Friday Speak Out!: Pitching That First Article

by Judith Docken

In launching my freelancing career, I found that the biggest hurdle I needed to get over was pitching an article to a publication. I have been spending a lot of time learning how to do this, but eventually I needed to take the chance and put that learning into practice.

I want to share how I finally took that chance and pitched my first article.

Through a search on a freelance writer’s job board, allindiewriters.com, I found a link to a publication that deals with environmental issues. It sparked my interest and I checked out their submission guidelines. It was totally within my capability, so I started researching ideas that would be a good fit for the publication.

Here is the exact process I followed:

1. Once I found the publication’s website, I looked through it and read over their submission guidelines. I also read some of the articles on the website to get a feel of their “tone” and focus.

2. Since this publication deals with the environment, I pulled up a search of current environmental issues. From this search, I jotted down some angles I could take on a few specific subjects relating to those key issues.

3. Out of these six ideas, I picked one, researched some facts, narrowed down my topic, and created a list of sources that I could draw on.

4. One thing I wanted to include in my proposed article was an interview or quote from an expert on the subject. I sent emails to the “Contact Us” link in a couple of my source websites, requesting an opportunity to conduct a short email interview.

5. Then I wrote my query, pulling all these pieces together.

a). I opened the query with an attention-grabbing key fact about my subject.

b). I followed with a paragraph addressing my subject.

c). I listed a few detailed facts relating to my subject.

d). Next I stated what my proposed article would be about, the proposed title of my article and how many words it would be.

e). Then I referenced another article on the website that was similar, but stated clearly what the angle of my article would be and why it would be a good fit for the publication.

f). I then added a “call to action”, by letting them know when I could get the article draft to them.

g). Next, I told them a bit about myself and added a link to my website.

h). I also added a bulleted list of other article ideas I want to pitch to the publication.

i). Finally, I added links to two other articles I have published, as samples of my work.

j). I thanked them for their time and signed off, again adding links to my email and website.

Having a template takes the guess-work out of pitching an article, and helps me craft my pitch specifically for a publication.

Hopefully this template can help you, too.

* * *

Judith Docken is a freelance writer, author and blogger. She has published gardening articles in SF Gate and Modern Mom online magazines and was published in an anthology of Canadian short stories called That Golden Summer by Polar Expressions Publishing. She is also a contributing writer and photographer for her community newsletter, The Bowest’ner. Her debut novel, Ghosted: A Novel of Life, Love and Moving On is set in her home town of Calgary, Alberta, in Canada, where she lives with two of her three sons, two black cats and many plants.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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3 comments article writing, freelance advice, Friday Speak Out, Judith Docken, pitching editors, querying, steps to publication, tips for writers

You Don’t Have to Be the Best Writer to Get the Best Job

It doesn’t matter if you write the most intriguing query letter and it doesn’t matter if you write the perfect article if you’re making any one of the mistakes I’m about to share with you.

The hard truth is, the best writers don’t necessarily get the best writing jobs.

The best writers don’t necessarily get any jobs. Talent alone will not get you hired.

Depending on how you feel about your own writing skills, reading that might have made you feel better or worse. But whether you believe writing skills are the product of inherent talent or years of practice, there are simple steps you can take to ensure you score regular gigs. These steps really don’t have anything to do with talent, but they do indicate whether you are a professional.

As a managing editor of a major website, I look for professionals. Typos, misspellings, factual errors, and sloppy writing are all hallmarks of unprofessionalism. You don’t want that label.

You want to be the opposite of that. You want to stand out from the crowd because you do care and you do comb through every detail of your work. Remember, an editor is typically overworked and overwhelmed. He or she is likely primarily looking for a reason to delete emails, and secondarily looking for quality materials.

So, here are six things you should look for in your article, manuscript, pitch, or query before you hit the send button. These might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how often I see them in my inbox. And let’s be real, we all know we’ve committed at least a couple of these.

1. Spelling – Misspellings are an instant reason for an editor to hit “delete.” Keep an eye out especially for things that spellcheckers won’t recognize, such as “their” instead of “there.”

2. Adjectives and adverbs – These should not be the heart of your writing. Superfluous use of them is the sign of an immature writer (in years or in experience). Delete as many as you can.

3. Grammar – I don’t expect all writers to be grammar nerds, but I do expect them to have a general understanding of their craft. Look for non-sequiturs and noun-verb agreement in particular.

4. Repetition - Repetitive use of the same word is another sign of either a young writer or someone who hasn’t reread and refined her draft. If you see the same word popping up, it’s time to bust out your thesaurus.

5. Clichés – By definition, clichés bring nothing new to your work. Delete them all.

6. Incorrect clichés – It is not a “mute point” and there’s no such thing as “intensive purposes.”

Aside from all that technical stuff, there’s another level editors look for in potential writers. They look for people they actually want to work with. People they might even enjoy working with. This is something you should seek out, as well, because if someone enjoys working with you, he or she may hire you again.

When selecting writers, I look at three qualities (I didn’t come up with these, they came from reading many business books):

1. Does the person turn her work in on time?
2. Is she pleasant to work with?
3. Is she skilled at writing?

“Yes” answers to any two out of those three will result in a positive and productive situation for both the writer and me. So, first, get your article, manuscript, pitch, or query in tip-top shape by rereading and checking it against the list above. And then be punctual, pleasant, and good at what you do.

If you can handle that on top of having an excellent query letter and article, then you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with a small percentage of capable people any editor would be eager to hire.

***

Becca Borawski Jenkins is the Managing Editor of a major health and fitness website—a job she earned based on the success of her personal blogging. As the editor of BreakingMuscle.com she oversees a team of writers and editors, publishing 24 high-quality articles per week to an audience of almost 5 million readers each month.

Though she was born with the instinct to write, as a teenager she decided that a career in film and television would be more “practical” (don’t ask her the logic behind that). But even while studying filmmaking, she excelled as a writer, having a play produced in undergrad and a script turned into a short film in graduate school. While earning her MFA in Cinema-Television Production at USC, she focused mainly on scriptwriting and editing—both core elements of good story telling and fantastic ways to study story structure.

You can find out more about Becca by visiting her website: writing.huntgatherbrew.com

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Join Becca's upcoming online class, 

How to Write Meaningful Content for the Internet. 

Visit our classroom page for details and enrollment.

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1 comment Becca Jenkins, best writer, freelance writing, manuscripts, online class, pitching editors, query letters, WOW class, writing jobs, writing skills

Localize Writing and Cash In

Dreaming of your big break? Waiting to see your byline in The New York Tmes or Washington Post? Maybe seeing your name grace the pages of Cosmo or Ladies’ Home Journal or Sports Illustrated keeps you motivated.

Until you break into those national markets, smart writers localize and cash in.

Think regional publications, local websites, area newspapers.

I was lucky. When I began freelancing full-time, I broke into a national sports and fitness magazine. Within two months of my initial conversation with the editor-in-chief, I received contracts for three feature pieces.

And, I received payment up front.

At the same time, I knew if I wanted my writing career to grow, I would have to work hard and find other publications to supplement my income.

Besides, it never hurts to have a steady income stream.

How did localizing help?

I landed a steady gig at a regional newspaper, a state-wide magazine publishes a couple of my articles each year, and I launched a newspaper column geared to small weekly newspapers.

Don’t overlook the neighborhood newspaper or budding website promoting a local business. You can snag local writing gigs by keeping these points in mind.

• Develop your expertise. I’m a history nut and I enjoy current events. I’ve parlayed my interests into multiple magazine and newspaper articles, photo layouts, blogging gigs, and website writing.
• Establish relationships. So, you don’t know the editor of the local press? Go introduce yourself! Network!  I didn’t know the editor or staff of a regional magazine, but once I pitched a story and spoke with him on the phone, I made a point to learn the hierarchy of their editorial staff. Now I know not to send a query to the assistant editor. I would not have know that if I hadn’t taken a vested interest. 
• Fine-tune your pitch.  Don’t count out any ideas. A friend who is an avid reader landed a book column in a local newspaper! One trick that helped land a steady assignment was analyzing what was covered in-house and what work was farmed out to freelancers. Once you see what needs a publication has, you can adapt your platform to fit their needs.

I still haven’t ended up in The New York Times or the Washington Post, but I will eventually. Each article I investigate for a local market builds my resume and adds exemplary clips to my portfolio.

What local markets have you pitched?

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at her website. Graphic by LuAnn.

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Leave a Comment expertise, local, local stories, localize, LuAnn Schindler, networking, personal experience, pitching editors, regional markets

The Basics For Novice Writers: The DON'TS In Article Querying

Happy Saturday, everyone! I really wanted to do a post for all of you novice writers out there working so hard to get your fabulous articles and stories noticed. It can be a very tough and frustrating road, can't it? I totally understand.

Not too long ago, I was right where you are frantically trying to get just one editor to take notice of my article and story ideas. Each rejection had me beating myself, wondering whether I was kidding myself of 'making it' as a writer. I kept every rejection letter--both paper and email versions. I know it seemed like I was just pouring salt on the wounds but, in the end, it proved to be one of the best things I've done.

You see, many editors will give you a reason your piece or idea was rejected--at least that's what I was lucky enough to have experienced. Alot of times, it isn't because your writing sucked but more because there wasn't room for the piece or they've covered the idea recently or it doesn't fit in to a particular theme they're going with. I always tucked away any tidbits of advice I was given so I could improve my querying skills (because it is a skill!). Another thing their advice gave me was the ability to look at my rejected offer with a magnify glass to see other possible reasons for it being turned down. And that's what we'll talk about today: The DON'Ts in article querying.

We talk about these periodically here on WOW but I felt it was a good time to bring it up again. We often put out all the 'Do's' to follow but you need to understand those Don'ts too. That way you can side-step all the things editors find most annoying and avoid having your idea turfed right into the rejection bin. These are just a few things I've learned (the hard way):

DON'T query about subject matter the publication doesn't cover. No matter how good your idea or your writing is that would be an instant rejection. Follow the publication's Writers' Guidelines to the letter.

DON'T call the editor by his or her first name unless you know him or her personally. It's a business relationship so unless they put that option out there, always address the person as "Miss", "Mrs." or "Mr." so-and-so. And, while we're on the subject, be sure that you address the person by the correct GENDER. There are many unisex names out there (eg: Jamie, Jordan, Jody, etc.) take the time to investigate whether you're addressing your letter to a male or female. Some editors don't have a great sense of humor about that sort of thing.

DON'T go longer than one page. You should be able to get a good hook in, a short description of your idea and your brief qualifications/contact information in one page. If not, you may not be completely certain about your idea.

DON'T send that letter off without checking it over completely. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, punctuation, and sentences that go on and on. And DON'T rely on spell check to catch everything. As you all know, some words can be spelled right but aren't the right word for what you want to say.

DON'T be over-casual in your email pitch. A business letter is the same no matter how it's sent so always be professional.

DON'T indicate you have no experience if you have none. For some places this doesn't matter but for others it does so no need to bring it up in your pitch. If they ask about it later, you can answer honestly but don't give that up from the get-go. You should be confident enough in your idea and your writing to sell it. Yes, there are some places who say they won't accept work from writers with no experience but if you have an excellent idea and present it strongly enough, you could get your chance.

On the other hand, DON'T, go on and on about your experience either. That can be annoying prattling on about every project you've ever done, especially if alot of it has nothing to do with what you're trying to pitch. Keep it down to a bear minimum or summarize your work as best as you can.

DON'T follow up on your pitch too soon. Most places will indicate in their guidelines how long they take to review and get back to you or if they even will get back to you. Some places state clearly that if you don't hear from them within a specific time frame, to assume your idea wasn't accepted. Editors don't have time to respond to every query or give each of us an answer to, "Why?". Just go ahead and pitch to the next editor on your list!

DON'T pitch more than one idea at a time. Give the editor a chance to read and consider one idea before suggesting another. But DON'T keep firing ideas at the same editor. This will only lead to you being blocked and you don't want to create a bad reputation for yourself before you even get your foot in the door! Unless the editor invites you to try again, don't. Or at least wait awhile before trying again.

And above all else, DON'T give up. Just because your idea doesn't work for one editor doesn't mean it won't for another. If I'd given up, I wouldn't be where I am today. Learn what you can from those rejection letters, absorb knowledge from those editors willing to share their pearls with you and thicken up that skin! The world of article writing is tough but there's enough room for all of us. Keep your dream alive!

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3 comments article writing, article writing do's and don'ts, pitching editors

Pitching to Agents and Editors at a Writing Conference

In my last post, I talked about some things I learned at the Missouri Writers' Guild conference when attending a workshop with best-selling romance author Bobbi Smith. Today's post is going to be more about my conference experience, and I'm going to focus on what I learned when I had pitch sessions with literary agents Kristin Nelson and Joanna Stampfel-Volpe (pictured on the left). So, here we go:

1. Introduce yourself and your work: The first thing you want to do when you go into a pitch session is introduce yourself and your work. You don't need to give the agent/editor a bio or have a chat. Just give your name and information about your project. For example: "My name is Margo Dill. I have a 68,000-word young adult contemporary novel titled Caught Between Two Curses, and it's finished." You probably have a time limit for this pitch session, so don't tell any extra information about yourself until you get your pitch out. You can always go back and fill in the gaps later if you have time.
2. Practice a clear, concise synopsis of your work: Some professionals say you should be able to get the main plot of your story down to one sentence. Others say three or five. The point is you should be able to tell the agent/editor your short synopsis easily and quickly. And practice! Practice! Practice! I practiced exactly what I wanted to say in the shower and in the car. Here's what I think I said (I was nervous, you know) at my pitch session about my novel: "Julie Nigelson is 17 years old and caught between two curses--one on her family by a woman her grandmother knew and the other--the famous curse on the Chicago Cubs. The curse on her family affects the men by killing them before their 35th birthday. Julie must race to find the answer to breaking both curses before it's too late for her uncle like it was for her dad. In the meantime, she deals with her own love life issues with a boyfriend who is pressuring her to have sex and her own worries that the curse will get the guy she loves, too."
   
3. Try NOT to use notes: Some agents/editors won't care if you have notes that you refer to--they know you're nervous. But you should know your own work well enough when you are pitching that you don't actually need notes. Don't type up a pitch and read it. Talk about your work from your heart. Remember, agents and editors are just people. Sure, they can make your dreams come true. But you know your work and you can talk about it--really. If you're nervous, you might just sound really excited about your book. And that's not a bad thing.
   

At every pitch session I've been to, the agent or editor was extremely nice. Once I finished with my pitch, they asked me questions about the book, my career, and so on. If you already have a book published even in a different genre, mention it to the agent or editor at the end of your pitch session if it didn't come up in the conversation. I have a book under contract that hasn't been published yet, and I let the agent know after she said she would like to see some of my YA novel.

In WOW!'s May issue (which will be up soon), you can find out more about going to conferences and what to expect with my photo essay.

Happy pitching!
Margo L. Dill,
http://margodill.com/blog/

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2 comments Margo L. Dill, pitching agents, pitching editors, writing conference

How To Pitch in 30-Seconds or Less

"Hi, my name is Angela Mackintosh. I'm an award-winning painter, and once lived in a commune where I shared a single shower with over fifty neurotic artists, whose exploits I describe in my book Secrets of Salon-Style Living. I'm seeking an agent for this collection of humorous essays and would like 30 seconds of your time to tell you about it. Is this a good time to talk?"

I just pitched you, and if I'd really written that book, it would probably be a good one. I haven't though, and made that up as an example...although, I did live in an artist commune where I shared a shower and bathroom with fifty people from all walks of life! This was a long time ago, and I was in my twenties. Thinking about it now, it could be a good book!

A well-rehearsed pitch can be used for a variety of purposes:

• Pitching an editor or agent a story idea, column, or book.
• Selling a product, advertising, or service.
• Networking at a conference or event where there is limited time.
• Promoting any-and-every thing.

Whatever you want to use it for, make sure that you have the follow-through to back it up, or you'll be wasting your time. The beauty about sound bites is you can create a variety of them for any purpose, and by rehearsing, you'll never be at a loss for words on the phone or in person. It makes for a powerful introduction. So, how do we do this?

Capture the listener’s attention...fast

1. Start with who you are: state your name and job title, or what you are seeking. "Hi, my name is Debbie Dogwalker, and I'm a professional dog walker who writes reviews of dog parks in the city."

2. Tell them what you want: state what you’re after. "I'm interested in placing some of my articles with your magazine, Dog Owner's Digest."

3. Let them know why you're the best choice: list any writing credentials, experience, degrees, and training that relate to your topic. "I've owned a dog walking business for over ten years, and have written articles for Dog Lover magazine, Pet Pride, and blog daily on my personal blog, Dog Days." Whatever you do, make sure the qualifications listed match your intended goals. Don’t write about how you won first prize in the chili cook-off, unless it's making chili for dogs...not hot dogs. Remember to keep it brief and memorable. Emphasize your specialties.

4. Action: be specific and tell them exactly what you want. Just go for it! "I'd like to show you some of the articles I've written for consideration in becoming a regular contributor to your magazine." There, you said it. Exhale. The call to action is what leads to further interaction.

30-second pitches, otherwise known as sound-bites, are easy to craft, and you can create a variety of them for different purposes: writer's conferences, phone pitches, query letters, job interviews, networking--anywhere you need to present yourself quickly and concisely.

You may cringe at the fact that you're selling yourself like a commercial, but believe me, it's more effective than stumbling over your words! So that's why it's important to rehearse and perfect your words by saying them out loud first. Your listeners will be impressed, and you'll have the confidence to sell yourself, or your product, with little effort.

Give it a try! Happy pitching. :)

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1 comment pitching agents, pitching editors, self-promotion, sound bites