10 Steps to a Magazine Query

Introduction				If you haven't worked with the editor before,
There are two ways to submit to magazine				include brief information about yourself. If you
editors.				have special qualifications to write about this
One is to send the finished article without it being				particular article, make sure you let her know. For
requested. This is referred to as an unsolicited				example, if you have a science degree and your
manuscript. Most editors dislike reading lengthy				article idea is about making science interesting to
manuscripts, and many magazines specify that				the general public, then say so.
they do not accept unsolicited manuscripts which,				Indicate how long your article will be. Make sure
when received, are consigned to what's called the				this is in line with the average length of similar
'slush pile' and seldom get read.				articles in the magazine. Make it clear to the editor
Another, more productive way, to submit to				that the length can be varied to suit her needs.
magazines is to send a query letter, in which you				Make your query a single A4 page. If you can't
pitch your idea to the editor before actually				condense your idea on one page, you need to
writing the article.				work on it more to get it more focused.
A query letter is a sales pitch: your goal is to				Don't include more than one idea in a query. The
convince the editor that your article idea is of				only exception is when you're sending fillers. Even
interest to her readers and that you are the best				then it should be no more than 2 pages. Number
person to write it.				your fillers clearly.
Query letters save everybody time. In the time				Step 5: Be professional
that would have taken you to write a full article,				Professionalism is the key to success. The quality
you can write a few query letters which may				of your writing is of course important, but so is
result in more than one assignment. Query letters				the image you project as a professional writer.
save editors' time because they don't have to				Be businesslike. You may be feeling despondent
read lengthy manuscripts which may not be				about having received five rejections in a week,
suitable for their magazines.				but don't spill your emotions. At this point, an
Query letters better your chances of working				editor is a potential client, not a personal friend,
with the magazine you want to write for. Editors				although she may become so once you have
are usually reluctant to ask for a rewrite or				worked with her on a regular basis.
suggest substantial changes to a finished piece.				If you can afford it, get a professional-looking
Query letters, on the other hand, make it easy				letterhead designed and printed at a printer. It
for editors to offer suggestions to a proposed				need not be too expensive. If you own a laser
idea.				printer, you can design a simple, elegant letterhead
Even if your idea is not quite suitable for the				yourself on your computer. Make it minimal. Don't
magazine, the editor may like the way you've				try to use all the available fonts and colours in
presented your idea and yourself and may still be				your word processor, and resist the temptation
interested in working with you on a different				to include silly clip-arts in your letterhead. If you
assignment.				want to include graphics, get a logo designed
I hope by now you are convinced that query				professionally.
letters are essential to breaking into the writing				Include essential details such as your name, postal
industry, especially if you are just starting out. So				and email addresses, telephone and fax number.
it's well worth the time and effort to compose an				Don't expect the editor to pay for return
irresistible letter that makes the editor want to				postage. If you want to get a reply, you must
see more of your writing.				include an SAE.
Your query letter is not the only one the editor				Editors want articles that are well-researched and
will see, so you must do your best to make				error-free. If you query is full of mistakes, editors
yours stand out from the crowd and get noticed.				will doubt your ability to produce high-quality
A single query letter can make or break your				articles.
success as a writer. Editors remember names.				Don't rely on spell-checkers solely. Read your
Make sure they remember yours in a positive				query letters out loud; this makes it easier to
way.				spot spelling and grammatical errors. Get a friend
If your query letter is professionally written and				or relative to proof-read your queries. Don't send
attention-grabbing, even if your idea may not be				them out unless you know they're error-free.
quite right, the editor will mentally clock your				Step 6: Be focused
name. If your query is accepted, and you				It is probably true that everything has been
complete your assignment with a well-written,				written about at least once. Your task is to find a
well-researched and error-free article, she'll				new angle. Do you have something new to say
remember you even more. And your next query				about your topic? Or can you say something
will be viewed in a more favourable light. This				that's already been said in a new way?
means that a good query is often the beginning				Don't write to an editor suggesting you want to
of a long-standing relationship between you and				write an article about cooking or dyslexia. This is
the editor.				too generic. On the other hand, queries entitled
If you send an unprofessional, poorly-written				'Quick Mouth-watering Recipes for Busy Mums' or
query, suggesting ideas which do not fit the				'10 tell-tale signs of dyslexia in children' are
magazine, the editor will remember you, too. But				focused.
now she remembers you in a negative way. The				Editors like ideas that are focused because they
next time you send her a query, she may just				can picture how and where the finished articles will
quickly glance at it and put it in the bin. You may				fit into their magazines. Make your query focused
be closing the door to that magazine forever by				and editors will love you.
sending a single bad query. Do you really want to				Many magazines have regular sections. If you can
take that risk?				indicate to the editor which section of the
Nothing is guaranteed in life. Even a perfect query				magazine your article will fit into then all the
letter does not guarantee an assignment. But if				better. This tells the editor that you have studied
you following the 10 steps outlined in this book,				the magazine, which will put your in her favour.
you will stand a much better chance of producing				Step 7: Mail or email, but no phone
a professional query letter that gets read and				Before you send out your query, check that your
gets assignments.				submission method is correct. Some magazines
Note: To avoid cumbersome writing such as he				will not look at email queries, others insist on
she and his/her, I have taken the liberty to refer				them. Do not query by telephone unless you have
to an editor as a 'she'.				worked with an editor on a few occasions and
Step 1: Get the name right				are sure that she doesn't mind.
When you receive a letter addressing you as				Sending your query via the wrong method once
'Dear Customer' or 'Dear Home Owner', do you				again shows the editor that you have not spent
feel the letter is talking to you directly?				time studying their publications and guidelines. This
Exactly.				will put you on the blacklist and jeopardise
It reads like junk mail that has been sent to				chances of acceptance of your future queries.
millions of other people, doesn't it? If you send an				If you're querying by email, it is best to paste
editor a letter addressing her as 'Dear Editor' or				your query into the body of the email, rather
'Dear Sir / Madam', she will get the impression				than sending it as an attached document. This is
that not much time and effort has gone into the				because attachments are notorious for spreading
query, and she'd be right.				computer viruses, and editors who have not
If there's one thing all freelance writers should				worked with you before will be unlikely to open
know, it is that your article must be targeted				an attachment from an unknown source.
specifically for a particular magazine. In order for				Emails are great for keeping in touch with friends
your article to fit in with the style and tone of the				and family, and we often adopt an informal tone
magazine, the editor will expect you to have read				in emails. When you email an editor, however,
a few issues of the publication.				write it as you would a formal letter. Resist the
A query letter beginning with 'Dear Sir' tells the				temptation to use smilies ( ) or
editor that you have not taken the time to				abbreviations commonly used on the internet.
research the publication. If you haven't read the				Don't over-use punctuation marks, like this!!!!!!! AND
magazine, you won't know anything about the				DON'T USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IN YOUR
audience. And if you don't know who the audience				EMAIL. IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ.
is, how can the editor trust you to deliver an				I would also advice against putting the word
article that is suited to the magazine? So, if you				'Query' in the subject line of your email. Editors
only do one thing to make your query stand a				are busy people. On a day when she is inundated
better chance of success, get the editor's name.				with emails and letters, and faced with a deadline
Larger publications often have different editors				two days away, she may well respond to that 'oh
for different sections, and it's important to send				no another query' by deleting it without reading it.
your query to the right person. When a features				Step 8: Clips, or no clips
editor receives a short story, she may not have				If you're a published writer, include a couple of
the time or inclination to forward it to the short				your best clips with the query, but only if the clips
story editor, and your query will be unread. So				are appropriate to the idea you're proposing.
take some time to find out if you need to send				There is little point in sending a clip on local history
your query to somebody other than the main				if your query is about fine wines.
editor. You can usually find all the information you				If you've never been published before, don't draw
need in the masthead.				the editor's attention to the fact. If the only
If you don't want to spend money buying every				places you've been published are local church
magazine you want to write for, go to a large				newsletters or obscure websites with dubious
newsagent or the library and look up the names				reputation, it's best not to mention them. It's
there at leisure. Another way is to ring up the				much better to simply present yourself in a
editorial office and ask the secretary.				professional manner in your query letter. If you
Bear in mind that magazine personnel changes				act like a pro, the editor will assume you're a pro
regularly, so check that the name is still valid				and will treat you as one. Let your irresistible
every time you send a query letter.				query letter and its professionalism speak for you.
Make sure you spell the editor's name correctly.				Step 9: Learn from your rejections
Some editors are mad about having their names				It's waiting time once you've sent your query off.
spelt wrong. Besides, if you can't get the details				Unfortunately editors are busy people and the
of her name right, why should she trust you to				waiting time can range from a week to three
get the details of the article right?				months.
It is acceptable to address the editor simply as				If you haven't heard from the editor in four
'Dear John Doe' or 'Dear Jane Doe' rather than				weeks, follow it up with a polite letter or email. If
'Dear Mr Doe' or 'Dear Ms Doe'. Nowadays it's not				you still haven't heard anything after three
always possible to tell someone's gender by his or				months, assume it's a rejection and move on.
her name. In the case of women editor, it is				For new writers, rejections can be soul-destroying.
particularly difficult to ascertain if she is a Miss, Ms				Just when you are feeling more confident about
or Mrs.				your writing, along comes a rejection letter,
Step 2: Know your audience				leaving you in doubt as to whether you are good
Imagine this scenario:				enough to be a writer.
You are a 35-year-old career woman. You				It's important to realise that getting rejections is
subscribe to a magazine called 'Women Today'.				part of a successful writer's life. It means that
You like the magazine because you feel that it				you're making contact with the publishing world.
caters for women like you. It addresses the				Don't let rejections stop you from sending out
needs of those who have to juggle between their				more queries. Be persistent, be professional and
roles as career women, wives and mothers. It				you will get published.
offers fashion tips for your age group and good				While you must try not to let the rejection get
advice for busy parents. It also has an inspirational				you down, you should spend some time analysing
short story in each issue.				why your last query has not produced a positive
Now image this:				response before re-submitting it to another
At the end of a busy day, after the children have				magazine. Was it appropriate to the publication?
gone to bed and all the dishes have been done,				Did you start your query with an
you open your 'Women Today' and look forward				attention-grabber? Did you send it to the right
to a good read, only to find that the magazine is				person? Did you send it in the post when the
now full of beauty tips for teenage girls; news				magazine insists on email submissions (or vice
about pop bands; advice on what to do on a first				versa)? Did you include enough information for the
date; and the short story is gone.				editor to make a decision? Did you include an
You would be forgiven for thinking that you've				SAE?
brought the wrong magazine, and you'd probably				Every rejection is one step forward in your
stop buying it from now on and look for another				writing career. Learn from them and use them to
one to fill the void.				make your next query better.
Driving readers away is the last thing editors want				Step 10: Give it 100%
to do. That's why most magazines stick to a				Some writers, especially new writers, argue that
tried-and-trusted formula that suits the targeted				they should be spending their time writing
readers.				'something proper' rather than writing query
The moral of the story is that there is no point in				letters. The trouble is, if you don't write query
submitting the wrong type of article ideas to				letters, your 'proper writing' may never be
editors. Your article may be beautifully written,				published and be read.
well-researched and error free, but if it's about				A query letter is a sales letter. To the editor, it is
teenage pregnancy then it's not going to get				an indication of the quality and style of your
printed in a magazine for the over-50s.				writing. If she is impressed with what she reads in
Likewise, article ideas about enjoying one's life in				your query, she'll trust your ability to write the
retirement are unlikely to be accepted by editors				finished article.
of magazines targeted at teenagers. Your ideas				Don't ever dismiss writing queries as a waste of
must be right for the magazines you're sending				time. To a writer, nothing written is ever wasted.
your queries to.				Think of it as the gateway to your success as a
You should read at least two issues of the				freelance writer. Follow the steps outlined in this
magazine to get to know the tone, style and the				book and give it 100% every time you write a
average length of the articles. Again, use a library				query letter. Now all you need are good ideas. But
or a large newsagent if you need to.				that's another story.
Don't forget to look at the advertisements, which				Happy writing!
will tell you a lot about the magazine's intended				Appendix:
audience. An article about trendy wine bars is				1. How not to write a query letter
unlikely to be of interest to a magazine				[No Date]
advertising stair lifts.				[Do return address and contact details]
Reading the magazine will also ensure that you're				ABC Magazine
not trying to pitch an idea that has appeared in a				123 High Street
recent issue.				Another Town
Many magazines now publish their submission				Dear Mrs Smith
guidelines on their websites, so check these out				I have never written to an editor before, but I
first to get an idea about the kind of articles they				have a wonderful article idea about horses. I
want. If you can't find guidelines on the website,				started riding since I was a child, so I thought I
write to the editorial office with an SAE asking for				could write an article for your magazine about
writer's guidelines. Most magazines will be happy to				horses.
send you a copy.				I haven't read your magazine but a friend
The bottom line is, editors only print what their				suggested I should write to you to see if you'd
readers want to read. So if you have an idea that				be interested in my idea. I have written a couple
appeals to a magazine's audience, it will also appeal				of items for the local community newsletter and
to the editor. And the only way to find out what				my family and friends think my writing is not bad.
the readers want is to read the magazine				Please let me know as soon as possible if you are
yourself.				interested in my idea. I will give you a call next
Step 3: A grand opening				week to discuss the details.
Make your opening sentence work for you. Make				Emma Johnson
it attention-grabbing and make it a masterpiece.				[no SAE enclosed]
Editors are busy people and you have about 30				2. Example of a professional query letter
seconds to get their attention. If you begin your				[Professional letterhead, or clearly printed contact
query with a boring statement, she will simply				details]
scan through your letter and move on to the				20 October 2002
next one. Don't give her any excuse to stop				Anne Smith
reading your letter. Present your idea as early in				ABC Magazine
the letter as possible.				123 High Street
Your first sentence can be an intriguing question,				Another Town
an interesting fact, a quote from someone you				Dear Anne Smith
interviewed, an anecdote, a statistic, a riddle or a				What.. what.. should a pa.. pa.. parent do if.. if.. if.. a
joke appropriate to your idea.				child st.. started stammering?
Don't ever begin your letter with:				Many would simply keep their fingers crossed and
'Although I have never been published before ...'				hope that the child would 'grow out of it'.
'I'm new to writing but ...'				However, research shows that while most
'My mother thinks I should submit this article idea				children do outgrow this problem, some will
...'				develop persistent stammering into later life.
You get the drift. Comments like these scream				Stammering usually begins between the ages 2
amateurism. No editors want to work with				and 5, and early intervention is vital in preventing
amateurs.				it from developing into a chronic problem. I am
Step 4: Get to the point quickly				confident that your readers, a large number of
Don't over-stay your welcome by waffling on				whom are parents of 2- to 5-year-olds, will be
about inappropriate personal details. Editors are				interested in a 1000-word article entitled 'Help! My
not interested in the fact that you struggle to find				Child Has Started Stammering'. The article will be
time to write as a mother-of-two, for example.				an excellent fit for the Toddler Development
Explain to the editor why your article idea is				section in your magazine.
unique and how it is of interest to her and her				I am a speech therapist and have worked with
readers. Include a provisional opening paragraph if				children who stammer. I will also interview two
possible, but only if you think it will grab the				experts in this field to include the latest findings on
editor's attention and make her want to know				childhood stammering.
what comes next. Say how you will get the				Thank you for taking the time to consider my
information required to write the article; for				idea. I enclose an SAE for your response.
example, by interviewing experts on the topic.

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10 Steps to a Magazine Query