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 – that’s another kind of show. The same holds true for a query. Get the editor interested, make them think about the possibilities, show them a little leg (your queries) and leave them wanting more. If they want to see the whole article, well they’re going to have to pay for it!

4. Should I include possible sources in a query?

I like to, especially if I have a juicy source that will peak the editor’s interest like an author who just released a new book or a famous/well respected authority on the subject, etc. I think it’s important to line up some sources before your pitch, that way you can include them as a ‘have’ and not a ‘want.’ Not all writers do it this way, but I have found the approach beneficial.

3. Email query vs postal query.

Email queries are great because they make the querying process faster. No more mail travel time, self-addressed stamped envelopes, etc. Writers can now create their query and zip it off to the editor. The responses are faster as well – including rejections. Postal queries still have a place and a few publications only want paper queries. Remember, it’s not what you want to do but what the publication wants to see.

2. Simultaneous submissions: for sure or faux pas?

It depends on the publication. Most will detail whether they accept simultaneous submissions. If they do, it is with the caveat of ‘non-competing’ submissions. Parents Magazine won’t want to hear Parenting Magazine is running the same story, but won’t care if the Today’s Parent Toronto has a similar story by you. Competing: Vogue & Harper’s Bazaar, non-competing: Vogue and Wisconsin’s “Shopper’s Monthly.”*

1. I got rejected, now what?

Welcome to freelance writing! It’s a wonderful world where rejection letters, old coffee cups and empty printer cartridges litter the alley. It’s also a place where bylines and paycheck dance down the street in a big “Whooo Hooo” parade. The thing to ask yourself is why do you think it was rejected and what kind of rejection did you receive? A flat out “No” means try to pitch it elsewhere, “We liked it, but not for us” means you’re warm, you just need to tailor it more to the publication.”There’s rejection and then there is REJECTION!” is a great resource for deciphering rejection letters.

Did I miss one of your burning query questions? Ask below or follow Article Writing on Facebook and ask there!

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 query letter has a narrower focus.

9. How do you write a query letter?

Carefully. A query letter is the opportunity to get your idea, name and writing technique in front of an editor. Give the same care as an article. Proofreading, active voice, a little marinating time before sending are all important, put your best foot forward.

8. Is a query letter necessary?

Always? Nothing is always. There are times when editors will approach you, or when a ‘formal’ query letter is not needed – usually after you have a ongoing, good working relationship with an editor or publication. Most of the time, a query letter is expected and required.

7. What does a query letter include?

A greeting (with the editor’s name spelled correctly), body (that includes idea and supporting information), clips and closing. Now, how you craft the query is the stuff of endless books, articles and blog posts. The best thing to do is to research the styles, taking ideas from established writers and find a style that works best for and the publication you are pitching. I favor the anecdote opening with supporting facts and abridged list of experts approach and while that works for consumer magazines particularly lifestyle magazines, it may not work for other publications.

6. Do I follow up after submitting? How long should I wait?

The great thing about querying in the age of the internet is the response to queries times are dramatically shorter than in the age of snail mail. The standard 4 to 6 weeks is more like 4 to 6 days, on the long end. Two weeks is long enough for a busy editor and their assistants to get through the usual backlog of emails, so if you haven’t heard from anyone by then, go ahead and follow up. Include the query again so the editor doesn’t have to go digging for the info and give them time to respond. There’s nothing wrong with being persistent, but stalking an editor won’t get you very far.

Tune in next Monday for 5-1 of Popular Query Questions and don’t forget 5-1 of 10 Popular Article Writing Questions this Friday!

Don’t forget to follow Article Writing on Facebook!

Remember…

• Stocking up on stamps and heavy weight paper with matching envelopes for query letters?
• Including a mandatory self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) only for the publication to put your rejection letter in their own stationary? Where’s my freakin’ stamp!
• Stalking the mailman for responses while secretly holding the suspicion he was pocketing your queries? Now I just stalk him for checks.
• Painstakingly folding each letter and clip sample in three perfect folds.
• Contemplating paper and envelope color? Is ecru too daring?
• Preparing clips to out?

While many queries are still sent the “old-fashioned” way, e-mail queries are the norm. There is still the same amount of painstaking research and preparation. You wonder if your Arial 12 font is too big and maybe your ideas would be better received in Helvetica 10. You still have to wait, though considering one to three months use to the average response time, one day to two weeks seems like a blip in time.

Freelance writing is still hard, but let’s face it, when queries went high tech our lives got easier. I also like to think we’ve gotten more productive – no more mailbox runs! So the next time you grumble about a canned, email response an hour after you’ve sent in a query, remember the time of 10th generation photocopies addressed to “INSERT NAME.”

What about you? What do you miss about paper queries?

“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 for writers?”

“Hey baby, want someone to go home with you tonight?” Of course they are looking for writers, ideas and in this market, they probably are working with freelancers more than ever. Don’t ask, just pitch and on the off chance they aren’t looking for anyone they’ll let you know. I once was turned down by a publication because they were going on hiatus for a while and weren’t sure when they would be back up and running.

“I just LOVE your magazine and would LOVE to write for you.”

“You are the hottest guy in the place tonight.” Flattery works well, but most of the time it is a pretty transparent attempt to butter the editor up while asking for work. Compliment a recent article if it ties to your pitch. “I enjoyed March’s article on Roller Derby Racing and thought you may be interested in an article profiling the last living member of the legendary “Jug Jug Team.” Steve “Roll Man” Johnson was the …”

“My friend Barbara is a great writer and…”

“My friend’s shy and wanted me to come over and…” I’m a big fan of working your connections and having a friend introduce you to an editor is good stuff, but it has to be orchestrated in the right way. The wing man has to have it going on. If they constantly miss deadlines you’re not going to win any points with the editor. Editors, like most people, judge you by your friends and associates.

“This is perfect for your magazine!”

“I’m quite a catch.” Um, let the editor be the judge of that one. Newbie writers tend to make this mistake. They are so excited about the idea, the feel and tone of the piece, they can practically smell the article on the pages.

“I’ve been following you on MySpace, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. How was that sandwich you had last Thursday before you went to your staff meeting?”

“I’ve been watching you all night [insert creepy leer].” It’s one thing to follow someone in your profession, it’s another thing to cyberstalk them. Don’t be creepy and even if you do know they had a sandwich last Thursday, keep that information to yourself. Oh, and you might want to spend a little more time on your query and less on their FB.

A query is a pitch. It says “Hey, I like you and here’s what I have to offer. Interested?” But sometimes writers can go a little cliche’ or creepy when pitching to editors. The key is to remember you don’t have to hard sell a pitch. We’ve all seen the magazine writer or newspaper reporter following the editor in chief around the office begging to cover a story. It makes good TV, but in reality, good query ideas – with proper supporting sources – speak for themselves. Editors know what works for their publications no need to go after them like a hound after pork chop underpants.

Got a cheesy query pick up line? Write it below!

"Hey baby, does heaven know it's missing an angel?"

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 name has the G juice?

It’s a cheesy pick-up line.

Saying “Google me” is like saying  “If I could rearrange the alphabet I’d put ‘U’ and ‘I’ together.” Eww. All it really reveals is you’re too lazy or amateur to include links to your work, or too lazy to have business cards or build an online portfolio.

It can lead to unpleasant discoveries.

Trust me, I’m going to look you up, especially if you’re lame. I’m going to go deeper and likely discover a gang of throwaway articles you’d rather I didn’t see.

You’re not the only star in the universe.

What happens when I look you up and find several writers with your name or close to your name. Which one are you? I’ll have to spend time looking around and once I’ve even found a writer’s site that I liked better and contacted them instead of the writer that sent me on the random search.

If you don’t respect my time now…

…you probably won’t respect it later when it is time to turn in a piece by deadline and that’s not a chance many editors and clients are willing to take.

Why?

Why would I Google you to help you get the job or assignment, etc. when writers 1-20 included links to their work in their queries. I may come back later and look…but probably not.

I sound a bit hostile huh? This is a behavior that is getting a bit out of hand lately and I thought it was important to teach why it is wrong, rather than merely fume about it. It is professional, standard procedure to submit links to your work and/or online portfolio when submitting a query, job app or seeking advice. Not doing so won’t earn you renegade status, just broke status as editors hit delete.

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 because it ensures they will get the article they asked for, not the one a writer thought they wanted. If you are unsure of what the editor wants, encounter a major issue, i.e. with sources, or are having trouble working a particular angle, let your editor know. They’ll help come up with sources or approve a new angle, it’s their job. Just don’t wait until the last minute.

4. “You can reach me at: (614) 555.1234.”

There is nothing worse than having an issue with an article right before you go to print and you can’t get in touch with the author. Sure there is email, but as you anxiously refresh your Twitter page and email hoping for a response, you find yourself wishing, woefully, they had included a phone number in their correspondence.

Many editors are assigning work to writers without ever speaking to them over the phone – the power of technology! Unfortunately, where there is power, there is pain. Contrary to popular belief, writers aren’t in front of their computers every hour of the day and in every time zone. We leave the house, have internet troubles, and *gasp* take a break from social media and microblogging! Having an alternate means of contact an incredibly important, often overlooked courtesy.

3. “I’m available for edits.”

A Twitter friend reminded me after the 5 Thing You Never Say article that writers should keep themselves available for revisions. (Thanks NancyDWrites!) Some writers will say they are too busy to do revisions or become offended at the request. Both responses are a sure way to make the Do Not Call list. You want to do your own rewrites and edits. You are familiar with the information, sources, etc. it really is your responsibility. Do you really want someone else calling all the editing shots on your piece when you can do it yourself?

2. “I saw the great piece you published on (subject here).”

This helps establish a relationship with the editor. You don’t have to be best pals, but it helps keep your name in the front of the editor’s brain and shows you are keeping up with the publication. It’s a good idea to touch base with an editor every so often without asking for work. That’s building a relationship. Remember to keep the emails short and friendly professional.

1. “Here’s my article (turned in early!).”

OK, you don’t have to say the “turned in early part,” they’ll know. Getting a quality, ready to publish article in early is like sending a gift wrapped hug to an editor – it gives them warm, fuzzies, makes their lives easier and instantly puts you into the ‘favorable writer’ category.

5. “You’re just a frustrated writer.”

It could be true, it really could be your editor doesn’t have it in them to formulate an article from scratch, but they have no qualms about taking your article and reworking most of it to fit their own voice. Saying so, however, is not only rude, it is also a baseless accusation. Not cool.

4. “So-in-so at (competition publication) would love this piece.”

“Perhaps they would, good luck with that *click*,” would be my response to a writer pulling that low brow threat out of their butt. There are ways to negotiate and there are ways to make an offer more appealing, a threat like this will land you and your piece in the permanent slush pile.

3. “I know what the readers want.”

No, the editors know what the readers want, you may have a pretty good idea which is why your pitching your query, but ultimately the editor has a better understanding than you. No one wants to hear you are better at their job than they are it is never a good way to make waves.

2. “I was so sick it was coming out of both ends, it looked like…”

TMI or too much information is an epidemic in this share all, instant message, Facebook society and too many writers damage their professional relationships by rushing into a awkward, often one-sided relationship with editors. If we only talk via email about queries and payments, I don’t want to suddenly become your best friend and become privy to your non-work related exploits. Yelk!

1. “I’m going to miss my deadline.”

This deadend line will quickly turn you into the ‘not go-to-writer.’ Missing a deadline is serious business. Do writers miss deadlines? Yep. Do they have to tell their editor? Yep. Should you do everything absolutely possible to make sure it never happens to you? Absolutely.

There’s this thing called ‘burning bridges’ and people are always advised against doing so. I tend to agree, the writing community is small and rude or outrageous writers are likely to earn a reputation that matches their unprofessional behavior.

Want to add to the list? Give your tips below!

What if you don’t have a talkative insider? To get a future cast, all you really need to do is talk to an expert. Experts and angles on evergreen topics can be found just about anywhere.

Keep your ears open.

Go where the people are – if you are interested in what college kids will be thinking and talking about next October, go to where they are now and soak up the atmosphere and information. Pull up a chair and your laptop in public places and eavesdrop. It’s not as creepy as it sounds, if you’re a real writer you’re naturally nosey and would be listening in anyway so you might as well use your natural curiosity to generate ideas and income. Use your Twitter and other social media to see what people are talking about.

Keep you eyes open.

Eavesdropping is fun and informative, but I have to argue people watching is more fun. I write a lot about parenting and kids issues and let me tell you there is nothing more inspiring than sitting at the mall in the middle of the day watching people with their kids. I get ideas about ways to keep kids safe, helpful tricks and time saving techniques from inventive parents, social interaction issues like “Should you discipline other people’s kids,” “Settling playdate disputes,” “When parenting styles clash,” and more!

Beyond people watching, watch for events in the field you’re interested in covering. I look for and go to parenting seminars, family festivals, lectures from experts, advertisements for new products and services, etc. Subscribe to free pr distribution sites and set up your filters to screen for topics geared toward your beat/interest or niche.

What’s past is prologue.

If you have your eye on a specific publication, often reading what they covered a year or two ago will give you a good idea on what they will cover in the future. Studying a publication is not only good way to find out what evergreen topics they’ve covered, you can also get a feel for what angle has been covered. Interview experts who proved they had their finger on the pulse of the future last year. When querying you can point to their knack for being ahead of the pack.

Got any tips for predicting publication futures? Tell us below!

Hi Terreece,
I am not sure if this fits with your query tip column or not. I know that most queries include information on who will be interviewed for the article but at what point do you line up the interviews? Do you contact the person prior to submitting the query and ask whether they would be be willing to be interviewed and conduct the interview after the article is accepted, do you interview the person first, then submit the query, or do you pitch the article based on who you would like to interview and then contact that person. Thank you for reading my question.

Hi Aja!

I always contact a source before I include them in a query. Even if you have a relationship with the source, it is always good form to get their permission first. Deciding to conduct the interview before sending out the query is really up to the writer. In my query letters I usually introduce the source(s), give a wee bit of background information like their area of expertise, i.e. the name of their new book or other information to show how they are connected to the article and sometimes I include a few sample questions.

Sometimes you are not able to land the source before you want to send in your query. It is okay to list a few people you’d like to contact, but make sure you make it clear you haven’t spoken with them. If you are unable to land them after you’ve been given the assignment, be sure to update your editor and provide an alternative and comparable source. This scenario can get a little complicated if who you said you’d be interviewing is the key reason you scored the assignment.

If you do interview a source before getting the assignment approved, make it clear to them that you are shopping the article around. The worse thing you can do is give the impression that the article has already been assigned. If you tell a source you hope to have the article placed in one magazine, but wind up selling it to another, make sure you update them. Some sources have issues with certain publications and it just makes sense to cover all your bases. Hope this helps and thanks for the question Aja!

Got any advice for Aja? Got a query question? Email me today & you may just see your question on Freelance Writing Jobs!

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 many people ignore this simple common courtesy.

Remember, before you ask permission, be sure you two actually have a relationship. Have you ever recommended a friend or family member for a job only for them to turn out to be a less than stellar or, at times, adequate worker? The same thing happens in writing.

An established writer can count on a couple of things: requests for hook-ups and advice. Advice is free to give as long as a person has time, but a hook-up costs. Many established writers are reluctant to allow their good name, one they’ve worked years to build, to be muddied with an editor because a writer-friend turned out to be a chronic deadline blower.

Part II of Work Your Contacts will discuss when and how to ask a friend for help and how to use their name to attract the attention of an editor.

Checking the masthead is no longer enough to make sure you’re sending your piece to the right person. As a result of the shifts in the publishing world, many editors and editorial assistants have changed departments, positions or moved to new magazines and the magazine’s latest masthead may not reveal the changes. Take the time to place a quick call or email to ensure that the person you’re trying to contact is still in the same position.

Same goes for contacts you currently have in your roster. Not everyone sends out those helpful and courteous emails that informs their contacts they are leaving or changing positions and even less people are listing who the new contact person will be, so it’s up to you to send a quick shout out.

Not taking the time to pin point the correct editor/editorial assistant is like taking your query and tossing it into the wind. It has about the same chance of making it into the publication. Don’t waste your time or other editor’s by sending your info to the wrong person.

Got a query question? Email me (terreece@terreececlarke.com) and get your answers in my next Query Quick Tip column!

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 displeasure over her record company’s decision to release her latest album with a song that has the same “beats” as a recently released Beyonce song. Clarkson had received the music from music producer Ryan Tedder, wrote a song – “Already Gone” – around it and didn’t realize that Tedder had given the same music to Beyonce who wrote a song called “Halo.” By the time Clarkson realized the issue, her album was already to print and Beyonce’s had been released. Oops.

Clarkson was understandbly upset realizing that people are more likely to think she copied a successful song, rather than unknowingly used the same music. Editors feel the same way. A lot of work, thought, effort and money goes into producing a publication and if in the same month they release an article that same writer has basically the same piece in a competing magazine it’s a problem.

Check out the Writing Tip of the Day: Simultaneous Query Submissions column to get the ins and outs of the issue and avoid being on the stinging end of an editor’s angry email.

To see what the musical fuss is all about here’s Beyonce’s “Halo” and Kelly Clarkson’s “Already Gone.”

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Soliciting article advice from friends is a great way to put your social networking skills to good use. Tap your Twitter buddies and your Facebook friends to help you come up with the next, best idea for your work.

Make sure you tap your friends who are not writers, they often give the best ideas and angles for a story. These are people who aren’t tainted by the writing process and the burden of reading so much in a particular niche. It is also an exercise in digging for the story because most of the ideas thrown at you aren’t in query, blog, or article ready form. Turn a general “What about health care” suggestion into a working topic by asking questions about people’s concerns, local health care issues, or something germane to your niche or target audience.

“What about health care?” can breakdown into:

• Pet Insurance Do’s & Don’ts
• Finding coverage for children
• Local health care advocate news
• Health issues in your state, city, school
• Where your local Congressman stands on health care

The options are endless and I guarentee you’ll not only be able to gather great ideas from your friends, you’ll be able to find some pretty good sources among them as well.

Have you ever used a social networking site to gather ideas for an article? Tell us below.

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 need writers to help come up with ideas and obviously, write pieces.

Next, try to define the behavior. Is the editor really bad at communicating in a quick and clear way? They may be busy and distracted which could explain why your email query or question hasn’t been answered. A quick and polite email saying, “Hey, I know you’re busy. I just wanted to check to see if you received my email, etc,” might help out the situation.

If it’s more serious – rude behavior, demeaning behavior or just plain old nastiness, then you need to decide if it’s something you can put up with or not. Honestly, sometimes you have to cut a publication loose. It takes a lot of gump sometimes to say enough, but when trouble is  outpacing the paycheck….

I write a lot here about what writers can do to become more professional, how they can make themselves indispensable to editors, but I would be remiss in not talking about times when there’s really nothing you can do with someone who is on a power trip.

Late pays, no pays, a billion rewrites, dismissive or rude comments…it all happens and the best thing you can do is remain professional and make a break for the hills.

So now it’s your turn – dish! What’s your favorite story of bad editor behavior?

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 the same article in a competitor’s magazine.

Over time, the lag time between article submission and approval or rejection has been cut dramatically with the use of email submissions. Now a writer can receive a yay or nay almost as soon as they send it out, which can be a bit disconcerting when it’s a nay, for some reason fast rejection stings a little bit more.

Alternatively, editors have begun to understand and receive more pushback from writers who don’t want to wait on a long approval process. So they have begun to accept simultaneous submissions as long as the piece hasn’t been submitted to a competing publication. So what should you do?

Ask.

I personally like to wait on acceptance or rejection when the publication explicitly requests no simultaneous submissions. However, I’ve talked with writers who incorporate their simultaneous submission request in their query letter. There are others still who just take a chance and submit regardless of publication preference or notification.

I don’t recommend the last course of action because should you happen to get accepted at competing publications you’ll have some awkward explaining to do.

Got an opinion or tip on simultaneous submissions? Tell us below!

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 risks looking to trends and future happenings and if you think you have a good beeline on a trend, go ahead and pitch it. Be prepared with great sources or a record of being an expert in the field to back up your pitch.

When pitching the general, look back at the last two years or more of seasonal information. This is a lot easier now with magazines putting much of their information online. A magazine isn’t going to put out the same topics every year at every holiday season. Even if summer articles always talk about sun safety, there’s something new offered each time, new products, latest research, etc. Think about a new angle, perspective or product debut you can add to your pitch.

Baby Talk magazine had a great article this month on sun safety for moms and talked to several moms who found out they had skin cancer. They talked to one mother about how she didn’t think she could get it because of her olive skin tone. The stories took a tried and true topic and made it interesting again.

There are many components to be a great freelance writer. Being able to anticipate is one of them. What trends are you recognizing in your niche or in an area you’re interested? What magazines would be receptive and why? How timely will the information be in six months? Answer these questions in your pitch and you may have yourself a winner!

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 and are waiting to see if it’s been picked up.

An email on the progress of the article is followed by more emails that sometimes relate or do not relate to the article, then comes a friend add on Facebook,  a follow on Twitter and the next thing you know you’re LOL -ing everything the poor editor posts.

It’s okay to add editors to your social networking life, particularly if you use them more for networking than posting about your bunions, but it’s another thing entirely if you are emailing the editor more often than their best friend. Editors can tell when you’re sucking up or when you’re a particularly needy writer. It’s just like a real relationship, no one really wants to start something up with a needy greedy.

And while it’s flattering to have ‘fans’ it get a little creepy or loses it’s ‘umph’ when everything an editor posts is retweeted, every email – even those who clearly need no response is responded to and every non-response is followed up with “Did you get that email?”

So before you send the email jokes and retweet or post to a Facebook page, think about the impression that you are giving. Are you just being friendly, responding to something truly interesting or have you developed an editor-crush? Sometimes there is no faster way to get ignored than to be that kid in the front row of class practically falling out of their seat yelling “Oooh, Oooh, pick me!” (I used to be one, I know!)

Ever wonder about a line of communication with an editor? Do you have questions on what’s okay to communicate about or simply want to have your FWJ friends analyze a editor/writer relationship? Post below and we’ll help!

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 a site the best thing a writer can do is save the file as a PDF file. Saving it as a PDF file maintains the look of the site and you are not at the mercy of the webmaster.

When your article appears in print you need to decide how you are going to maintain your clip file. Many writers make both color and black and white copies and keep the clips in flat folder. Other writers mount their clip copies on a sturdier paper for submission. Others still scan their articles and save them to be printed when needed.

Whatever your style, you need to develop a system. Save time with web articles and keep a list of links and the PDF versions easily accessible to cut down on the amount of time you spend Googling yourself  to do to find your clips. Keep your print article clips organized and in good condition – no one wants to look at a rumpled piece of paper in a submission packet.

Have you developed a clip system? Share your tips below!

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 – Dear Random Editor:

Caller You Say What? Questions About Queries

Query Tip: Date Your Publication

Query Challenge Update: Where are you now?

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 well and I received great feedback and other times I missed the mark with editors or readers asking the dreadful – “So what?”

As an editor, I’ve found sometimes not only do writers miss the mark on a query or an article, they completely blow past my audience toward another publication’s audience or worse a “general audience.” And as a reader, I’ve picked up my favorite mags or visited a favorite web site and wondered “Why in the world is this article here?” You know what it’s like, you read something and immediately say “Well they’re not talking to me! This is the type of article you’d see in (insert competing, less than ideal mag here).”

Nothing will earn you a kill fee or “WTF” comment faster than ignoring the publication’s audience. Your pitch may have been perfect, but between the pitch and the completed article there is plenty of room to stray into the dark world of “off message.”

To keep your work interesting, you should absolutely explore things that interest and excite you and while I’d never encourage you to presume to know more than an editor on what readers would be interested in, trying to stretch and bring something new or unexpected to a publication can be a good thing, the key is balance.

If a topic is not one traditionally covered in a publication, it’s important to find an angle that brings it back to the core audience. Fly fishing is not something you’d typically read about in Vogue, but if you had angled it toward the super luxurious camping experiences that were all the rage a few summers ago, you might have had a piece, especially if you could line up celebrity used services.

Make sure you always think of your audience. When you write pieces that touch people or encourage them to comment or send a letter to the editor, you solidify your work in an editor’s mind. Not a bad thing at all.

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!

“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 being passed around. Maybe it’ll find it’s way to the right spot. Maybe it’ll end up in the spam folder or under a pile of to-do’s on someone’s desk. By the time it reaches you though, you would have already assigned out the articles for that issue. Or when it does reach you, you’ll be annoyed by the “Dear Editor” and question my dedication to research. Sincerely, Freelance Writer”

One of the most important parts of a query is the editor’s name. Spell it wrong and you’re toast. Don’t bother to find it out and you’re lazy. Address it to the old editor or wrong section and you’re sloppy. It’s like the SATs, you get points just for getting the name correct.

Finding out which editor you should send a query to is as simple as picking up the phone or sending a short email. Checking the masthead is the first step, but think about when the magazine was sent to the publisher, a lot of things can change when you have such a long lead time. Suzy P. Editor or Dan Q. Writesalot may not be with the magazine may have been promoted or moved to a different area of the magazine.

It doesn’t have to be a long conversation or email. “I’m sending in a query on [subject] and I want to be sure I’m sending it to the correct person. I have [name & email addy or mailing add] is that correct? The person on the phone will be glad you checked and will give you the info you need. You may even get lucky enough to get the actual editor and they may ask for more info right then and there. Hello! Foot in the door!

Double check the spelling. Allyson, Allison, Alleson? If you can’t get their name right when asking for a job, an editor immediately wonders about what will be wrong with your article.

So what’s in a name? Everything. Get it right for query success!

How’s that query challenge coming? Anyone send out their queries? Any responses yet? Keep us in the loop!

]]> http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/12/query-challenge-dear-random-editor/feed/ 9 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/12/caller-you-say-what-questions-about-queries/ http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/12/caller-you-say-what-questions-about-queries/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:44:32 +0000 Terreece M. Clarke http://freelancewritinggigs.com/articlewriting/?p=130 [Read more…]]]> 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 to and the quotes I will be using in the article? I guess names and quotes do add some personality and interest and convince the editor that I actually am capable of doing the research…But currently I don’t have the sources or quotes, although I will be getting them before starting the article (If I get chosen to write!) So, is it ok to leave that part out in the query or should I first work on the sources and quotes?

Hi Rupa, thanks for the question. It’s not necessary to include exactly who you will interview. While yes, it does give the query an extra kick to list a respected expert or someone who’s recently published a book on the subject, it is also okay to list a general roster. “I will interview an expert in the field of origami as well as a member of the National Origami Organization,” one way to leave yourself open to some wiggle room.

Nina Says:

Hi Terreece,

This may be off topic. But I am looking for some answers. I am starting my query process, I have never been published in a print magazine. I have read that a great way to break into a magazine, would be to interview an expert. My issue is, how do you come up with questions that are news worthy? For example I want to query a magazine about a natural health supplement. How can I construct a solid interview? Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Nina! A great place to start would be to research current news on the health supplement. What do proponents of the supplement say about it? What about those who dispute its use? You can also think about it in terms of the magazine’s focus. For a parenting magazine you could interview an expert in natural medicine and its affects on pregnancy or use while breastfeeding, for a male fitness magazine the emphasis could be on performance enhancement – and I mean athletic, not the other kind, though if you find information on that it would be a good angle! Find an angle that appeals to your publication and construct an interview around the angle. Remember to be flexible during the interview because there are times you never know where the interview will take you.

Got a question about writing? Working on the query challenge & need some help? Email me or post your questions below!

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 have?
• What’s your editorial calendar like?
• How much do you pay?
• Do you offer kill fees?
• What about rights? Are you naughty – taking all rights or do you like first serial North American rights?
• Who edits each section?

After a lovely date in which you two had so much to talk about you should go home and decide if you think there’s a future there. Are you two compatible? Would the publication be interested in what you have to offer? Are you willing to take the next step and make your intentions know through a promise ring (query) in front of the folks (editors)?

Getting a good feel for the publication is one of the most important things a writer can do because editors can tell when a writer is comfortable with its audience. Nothing will sour the relationship more than a pitch that is completely out of sync with the audience and tone. It signals sloppy research and less than noble ideals. It’s like using your ex’s ring to propose to a new love – not cool.

How is the query challenge coming along? What steps have you taken to get started?

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 don’t have this or that to approach a publication or client. So ask yourself these things: “Do you have clips?”, “Do you have a great idea?” if no to those two, “Do you have the capacity to get those things?” Then do it.

Create writing samples, troll for great angles that fits your desired publication, eliminate excuses – which is what this is all about anyway. The holiday season is a great time to do this because many writers are slacking off, indeed many editors are too which means your query may sit longer, but that’s fine because you’ve got the holiday hubbub to distract you!

The query challenge is also designed to set you up for the upcoming year. You may not land all of three pubs, but it gives you a jumping off point and a place to refocus your energy.

So are you ready to take the challenge? Then publicly declare yourself. In the comments below, state you’re taking the challenge and if you’re comfortable telling us – declare the publications. Between now and Christmas we’re going to talk more about crafting queries, etc. and checking progress so sign up now!