Workshops
Write Winning Query Letters
By Melissa Dittmann, WIW Member
Freelance writers Janine Latus and Jim Morrison shared
their years of experience at the March 15 “How to Write Query Letters” Workshop.
Latus has written for several in flight and women’s magazines,
such as More, Woman’s Day and Family Circle. Morrison has been
published in such markets as the New York Times, the Wall
Street Journal and Smithsonian.
Before you write a query letter, you need a great idea, such as a creative
twist on an old story, a timely news peg or an interesting profile of
a person or place. After all, Morrison noted, “If you waste an
editor’s time, the next time that editor will not give your query
the time of day.”
The Homework
This is the best way to prepare for writing successful query letters:
Keep track of your ideas
Morrison uses MicroLogic’s InfoSelect computer program to electronically
keep track of story ideas that he finds in press releases or newspapers.
Latus collects her ideas in file folders and divides them into categories,
such as health or the environment. “Ideas are your currency,” said
Morrison. Keep track of them so you always have ideas to pitch.
Set aside query time
Morrison devotes his Fridays to writing queries each week He’s
always scouting out more assignments and has about 12 to 15 queries out
at any given time.
Read the publication
Analyze the magazine or newspaper for its writing style and tone, how
your idea would fit in the publication and whether anything on the topic
has appeared in the publication recently.
Query the right person
Look at the publication’s masthead for a list of editors. The best
approach: Call the publication’s main number, mention that you
have a story idea and ask to whom your letter should be sent. E-mail
address are often given, which is how Morrison and Latus said they send
queries.
The Query Letter
Now that you’ve done your homework, you’re ready for the
query letter. Morrison and Latus offered the following advice:
Introduction
Use an introduction similar to a lead in a story. It should be interesting
and to the point—something that will hook the editor.
Paragraph one
Explain why your topic is important. Be brief.
Paragraph two
Show that you have done your homework. Mention why the article is a good
fit for the publication and the section in which the article could appear.
Closing
End with a wrap-up about your qualifications and why you are the best
person to write such an article.
Name drop
If you have an “in” with the publication, use it. That’s
the best way to break in. Just don’t use someone’s name without
asking first.
Send ideas separately
Don’t pitch multiple story ideas in one letter. If an editor doesn’t
like one idea, he or she may discard the other ideas without considering
them.
Simultaneous submissions
If you’re trying to survive as a freelance writer, you have to
send queries with similar ideas to multiple publications. Avoid doing
this to editors you know or with whom you frequently work. If you haven’t
heard back from an editor, try a follow-up call or e-mail to check on
the status before you send your letter to other publications.
E-mail your letter
Editors are more likely to read and respond to e-mail. Don’t send
attachments.
Be persistent
If your query gets rejected, tailor and send it to another publication.
Make sure you can always use a story idea for more than one publication
so the time you spend researching and writing the query letter is worth
it.
Accept rejection
Morrison was rejected 12 times from one major magazine before he landed
a job on the 13th query. He still writes for it today. “Everybody
gets rejected,” Morrison said, “but you have to keep sending
them out.”
When you do land that big assignment, Latus told writers to remember
that the editor is not doing you a favor by giving you a story assignment. “You
are a good writer and you sold an article to them,” she said. “You
are doing them a favor.”
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