If you missed the first Popular Query Questions post, be sure to stop by and take a look! 5. What is a good query? A good query is like a old school burlesque show. Take the lady with the giant fans. There’s a show going on, but the tease is killer. You want to see how it ends even as you enjoy what’s happening. The performer knows just how long to lead you on before you get bored and turn back to your drink. She also knows how much to show to keep you interested. You’ll never see it all [Read more…]
Popular Query Questions Answered!
May 24, 2010. 3 Comments
Piggybacking again off of Deb’s popular Frequently Asked Questions and the first part of 10 Popular Article Writing Questions, I’m also tackling query questions. If I miss one of your burning questions please let me know! 10. What is a query? A query is like a sales letter aimed at the editors of a publication. It is used to pitch a specific article idea and yourself as a writer. Some liken it to a cover letter, but I believe there is a difference. A cover letter is interest in a specific job and pitches yourself to the hiring manager, a [Read more…]
Remember When? Article Queries Edition
April 30, 2010. Leave a Comment
I was clicking through the Freelance Writing Jobs web site reading articles and coming up with ideas for May’s editorial calendar when I came across this old blog post of mine: “There’s Rejection and Then There’s REJECTION!” I found myself giggling at a question “Is it just me or does it sting more when you’re rejected by hot key?” I was talking about the digital querying age and how rejection form letters are often a hot key away from delivering a swift, coarse “No.” I then got a little nostalgic about the good old days of querying. Remember… Stocking up [Read more…]
Cheesy Query Pick-Up Lines
November 18, 2009. 8 Comments
I often compare querying a publication to dating or being in a relationship: “Date Your Publication” and what would dating be without cheesy, low class, creepy pick-up lines? “I think we’ve met/Tweeted/are Facebook friends.” “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” Writers really don’t have to press to find a connection with an editor in their query. Unless you’ve had an encounter the editor is going to remember, forget the wind up, just pitch. Some exceptions include: actually meeting them, talking with them and having the door left open for a pitch, regularly interacting via social networking, etc. “Are you looking [Read more…]
Don't Say "Google Me."
November 4, 2009. 7 Comments
I hate it. I HATE IT when a writer says “Google me” when submitting for an assignment or worse, when asking for advice on their writing career. I’m serious, I have had a writer or two ask me about furthering their career and to then added “Google me to see my work.” Wow. You couldn’t bother to include a link in your email? Are you that busy? Do you think I’m not busy so I have the time and motivation to go looking for “Jane Smith” throughout the Google-verse? Or do you think it makes you look good that your [Read more…]
5 Things You SHOULD Say to an Editor
October 26, 2009. 9 Comments
Last week I named a few things you shouldn’t say to an editor “5 Things You NEVER Say to an Editor” and the post was pretty darn popular so I figured it was only practical to give a couple of tips on things editor’s love to hear from writers. 5. “I need help.” Writers like to present a tough facade. They want to show they have everything under control and worry that asking their editors for help on a piece will cost them future work. On the contrary, editors love to know a writer will come to them for help [Read more…]
5 Things You Never Say to an Editor
October 21, 2009. 12 Comments
We all joke about crazy editors and their goofball demands. Editors, for the most part, have a good chuckle too because they know some of their peers are pretty nutty. Here at FWJ we often reinforce a writer’s right to push back – professionally – against edits, cheer on as they ask for more work, better pay, etc., however sometimes a writer can take things too far. There are a few things you should never say to an editor, especially if you ever want to work with them again. 5. “You’re just a frustrated writer.” It could be true, it [Read more…]
Article Writing and Your Psychic Friends
October 8, 2009. 4 Comments
Pitching queries for magazines can be a bit like playing fortune teller. You have to be in tune to what the audience will want to read six months from now. In my post “Are you thinking about Christmas yet? You should be…” I talked about the long lead time for magazines, how writers need to use their insider contacts and hunches on trending topics to pitch specifics to mags and how they should look for new angles on evergreen topics. What if you don’t have a talkative insider? To get a future cast, all you really need to do is [Read more…]
A Query Question
September 15, 2009. 2 Comments
Do you contact a source prior to submitting the query or do you wait until after you secure the article?
Quick Query Tip: Work Your Contacts
August 30, 2009. 1 Comment
Writers tend to meet with, connect and befriend other writers. We build social networks and professional contacts that are both supportive and invaluable. These same contacts can be used to help get your foot in the door with editors and publications. Now before you hustle off to pitch a magazine using the name of a Twitter friend who has also written for them, you should know there is a fair amount of courtesy and responsibility that comes with using someone’s name to further your career. The first thing you have to do is ask the person – seems obvious, but [Read more…]
Query Quick Tip: Get Your Query to the Right Editor
August 11, 2009. 3 Comments
Many writers don’t realize the importance of making sure their query makes it to the correct editor.
A Good Example of Simultaneous Submission Woes
July 29, 2009. 4 Comments
I’m not sure the parameters of simultaneous submissions are the same in the music industry as they are in the writing field however, I thought this would be a good example as to why this can be such a sticky subject with editors and writers alike. In my post Writing Tip of the Day: Simultaneous Query Submissions, I talked about the reasons for editors’ discomfort, why writers have issues with the “ban,” and what writers can do to work within both their editor’s and their own comfort zone. This week former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson made news voicing her [Read more…]
Stumped for Article Ideas? Query Your Friends!
July 23, 2009. 1 Comment
Sometimes normal sources of information just doesn’t cut it. Sometimes you gotta have friends.
When Editors Behave Badly…
June 12, 2009. 8 Comments
Editors and editorial assistants hold a lot of power. They have the power to say yes to your query or they can stab your carefully crafted piece in the heart with a kill fee. This power can sometimes have the ability to corrupt even the nicest, most well-behaved editor, but what can a lowly writer do when faced with an editor whose behavior rivals a 5 year old’s? First of all, stop thinking of yourself as lowly. Writers are an essential part of a magazine/publication/web site. The editors and editorial assistants can’t write the entire publication on their own and [Read more…]
Writing Tip of the Day: Simultaneous Query Submissions
May 28, 2009. 2 Comments
Every so often I’ll get a timeless writing question: What about simultaneous queries? Old school rules dictated that unless the magazine indicated, you never submitted the same query to anyone else until you received a rejection from the first publication. This is a oft grumbled rule with writers because it could take months to receive a rejection for a piece and then after waiting those months you have to start the process all over again. Editors cite concerns over their processes and the time it takes to approve an article, place it, pay for it, publish it only to see [Read more…]
Are you thinking about Christmas yet? You should be…
April 28, 2009. 7 Comments
If you are thinking about pitches for magazines you need to be several months ahead of the curve. I know the last thing anyone wants to think about right now is snow, cold weather and roasting chestnuts, but thinking ahead is a great way to get your pitch approved. When everyone else is thinking about decking the halls, editors are looking to spring fashions and top summer vacation spots. Thinking and working on magazine editors’ schedules will help in getting your work to the top of the heap. When thinking ahead, writers need to balance general with specific. Editors take [Read more…]
Are You Communicating with or Stalking an Editor?
April 16, 2009. 2 Comments
Writers have to be tenacious. They have to get out there, be seen and heard above the chorus of other writers that are all simultaneously yelling “Look at me! Hire me!” They have to maintain their relevance with editors they work with while they aren’t working with them. It’s a tough business, but some writers may be going a little too far with the communication. How this relates to writing articles is the relationship usually begins at the article. Either a writer will score an article, thus starting an initially useful line of communication or they have submitted an article [Read more…]
Taking Care of Your Writing Clips
February 10, 2009. 10 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke To get a writing job, you need clips and having easy access to those clips is essential to running an efficient and productive writing career. So, where are your clips hanging out? Some writers wait until they are applying for a job to look up their online articles. Normally, while not the most productive, they find their articles in time to send them off to a waiting editor. However, there are other times when one goes to find the article and it has been deleted by the web site. Yikes. When your article goes live on [Read more…]
Query Challenge Update
January 22, 2009. Leave a Comment
By Terreece M. Clarke Where are you on the Query Challenge? We started off trying to query a few new (to you) magazines before Christmas. Some of you jumped in a little later and others are finished and just waiting to hear back from your choice publications. I want updates! Have you been inspired by the challenge to query more often? What questions do you have about queries, query letters, etc.? Talk to my FWJ and let me help you! Do you want to start the challenge? Here are some articles to help you along your way: Query Challenge – [Read more…]
Query Tips: Know Your Audience
January 6, 2009. 3 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Who is your audience? Do you write pieces with a focus on the people who will be reading the piece or the editor who will review and approve the piece? Do you write just to hear yourself talk, covering topics and issues you want to learn more about or is it a combination of all three? I ask because I have found myself on the three sides of the issue. I’ve written on things that I found interesting and figured if I wondered about the subject, other people probably did as well. Sometimes it worked out [Read more…]
Query Challenge Update: Where are you now?
December 23, 2008. 6 Comments
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 [Read more…]
Query Challenge – Dear Random Editor:
December 16, 2008. 9 Comments
by Terreece M. Clarke “Dear Editor: This is a fantastic query. It’s a hot topic and perfect for your biggest issue of the year. It’s well-researched and has a fantastic expert on board for an interview. Unfortunately, I didn’t take the time to find out which editor I should send it to. Sure I could have sent a quick email or picked up the phone to be sure that the person on the masthead is still there and in the department, but I decided to go generic. Just any random editor at the publication. So now my query is stuck [Read more…]
Caller You Say What? Questions About Queries
December 11, 2008. 3 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke I always wanted my own talk show :0) Today I’m going to answer a few of the great questions I’ve received: Rupa Says: Hi Terreece, Off topic – but I wanted to return to the query challenge. (Yes, I am working on it!) I have spent some time studying query letter tips and sample queries online. I have never done this before and want to learn to do it right. I have a few questions – Is it absolutely necessary to mention in the query some of the names of the people I will be talking [Read more…]
Query Tip: Date Your Publication
December 2, 2008. 6 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke There are a variety of things a writer must take into account when making a pitch to a publication. A writer must meet and get to know the publication. So I’m advising writers to take it out on a date. Make an appointment, clear out the distractions and ask the publication about itself: Are you printed often? Who’s your audience? What’s your tone? Are you authoritative? Cheeky? Friendly? How much of you is written by freelancers? Any specific sections? What have you talked about in the past year? Are there certain topics you just love to [Read more…]
Query Challenge!
November 25, 2008. 12 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Think about the top three publications where you’d like to be published. Got ‘em? Now take the FWJ query challenge. Between now and Christmas, research, develop and submit a stunning query for those three publications. If you are a business writer, do the challenge with three clients you’d like to land. I’m talking about serious work – going to the library to look through back issues, zoning in on a section, finding the correct editor to pitch to and carefully crafting a spectacular query. We sometime underestimate ourselves. I hear writers say all the time they [Read more…]
