I write for 2 out of the three, under pseudonyms mostly (if you want to try spotting Genghis, all my pseudonyms are characters from Neville Shute Novels), and also write for a collection of other aviation/engineering publications.
Expect generally around 15 pence per word - a bit more or less depending upon how much they like it, what slot it fits, and whether they use your own photos or library material (if they can save money by doing the latter they always will).
I virtually never send an article "on spec" to an editor. If I've not writen for them before, I'll always ask for contributors guidelines first, then submit a proposal - but virtually always a proposal.
There's no set guidelines on proposal layout, mine tend to be very detailed, but in general you need...
- Your name. If you use a pseudonym (not many do, but some people such as I prefer to) which one.
- Proposed topic, title, length.
- What qualifies you to write on the subject.
- A rough breakdown of what will be in the article.
- What photographic material you have or will have available to illustrate it, with indications (negative size, print size or digital image size) of the quality of it.
Most editors will come back with some discussion of the content, and some will come back and (if you're previously published but they don't know you) ask for a sample previous piece.
Once that discussion's sorted, you'll normally be given a deadline, and (if they like the idea) asked to get on with it.
It must be said that there is never a guarantee of an article being accepted, but following the approach above although I've had one or two proposals turned down (fair enough, that's what they're for), I've never had a piece rejected. Do bear in mind that very few editors these days are all that interested in articles without photographs, and most flying magazine editors are constantly bombarded with overlong articles about trips (I've heard several of them whinge about it) so this is the type of article least likely to be published - unless you are Whirly of-course who has a talent for it.
There are incidentally a few publications worth looking through, the two most useful - both of which are in WH Smiths, are "The Writers Handbook", and "The Freelance Photographers Market Handbook". Both are basically market guides, to contact details, rates, preferred approach methods, etc of the various editors.
And finally, very few magazines are prompt payers, expect typically 1-2 months after publication.
G