you something interesting to talk about…

As you can see, there are countless stories that magazines and newspapers will pay you for. If your story isn’t listed above, don’t panic, it could still be a seller! Why don’t you drop us a line and we can have a chat…