Nuts & Bolts
Business of Freelancing
Crack the Nationals: How to Write Query Letters that Get Results
By Kelly James-Enger, Special to Washington Writer
Six and a half years ago, I quit my fulltime job as a lawyer to become
a full-time freelance writer. I had no experience, no journalism background
and no contacts. Since then, I have written for more than 40 national
magazines. What is the key to my success? I learned to write solid, well-researched
query letters.
Pick up the Phone
Magazine editors come, go and change positions, titles and responsibilities
with alarming speed. Do not rely on published guidelines to find the
appropriate editor. Pick up the phone and ask. Knowing the current
editor’s name will ensure that your query makes its way to the
right person.
Understand the Market
Although editors at national magazines receive hundreds of queries
every week, the competition for assignments is not as bad as you might
think. At least 80% of the queries submitted do not target the magazine’s
readership. Pitching an idea that will interest readers is half the battle.
Demonstrate Familiarity
Once you have pitched an idea that is perfect for the publication,
cite a certain section of the publication by writing something such as: “You
might be interested in this idea for your ‘Healthy Woman’ section.” Prove
that you are not just another writer trolling through Writer’s
Market for a quick sale. You want the editor to know that you have
done your homework.
Make the Editor’s Job Easy
When I pitch a story, I suggest possible sidebars, quizzes, resource
boxes and other pieces to complement the main article. I let the editor
know whom I plan to interview and suggest a word count. If she likes
my idea and my angle, all she has to do is pick up the phone and assign
the piece.
Think Small
If you do not have experience writing for national magazines, you
may find that editors are wary of working with you. Pitching shorter
pieces is a great way to get your foot in the door. It gives you the
opportunity to prove yourself before pitching longer assignments.
Catch the Editor’s Attention
I started my first queries with language such as: “I am a freelance
writer who is interested in writing for your magazine.” Not exactly
compelling stuff. Now I start my queries with a lead—usually the
lead I will use for the article itself. You want to grab your editor’s
attention the same way you want to grab your reader’s attention.
Make it Look Good
Print out your query and read it aloud before you submit it. You
will catch more errors this way. Remember, your query is the most important
writing sample you will submit to an editor.
Use a Template
While there is no “magic” query letter, using a similar
structure every time makes it easier to write your queries. I use a four-paragraph
format. The first paragraph is the lead, designed to catch the editor’s
attention. The second is the “why-write-it” paragraph, in which
I briefly explain the appeal of the story. The third is the “nuts-and-bolts” paragraph,
and includes information about whom I plan to interview, suggested word
count, appropriate section of the magazine, possible sidebars and the
like. The final paragraph is the “I-am-so-great” paragraph.
This paragraph highlights why I should write the piece.
Strut Your Stuff
In the final paragraph of your query, highlight your relevant writing
experiences and demonstrate to the editor that you are “uniquely
qualified” to write this article. You want her to read your query
and think: “Wow! I may not know this person, but the writer sounds
like just the person to write this piece for me!”
Do not Give Up!
It often takes time to break into national magazines. When you get
a rejection (what I call a “bong”), follow up immediately with
a new query. Start by writing: “Thank you for your response to my
query about [fill-in-the-blank]. While I am sorry you cannot use it at
this time, I have another idea for you to consider.” By including
a new query, you will prove that you are persistent and professional—and
eventually nail an assignment.
Sample Query Letter
Mr. John Hogan
Editor in Chief
Pages
5880 Oberlin Drive
San Diego, CA 92121
Dear Mr. Hogan:
You have written your first book—a novel, perhaps, or a work
of nonfiction. In search of a potential publisher, you pore through
books such as Writers Market to find the perfect match. There are hundreds
of publishers listed, but did you realize that many of the different
houses and imprints are subsidiaries of the same corporations? In fact,
according to Guerrilla Marketing for Writers, six conglomerates currently
dominate English-language publishing: AOL Time Warner; Bertelsmann;
Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation; Pearson; Viacom; and Dieter
Von Hotlzbrinck.
Is the move toward conglomeration good news or bad news for first-time
authors? Are there fewer chances for success with the larger houses
or are smaller houses picking up the slack? How does this affect how
authors pitch and present their work? “Under the Umbrella: What
Mega-Publishers Mean for First-time Authors” will explore this
trend and report on how it affects authors and what changes writers
may expect in the future. The article will include interviews with
publishing industry experts. While I estimate 1,500 words for the piece,
the length can be tailored to fit your needs.
Are you interested in this topic as a feature for Pages? I am a full-time
freelancer whose articles have appeared in magazines such as The Writer,
Writer’s Digest, Redbook, Marie Claire, Woman’s Day, Self,
Shape, Parents, Fitness, E-merging Business and Chamber Executive.
I have written for over 40 publications, with my focus on the areas
of health, fitness, diet/nutrition, bridal/relationships and writing-related
articles. Clips are enclosed.
Let me know if you have any questions about this idea or have other
pieces for which I might be right. I will follow up on this query in
a couple of weeks.
Have a great August!
Best,
Kelly James-Enger
Six and a half years ago, Kelly James-Enger quit her fulltime job as
a lawyer to become a fulltime freelance writer. She had no experience,
no journalism background and no contacts. Since then, she has written
for more than 40 national magazines. What is the key to her success?
Learning to write solid, well-researched query letters, she said. You
can do the same. |