It’s late Tuesday evening and you are checking your feedreader, email and social networking sites one more time before you disappear into a mound of wrapping paper, yummy meals and family fun. You know there’s something you forgot to do. What is it? Write an article? Nope. Follow up on a source? Nope.
The query challenge! That’s it!
Where are you on the query challenge? Have you pitched a publication yet? Remember we wanted to do this by Christmas so we’d start the New Year off right with either a great or an encouraging response or heck, let’s be honest – any response.
If you haven’t pitched yet, don’t feel guilty, let’s focus on making progress. I’m not letting you off the hook, mind you. You made a commitment people and I expect a progress report!
What are some of the barriers to pitching a publication or company?
- Ego or lack thereof. Stop telling yourself you have no right to pitch, beware of short-changing yourself.
- Writer’s block. Are you really out of ideas or using that as an excuse? Do whatever it takes to get the juices flowing and get back to work.
- Lack of info. Who’s the right editor? Is this section written by freelancers or staff? Check out this post to get yourself going in the right direction: “Query Challenge: Dear Random Editor:“
- Waiting. On what may I ask? More time? Good luck with that one. Stop with the excuses and take steps to get your career going to the next level.
How’s the challenge coming? Details! Details!
I’m not sure where the best place would be to post or send a thank you and wish you Merry Christmas. You give your readers such great gifts throughout the year — I just wanted to say thank you.
Merry Christmas,
Pati
Terreece,
I’m happy to tell you that I did it..well, sorta! I sent out three queries to Khabar(Atlanta-based Indian-American magazine), Mothering and Carolina @ Play.) No response yet. And I am not sure if I did a good job. But I am glad I tried. How long do you think I should wait before I give up on those and try again? Thanks again & Happy Holidays.
Double, triple, quadruple sigh. For years I have been sitting on a fantastic story that numerous eds. have told me is classic New Yorker or Atlantic. But I am too busy with my other freelance gigs to delve. I am a contract writer and make $100K a year at it. To turn down paid work to perfect my pitch seems irresponsible. And yet I am dying to see this thing in print someday. Hopefully 2009 will be my year to break out of my self-imposed “I’m too busy/I can’t turn down paid work/What’s the point” jail cell!
Oh, and to be more specific about my barrier, it is this: I can’t “clear” a week and lose $1000 – $3000 in writing work to perfect my pitch. I’m trying SO hard to save for a house, and in the SoCal market where the crappiest 3BR/2BA costs upwards of $600,000, it just feels like every penny I can squirrel away is valuable.
So my barrier is I can’t get over the hurdle of turnign down paid work to work on my unpaid, no-promise-of-anything pitch.
Merry Christmas to you too Pati! Thanks or the kind words.
Rupa – I’m sure you did a good job. You will want to wait probably a month at least. I know, agony! But you’ve got the holidays and the unenviable backlog of stuff on an editor’s desk for them to get through – not saying they aren’t working their little hearts out through the holidays but still :0)
Olivia – it’s a tough spot to be in, but I don’t think you need to clear a week. Focus on an hour a day or a couple hours a week and work on your query. You will still make progress & you won’t lose out on saving for that dream home!
I finally pitched a story to Health magazine but that particular section of the magazine isn’t accepting pitches at the moment. So, I pitched it to the website instead because a couple of months ago, I went on a job interview there and was told that they are looking for pitches. It’s only been a few days so I’m hoping some good news will come out of it. Health is a lucrative market and I haven’t published in a national health magazine yet!
I also pitched an idea to Bridal Guide because I write a bi-monthly column for the website, but the section editor has left. I called the magazine to get the appropriate editor’s email and the editor picked up! I was at work and couldn’t pitch her the idea at work so I hung up. I need to call back since I didn’t catch the editor’s name. Should I ask the receptionist to just give me the name of the editor instead of having her transfer me to the editor?