10 Tips on Querying Magazines and Websites

Flickr photo courtesy of Darren Hester

Some people hate writing query letters. I happen to enjoy it, because it reminds me of a first date. There's no commitment and no baggage, just the potential for something great. And if it's a new-to-me editor, then I'll up my game (and pray that they like me). It's the waiting for a phone call or email afterwards that makes me a little neurotic. I try not too get too attached to one idea, so I just keep writing more queries to stay busy. Here are my tips on querying.

1. Read the writer’s guidelines if they are available (you’ll often find them under “About Us,” “FAQ,” or “Site map”), but don’t limit yourself to publications that have guidelines posted online. If you can’t find guidelines online, you can email the editor or contact person listed to find out if they work with freelance writers.
2. Do a quick search to make sure that the site hasn’t covered the topic recently. Many sites have a built in search function. You can also search within any domain using Google. Type in “article topic” site:domain.com and Google will pull up any pages on that site that include your article topic anywhere on the page. Try a few different variations of your topic’s keywords to cover your bases.
3. Research the publication and read previous articles. Know what types of topics they cover and where your idea might fit in. That way you’ve tipped off your editor that you know the publication and can (presumably) write in their format and style.
4. Write an interesting intro. “I’d like to write an article about X” probably won’t excite your editor. Craft your lead as if you were writing the actual article and want to grab your reader’s attention. Then explain why the topic is relevant those readers now.
5. Play up your expertise relating to your topic. If you don’t have any writing clips yet, don’t mention it in your query. You can find other ways to play up your background without admitting that you’re a newbie. For instance, “as a former nurse, I am well versed in healthcare issues such as...” Or, “Sibling rivalry is a topic that I’m intimately familiar with thanks to my three children.”
6. Use links to your writing samples instead of sending them as attachments (unless the guidelines specifically request attachments). Sometimes attachments get caught in spam filters, and many editors are leery of getting a virus from a writer they don’t know.
7. Always, always proofread before you hit send. Some editors will overlook a typo here or there if it’s a well-written, well thought out query, but major mistakes could send the message that you’re a sloppy writer (especially if you misspell the editor’s name!). Don’t rely on spell check.
8. Use an eye-catching subject line, but leave out words that scream SPAM! (For instance, “free” is a tip-off to a lot of spam filters and “I love you” was the subject line for a notorious email virus.) I often use this formula - Query: Name of Proposed Article. Then when I follow-up, I replace “query” with “follow-up.”
9. Follow-up. The timing of your follow-up will depend on the nature of the publication. If the writer’s guidelines say you should wait six weeks, then wait six weeks. If it’s a time-sensitive topic, you can follow-up sooner. When in doubt, I usually wait about three or four weeks, then resend with a short note reiterating my interest.
10. Send another pitch right away if the editor rejects your idea but encourages you to send more pitches. Persistence pays.