10 Steps to a query Magazine

Introduction

There are two ways to submit to magazine editors.

One is to send the finished product without it being requested. This is indicated as an unsolicited manuscript. Most publishers do not like reading long codes, and many magazines specify that you do not accept unsolicited manuscripts which, when received, are sent to what is called the 'slush pile' and seldom are read.

Another more productively, to submit to magazines is to send a query letter, in which pitch your idea to the editor before actually writing the article.

A query letter is a sales pitch: your goal is to convince the editor that your article idea is of interest to its readers and that you are the best person to write it.

Query letters save time at all. In the time it would take you to write a complete article, you can write some letters of the few that query may result in more than one job. Query letters editors save time because there is no need to read lengthy manuscripts may not be suitable for their journals.

The query letters better your chances of working with the magazine that you want to write. 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 easy for publishers to offer suggestions for a concept proposal.

Even if your idea is not very suitable for the magazine, the editor may like the way you presented your idea and yourself, and may still be interested in working with you on a different assignment.

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

Your query letter is not the only one the editor will, so you need to do their best to make you stand 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 your memories in a positive way.

If your query letter is professionally written and attention-grabbing, even if your idea may not be quite right, the editor will mentally clock your name. If the query is accepted, and complete the task with a well written, well documented and error-free, she still remembers the most. And your next query will be displayed in a more favorable light. This means that a good query is often the beginning of a long-standing relationship between you and the editor.

If you send a professional, poorly written query, suggesting ideas that do not fit the magazine, the editor will remember, too. But now she remembers you in a negative way. The next time you send a query, you can just look in a hurry and put it in the trash. It may be closing the door on that magazine forever by sending a single query wrong. Are you sure you want to take that risk?

Nothing is guaranteed in life. Even a letter of request does not guarantee a perfect job. But if after 10 passages in this book, you'll have a much better chance of producing a professional letter query that is read and gets assignments.

Note: To avoid cumbersome writing as he / she and his / her, I took the liberty of referring to an editor as a 'she'.

Step 1: Get the right name

When you receive a letter addressing you as 'Dear Customer' or 'Dear Home Owner's', you feel the letter speaks directly to you?

Exactly.

It reads like junk mail that was sent to millions of other people, is not it? If you send an editor a letter addressing her as 'Dear Editor' or 'Dear Sir / Madam', you will have the impression that not much time and effort went into the query, and he was right.

If there's one thing all freelance writers should know, is that your article should be targeted specifically for a particular magazine. For your article to fit with the style and tone of the magazine, the editors are expected to read some issues of the publication.

A letter of queries that start with 'Dear Sir' says the editor that you have not had time to research publication. If you have not read the magazine, we know nothing of the public. And if you do not know who the audience is, as the editor of trust to provide an article that is suitable to the magazine? So, if you only do one thing to make your search more successful, get the name of the editor.

Publications often have the greatest variety of editors for different sections, and it is important to send your request to the correct person. When you receive a features editor of a story, she can not have the time or inclination to forward it to the short story editor, and your request will be read. So take some time to find out if you send your query to someone other than the main editor. You can usually find all the necessary information in the masthead.

If you do not want to spend money to buy all the magazines you want to write, go to a large newsstand or library and look up the names there, free. Another way is to call the writing and request the Secretary.

Keep in mind that magazine personnel changes regularly, so check that the name is still valid each time you send a query letter.

Make sure you mark the correct name of the editor. Some editors are mad to have their name spelled wrong. Also, if you can not get the details of his name right, because you trust her to get the details right article?

And 'acceptable to address the editor simply as' Dear John Doe' or 'Dear Jane Doe' rather than 'Dear Mr. Doe' or 'Dear Mrs. Doe'. Nowadays it is not always possible to tell the sex of someone by his name. In the case of women's editor, is particularly difficult to ascertain whether it is one, Miss Ms or Mrs.

Step 2: Know your audience

Imagine this scenario:

She is a 35-year-old career woman. You subscribe to a magazine called 'Women Today'. Like the magazine, because you feel that appeals to women like you. Address the needs of those who must juggle their roles as career women, wives and mothers. It offers fashion advice for the age group and a good tip for busy parents. He also inspired a short story in each issue.

Now this picture:

At the end of a busy day, after the kids went to bed and all the dishes were done, open the 'Women Today' and we hope you enjoy reading, only to discover that the magazine is now full of advice beauty for teenage girls; news about pop bands, tips on what to do on a first date, and the story went.

You would be forgiven for thinking that you brought the wrong magazine, and you would probably stop buying from now on and find another to fill the void.

Help readers away is the last thing I want to do editors. That's why most magazines stick to a tried and trusted formula that fits the targeted readers.

The moral of the story is that there is no point in presenting the wrong type of article ideas to editors. Your article may be well written, well designed and free of errors, but when it comes to teenage pregnancy, then there is going to be printed in a magazine for people over 50.

Similarly, article ideas about enjoying your life in retirement is unlikely to be accepted by the editors of magazines aimed at teenagers. Your ideas must be right for the magazines you're sending your questions to.

Please read at least two issues of the magazine to get the tone, style, and the average length of articles. Also in this case, use a library or a newspaper large if necessary.

Do not forget to watch the ads, which will tell you much about the recipients of the magazine. An article on trendy wine bar is unlikely to be of interest to a magazine lifts stairs.

Reading the magazine will also ensure that you are not trying to launch an idea that appeared in a recent issue.

Today many magazines publish their submission guidelines on their websites, so check these out first to get an idea about the type of articles they want. If you can not find the guidelines on the website, write to the editor with a SAE asking for writer guidelines. Most magazines will be happy to send you a copy.

The bottom line is, publishers only print what their readers want to read. So if you have an idea that appeals to the public a magazine that is also addressed to the editor. And the only way to find out what readers want is to read the magazine alone.

Step 3: A grand opening

Make your opening sentence work for you. Making attract attention and make it a masterpiece. Editors are busy people and have about 30 seconds to get their attention. If you begin your search with a statement boring, you will simply scan through your letter and move to the next. Do not give her an excuse to stop reading your letter. Present your idea in the letter as possible.

Your first sentence can be an intriguing question, an interesting fact, a quote from someone interviewed, an anecdote, a statistic, a riddle or game for your idea.

You should never start with the letter:

'Even though I have never been published before ...'

'I am a new member, but ...'

'My mother thinks that this idea should present article ...'

You get the drift. Comments like these scream amateurism. There are no publishers want to work with amateurs.

Step 4: Get to the point quickly

Do not stand too your welcome by waffling on about inappropriate personal data. Editors are not interested in the fact that it is difficult to find time to write as a mother of two children, for example.

Explain to the editor why your article idea is unique and as it is of interest to you and your readers. Include a provisional opening paragraph if possible, but only if you think that will capture the attention of the Director and make me want to know what comes next. Say how you get the information needed to write the article, for example, interviewing experts on the subject.

If you have not worked with the editor before, are brief details about yourself. If you have special qualifications to write on this particular item, be sure to let them know. For example, if you have a scientific degree and your article idea is to make science interesting to the general public, say so.

Indicate how long your item will be. Make sure this is in line with the average length of articles in the magazine. Make it clear to the Director that the length can be varied according to his needs.

Make your query a single A4 page. If you can condense your idea of ​​a single page, you need to work on it more to get more focused.

Do not include more than one idea in a query. The only exception is when you are sending fillers. Also in this case should be not more than 2 pages. Number the charges clearly.

Step 5: Be professional

Professionalism is the key to success. The quality of his writing is of course important, but so is the image you project as a professional writer.

Being a businessman. You may feel depressed for having received five rejections in one week, but do not pour your emotions. At this point, an editor is a potential customer, not a personal friend, although it may become so once you have worked with her on a regular basis.

If you can afford it, get a professional looking letterhead designed and printed on a printer. It should not be too expensive. If you own a laser printer, you can design a simple, elegant letterhead yourself on your computer. Make a minimum. Do not try to use all the available fonts and colors in a word processor, and resist the temptation to include silly clip-Arts letterhead. If you want to include graphics, get a professionally designed logo.

Include important details such as your name, postal address and e-mail address, telephone number and fax.

Do not expect the editor to pay for return shipping. If you want to get a reply, you must include an SAE.

Editors want articles that are well documented, no errors. If you run a query is full of errors, the editors question the ability to produce high quality items.

Do not rely on spell-checker only. Read query letters out loud, this makes it easier to spot spelling and grammatical errors. Get a friend or relative to proof-read your questions. Do not send them unless you know to be error free.

Step 6: to be concentrated

It is probably true that everything has been written about at least once. Your task is to find a new angle. Do you have something new to say on a topic? Or you can say something that's already been said in a new way?

Do not write to an editor to suggest that you want to write an article about cooking or dyslexia. This is too general. On the other hand, queries entitled 'Quick Mouth-watering recipes for busy moms' or '10 tell-tale signs of dyslexia in children "focus.

Editors, like ideas that are focused because they can see how and where the finished product fits into their journals. Make your request focused and editors will love you.

Many magazines have regular sections. If you can tell the director what section of the magazine is inserted in your article that much better. This tells the editor that you've studied the magazine, which will put you in his favor.

Step 7: Mail or e-mail but no phone

Before submitting this query, ensure that the delivery method is correct. Some magazines will not look queries e-mail, others insist on them. Do not query by telephone if you have not worked with an editor on some occasions and are sure that she does not care.

Enter the query using the wrong method once again shows that the editors have not spent time studying their publications and guidelines. This will put you on the possibility of jeopardizing the blacklist and the acceptance of future queries.

If you're querying via e-mail, it is best to paste the query in the body of the email rather than sending it in an attached document. This is because the attachments are known for spreading computer viruses, and publishers who have not worked with you before it will be unlikely to open an attachment from an unknown source.

Emails are great for keeping in touch with friends and family, and often adopt an informal tone in e-mail. When you send an editor, however, write it as you would a formal letter. Resist the temptation to use smilies ( ) or abbreviations commonly used on the Internet. Do not overdo the use of punctuation, like this! And DO NOT use ALL CAPITAL letters via e-mail. Makes it very difficult to read.

I would also advise against putting 'Query' the word in the subject line of your message. Editors are busy people. In a day when it is flooded with emails and letters, and face a period of two days away, it may well respond to this 'oh no another query' deleting without reading it.

Step 8: Clips or no clips

If you are a published writer, including a couple of your best clips with the query, but only if the clips are appropriate for the idea you're proposing. It makes little sense to send a clip on local history, if the query is about fine wines.

If you have never been published before, not to attract the attention of the Director of fact. If the only places that you have published local church newsletters or obscure websites with questionable character, it is better not mention them. It 's much better to simply present themselves professionally in your query letter. If you act like a professional, the editor will assume you are a professional and treat you like one. Let your letter requesting an irresistible and his professionalism speak for you.

Step 9: Learn from your waste

And 'waiting time once you've sent off the query. Unfortunately, editors are busy people and the wait time can vary from one week to three months.

If you have not heard the editor in four weeks, follow up with a polite letter or e-mail. If you have not heard anything after three months, assuming that it is a rejection and move on.

For new writers, waste can be soul destroying. Just when you feel more confident about your writing, get a rejection letter, leaving in doubt whether you are good enough to be a writer.

It 's important to realize that getting rejections is part of the life of a successful writer. It means you're making contact with the publishing industry. Do not leave garbage stop you from sending queries. Be persistent, be professional and you will be published.

While you should try not to let the refusal to go down, you should spend some 'time to analyze why your last query did not produce a positive response before submitting it again to another magazine. It was appropriate to publish? Have you started your search with an attention-grabber? Did you send the right person? You send in the post, when the magazine insists on submissions by email (or vice versa)? Did you include enough information for the editor to make a decision? Did you include a SAE?

Every rejection is a step forward in your career as a writer. Learn from them and use them to make your next query better.

Step 10: give 100%

Some authors, especially new writers, say that you should spend 'something right' their time writing rather than writing query letters. The problem is that, if not to write query letters, the 'correct writing' may not be published and read.

A query letter is a sales letter. To the editor, this is an indication of the quality and style of his writing. If she is impressed by what he reads in the query, you trust your ability to write the finished article.

Do not ever quit writing queries as a waste of time. For a writer, nothing written is ever wasted. Think of it as the gateway to your success as a freelance writer. Follow the procedure described in this book and give 100% every time you write a query letter. Now all you need are good ideas. But that's another story.

Happy editing!

----------

Appendix:

1. How not to write a letter of request

[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 could write an article for the magazine of your horses.

I have not read your magazine, but a friend suggested I write to you to see if you would be interested in my idea. I wrote a couple of items for the local community newsletter and my family and friends that my writing is not bad.

Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in my idea. I'll give you a call next week to discuss the details.

Emma Johnson

[No SAE attachment]

2. Example of a letter requesting professional

[Professional letterhead or contact information clearly printed]

October 20, 2002

Anne Smith

ABC Magazine

123 High Street

Another Town

Dear Anne Smith

What .. thing .. where a pa .. pa .. parent do if .. if .. if .. st a child .. started stammering?

Many simply keep your fingers crossed and hope that the child would 'grow out of it'. However, research shows that while most children are too large for this problem, some will develop persistent stuttering in later life.

Stuttering usually begins between ages 2 and 5, and early intervention is crucial in the prevention of developing a chronic problem. I am confident that your readers, many of whom are parents of 2 - 5 years, will be interested in a 1000 word article entitled 'Help! My child has Started Stuttering '. The article will be an excellent fit for Toddler Development section in your magazine.

I am a speech pathologist and I worked with children who stutter. I also interviewed two experts in this field to include the latest findings on childhood stuttering.

Thanks for taking the time to consider my idea. I enclose an SAE for the reply.

Sincerely

Emma Johnson