10 Steps to a Magazine Query

Introduction

There are two ways to submit to magazine editors.

One is to send the finished article without it being requested. That is known as an unsolicited manuscript. Most editors dislike reading lengthy manuscripts, and several magazines specify that they usually do not accept unsolicited manuscripts which, when received, are consigned to what's called the 'slush pile' and seldom get read.

Another, more productive way, to submit to magazines is to send a query letter, where you pitch your idea to the editor before actually writing the article.

A query letter is really a sales page: your goal is to convince the editor that your article idea is of interest to her readers and that you are the best person to create it.

Query letters save everybody time. In enough time that would took you to write a full article, you can write several query letters which might result in more than one assignment. Query letters save editors' time because they don't have to read lengthy manuscripts which may not be ideal for their magazines.

Query letters better your chances of working with the magazine you need to write for. Editors are usually reluctant to ask for a rewrite or suggest substantial changes to a finished piece. Query letters, on the other hand, make it possible for editors to offer suggestions to a proposed idea.

Even if your idea isn't quite ideal for the magazine, the editor may like the way you've presented your idea and yourself and could still be thinking about working with you on another assignment.

I hope by now you are convinced that query letters are essential to breaking into the writing industry, especially if you are just starting out. So it's well worth the effort and time to compose an irresistible letter which makes the editor desire to see more of your writing.

Your query letter is not the only person the editor will dsicover, so you should do your best to make yours stick out from the crowd and get noticed. A single query letter can make or break your success as a writer. Editors remember names. Make sure they remember yours in a confident way.

If your query letter is professionally written and attention-grabbing, even if your idea is probably not quite right, the editor will mentally clock your name. If your query is accepted, and you also complete your assignment with a well-written, well-researched and error-free article, she'll remember you even more. And check here will undoubtedly be viewed in a far more favourable light. This means that a good query is often the start of a long-standing relationship between you and the editor.

In the event that you send an unprofessional, poorly-written query, suggesting ideas which usually do not fit the magazine, the editor will remember you, too. But now she remembers you in a poor way. The next time you send her a query, she may just quickly glance at it and put it in the bin. You may be closing the door compared to that magazine forever by sending a single bad query. You don't desire to take that risk?

There is nothing guaranteed in life. A good perfect query letter will not guarantee an assignment. But in the event that you following 10 steps outlined in this book, you'll stand a far greater chance of producing a professional query letter that gets read and gets assignments.

Note: To avoid cumbersome writing such as he/she and his/her, I have taken the liberty to make reference to an editor as a 'she'.

Step 1 1: Get the name right

When you get a letter addressing you as 'Dear Customer' or 'Dear Home Owner', can you have the letter is talking to you directly?

Exactly.

It reads like junk mail that has been delivered to millions of other people, doesn't it? If you send an editor a letter addressing her as 'Dear Editor' or 'Dear Sir / Madam', she will obtain the impression that very little time and effort has gone in to the query, and she'd be right.

If there's a very important factor all freelance writers ought to know, it is your article must be targeted specifically for a particular magazine. In order for your article to fit in with the style and tone of the magazine, the editor will expect you to have read a few issues of the publication.

A query letter beginning with 'Dear Sir' tells the editor which you have not taken enough time to research the publication. If you haven't read the magazine, you won't know any thing about the audience. And when you don't know who the audience is, how can the editor trust one to deliver an article that is suitable for the magazine? So, if you only do one thing to create your query stand an improved chance of success, get the editor's name.

Larger publications frequently have different editors for different sections, and it's really vital that you send your query to the right person. When a features editor receives a short story, she might not have the time or inclination to forward it to the short story editor, as well as your query will be unread. So take some time to learn if you must send your query to somebody apart from the main editor. You can usually find all the details you will need in the masthead.

If you don't want to spend cash buying every magazine you need to write for, visit a large newsagent or the library and appearance up the names there at leisure. Another way is to ring up the editorial office and have the secretary.

Be aware that magazine personnel changes regularly, so check that the name continues to be valid each and every time you send a query letter.

Be sure to spell the editor's name correctly. Some editors are mad about having their names spelt wrong. Besides, if you can't get the information on her name right, why should she trust one to get the details of the article right?

It is acceptable to address the editor simply as 'Dear John Doe' or 'Dear Jane Doe' rather than 'Dear Mr Doe' or 'Dear Ms Doe'. Nowadays it isn't always possible to tell someone's gender by their name. Regarding women editor, it is particularly difficult to ascertain if she actually is a Miss, Ms or Mrs.

Step two 2: Know your audience

Imagine this scenario:

You're a 35-year-old career woman. You sign up to a magazine called 'Women Today'. You prefer the magazine because you feel that it attracts women as if you. It addresses the requirements of those who have to juggle between their roles as career women, wives and mothers. It includes fashion tips for your age group and advice for busy parents. In addition, it has an inspirational short story in each issue.

Now image this:

By the end of a busy day, after the children have attended bed and all the dishes have been done, you open your 'Women Today' and look forward to a good read, only to find that the magazine is now full of beauty strategies for teenage girls; news about pop bands; advice on how to proceed on an initial date; and the short story is fully gone.

You'd be forgiven for convinced that you've brought the wrong magazine, and you'd probably stop buying it from now on and look for another one to fill the void.

Driving readers away is the last thing editors want to do. That's why most magazines adhere to a tried-and-trusted formula that suits the targeted readers.

The moral of the story is that there is absolutely no point in submitting the incorrect type of article suggestions to editors. Your article could be beautifully written, well-researched and error free, but if it's about teenage pregnancy then it's not going to get printed in a magazine for the over-50s.

Likewise, article ideas about enjoying one's life in retirement are unlikely to be accepted by editors of magazines targeted at teenagers. Your ideas should be right for the magazines you're sending your queries to.

You should read at the very least two issues of the magazine to access know the tone, style and the average length of the articles. Again, use a library or perhaps a large newsagent if you need to.

Don't forget to look at the advertisements, which will let you know a lot concerning the magazine's intended audience. An article about trendy wine bars is unlikely to be of interest to a magazine advertising stair lifts.

Reading the magazine will also ensure that you're not trying to pitch a concept that has appeared in a recent issue.

Many magazines now publish their submission guidelines on the websites, so check these out first to get an idea concerning the kind of articles they want. If you cannot find guidelines on the website, write to the editorial office having an SAE asking for writer's guidelines. Most magazines will be happy to send you a copy.

The end result is, editors only print what their readers desire to read. If you have a good idea that appeals to a magazine's audience, it will appeal to the editor. And the only path to discover what the readers want would be to browse the magazine yourself.

Step three 3: A grand opening

Make your opening sentence work for you. Make it attention-grabbing and ensure it is a masterpiece. Editors are busy people and you have about 30 seconds to get their attention. If you begin your query with a boring statement, she will simply scan during your letter and get to another one. Don't give her any excuse to avoid reading your letter. Present your idea as early in the letter as you possibly can.

Your first sentence can be an intriguing question, an interesting fact, a quote from someone you interviewed, an anecdote, a statistic, a riddle or perhaps a joke appropriate to your idea.

Don't ever begin your letter with:

'Although I've never been published before ...'

'I'm not used to writing but ...'

'My mother thinks I will submit this short article idea ...'

You obtain the drift. Comments like these scream amateurism. No editors want to work with amateurs.

Step 4 4: Reach the point quickly

Don't over-stay your welcome by waffling on about inappropriate personal details. Editors are not interested in the fact that you battle to find time to write as a mother-of-two, for example.

Show the editor why your article idea is exclusive and how it is of interest to her and her readers. Add a provisional opening paragraph when possible, but only if you think it will grab the editor's attention and make her need to know what comes next. Say the method that you will get the information required to write this article; for instance, by interviewing experts on this issue.

If you haven't caused the editor before, include brief information regarding yourself. If you have special qualifications to create concerning this particular article, ensure you let her know. For instance, in case you have a science degree as well as your article idea is approximately making science interesting to the general public, then say so.

Indicate just how long your article will undoubtedly be. Make sure this is good average length of similar articles in the magazine. Make it clear to the editor that the distance can be varied to suit her needs.

Make your query an individual A4 page. If Deficient Customer Care can't condense your idea on one page, you should focus on it more to get it more focused.

Don't include multiple idea in a query. The only exception is if you are sending fillers. Even then it should be only 2 pages. Number your fillers clearly.

Step 5: Be professional

Professionalism may be the key to success. The caliber of your writing is needless to say important, but so may be the image you project as a specialist writer.

Be businesslike. You may well be feeling despondent about having received five rejections in a week, but don't spill your emotions. At this point, an editor is really a potential client, not just a personal friend, although she could become so once you have worked with her regularly.

When you can afford it, get yourself a professional-looking letterhead designed and printed at a printer. It do not need to be too expensive. In the event that you own a laser printer, you can design a simple, elegant letterhead yourself on your computer. Make it minimal. Don't try to use all of the available fonts and colours in your word processor, and resist the temptation to include silly clip-arts in your letterhead. If you need to include graphics, get yourself a logo designed professionally.

Include essential details such as for example your name, postal and email addresses, telephone and fax number.

Don't expect the editor to cover return postage. If you need to get a reply, you need to include an SAE.

Editors want articles that are well-researched and error-free. If you query is full of mistakes, editors will doubt your capability to produce high-quality articles.

Don't depend on spell-checkers solely. Read your query letters out loud; this makes it easier to spot spelling and grammatical errors. Get a friend or in accordance with proof-read your queries. Don't send them out if you don't know they're error-free.

Step 6: Be focused

It really is probably true that everything has been written about at least one time. Your task is to find a new angle. Are you experiencing something not used to say about your topic? Or can you say something that's recently been said in a fresh way?

Don't write to an editor suggesting you need to write articles about cooking or dyslexia. That is too generic. However, queries entitled 'Quick Mouth-watering Recipes for Busy Mums' or '10 tell-tale signs of dyslexia in children' are focused.

Editors like ideas that are focused because they can picture how and where in fact the finished articles will match their magazines. Make your query focused and editors will like you.

Many magazines have regular sections. If you can indicate to the editor which section of the magazine your article will match then all the better. This tells the editor which you have studied the magazine, which will put your in her favour.

Step 7: Mail or email, but no phone

Before you send out your query, be sure your submission method is correct. Some magazines won't look at email queries, others insist on them. Do not query by telephone unless you have worked having an editor on a few occasions and are sure that she doesn't mind.

Sending your query via the incorrect method once more shows the editor which you have not spent time studying their publications and guidelines. This can put you on the blacklist and jeopardise likelihood of acceptance of your future queries.

If you're querying by email, it is advisable to paste your query in to the body of the e-mail, rather than sending it being an attached document. The reason being attachments are notorious for spreading computer viruses, and editors who've not worked with you before will undoubtedly be unlikely to open an attachment from an unknown source.

Emails are great for keeping touching friends and family, and we often adopt a casual tone in emails. Once you email an editor, however, write it as you'll a formal letter. Resist the temptation to use smilies (? ?) or abbreviations commonly used online. Don't over-use punctuation marks, such as this!!!!!!! AND DO NOT USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IN YOUR EMAIL. IT CREATES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ.

I would also advice against putting the word 'Query' in the topic type of your email. Editors are busy people. On a day when she actually is inundated with emails and letters, and faced with a deadline two days away, she may react to that 'oh no another query' by deleting it without reading it.

Step 8: Clips, or no clips

If you're a published writer, add a couple of your very best clips with the query, but only when the clips are appropriate to the theory you're proposing. There is little point in sending a clip on local history if your query is about fine wines.

If you've never been published before, don't draw the editor's focus on the fact. If the only real places you've been published are local church newsletters or obscure websites with dubious reputation, it's best not to mention them. It's far better to simply present yourself in a professional manner in your query letter. If you act like an expert, the editor will assume you're a pro and will treat you as you. Let your irresistible query letter and its own professionalism speak for you.

Step 9: Study from your rejections

It's waiting time once you've sent your query off. Unfortunately editors are busy people and the waiting time can range between a week to 90 days.

In the event that you haven't heard from the editor in four weeks, abide by it up with a polite letter or email. In the event that you still haven't heard anything after three months, assume it is a rejection and move on.

For new writers, rejections could be soul-destroying. Just if you are feeling more confident about your writing, along comes a rejection letter, leaving you in doubt as to whether you are good enough to become a writer.

It is important to realise that getting rejections is section of an effective writer's life. It means that you're making contact with the publishing world. Don't allow rejections stop you from sending out more queries. Be persistent, be professional and you may get published.

While you must try not to let the rejection get you down, you should spend time analysing why your last query has not produced a positive response before re-submitting it to some other magazine. Was it appropriate to the publication? Did you start your query having an attention-grabber? Did you send it to the right person? Did you send it in the post when the magazine insists on email submissions (or vice versa)? Did you include enough information for the editor to produce a decision? Did read more include an SAE?

Every rejection is one step of progress in your writing career. Study from them and utilize them to make your next query better.

Step 10: Give it 100%

Some writers, especially new writers, argue that they ought to be spending their time writing 'something proper' instead of writing query letters. The difficulty is, if you don't write query letters, your 'proper writing' may never be published and be read.

A query letter is really a sales letter. To the editor, it is an indication of the product quality and style of your writing. If she is impressed with what she reads in your query, she'll trust your capability to write the finished article.

Don't ever dismiss writing queries as a waste of time. To a writer, nothing written is ever wasted. Think about it because the gateway to your success as a freelance writer. Follow the steps outlined in this book and present it 100% each time you write a query letter. Now all you need are good ideas. But that's another story.

Happy writing!

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Appendix:

1. How never to write a query letter

[No Date]

[Do return address and contact details]

ABC Magazine

123 High Street

Another Town

Dear Mrs Smith

I have never written to an editor before, but I have a wonderful article idea about horses. I started riding since I was a child, so I thought I possibly could write an article for the magazine about horses.

I haven't read your magazine but a friend suggested I should write for you to see if you'd be interested in my idea. I've written several items for the local community newsletter and my family and friends think my writing isn't bad.

Please let me know as quickly as possible if you are interested in my idea. I am going to offer you a call next week to go over the details.

Emma Johnson

[no SAE enclosed]

2. Example of a professional query letter

[Professional letterhead, or clearly printed contact details]

20 October 2002

Anne Smith

ABC Magazine

123 High Street

Another Town

Dear Anne Smith

What.. what.. should a pa.. pa.. parent do if.. if.. if.. a kid st.. started stammering?

Many would simply keep their fingers crossed and hope that the child would 'grow out of it'. However, research shows that some children do outgrow this problem, some will develop persistent stammering into later life.

Stammering usually begins between your ages 2 and 5, and early intervention is essential in preventing it from developing right into a chronic problem. I'm confident your readers, numerous whom are parents of 2- to 5-year-olds, will undoubtedly be thinking about a 1000-word article entitled 'Help! My Child Has Started Stammering'. The article will be an excellent fit for the Toddler Development section in your magazine.

I'm a speech therapist and also have worked with children who stammer. I will also interview two experts in this field to add the most recent findings on childhood stammering.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my idea. I enclose an SAE for your response.

Yours sincerely

Emma Johnson

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