How to Craft a Winning Query Letter

After a recent move to my old collegiate stomping grounds in Boston, I decided to take the proverbial leap of faith and try to work as a full-time freelance writer. Has it been easy? No. Would I recommend the freelance life to someone who wanted the freedom to write without being strapped to your humdrum desk job? Absolutely.

As a former arts & entertainment editor, I have years of experience receiving article pitches--both compelling and not so compelling--and I've been able to see first hand what works ... and definitely what doesn't work.

Here's my advice for the freelance novice looking to get their foot in the door.

1). Tailor your query letter to the publication you're pitching.

Before you even attempt to write an article pitch to a magazine or newspaper, read as many back issues of the pub you can find. It's your job to know the magazine's departments -- and whether or not their actually looking for freelance writers to fill their pages.

Most publications have Submission Guidelines posted on their Web site. If you can't find writer's guidelines, check out "The American Directory Of Writer's Guidelines: A Compilation Of Information For Freelancers From More Than 1,400 Magazine Editors And Book Publishers collaboratively compiled by Brigitte M. Phillips, Susan D. Klassen, and Doris Hall." The periodical gathers together a massive host of submission guidelines that freelance writers can follow to get their work published in more than 1,000 magazines and 400 book publishers across America.

2). Correctly address your query.

There's nothing more undesirable than misspelling an editor's name when pitching a feature. Check the magazine's masthead and search for the appropriate contact. From my experience, you need to aim for either the features editor or an associate editor--not the editor-in-chief or publisher.

If you're still not sure, call the periodical directly. You're a reporter right? Usually, an editorial assistant or receptionist will have all of the information you need to pitch the correct person. Also, remember to ask if the editor prefers e-mail or snail-mail pitches.

3). The first-sentence grab.

Similar to the feature you plan to write, you need to grab the reader's attention (in this case, it's an editor) within the first sentence. Make sure your opening captures the tone of the magazine without deviating from the crux of what the article is about. Also, never write in the passive voice. Always use present tense with as much detail--or color--as possible.

4). What are you writing about?

The second paragraph--or what I call the nutgraph--should go in detail about the topic you plan to explore. Most editors prefer that you have an angle to the story that fits within their publication's style and voice.

Check to make sure the publication hasn't featured your proposed topic in the past. If they've already written about your subject, find a fresh hook that will make your story pop--with a topical angle that works.

5.) Where does the article fit into the magazine--and how long?

When writing a query, it's important to have a section of the magazine in mind before pitching. For example, I recently did a profile on a first-time author. The piece could have worked either as a FOB (front of the book) or as a long-format piece in the back of the magazine. I felt like the feature would be more effective as a longer profile--and I proposed a 1,000 word feature as opposed to a 400 word FOB story.

6). Plug your past credentials.

In the final paragraph of your pitch, you need to let the editor know why you're the perfect person to write the proposed feature. Do you have regular contact with the person you're interviewing? Have you written a similar feature in the past?

With your pitch package, you'll need to include two to five articles from your arsenal of online clips. Choose features that are similar to the subject you're proposing. Also, I would recommend including your Associated Content profile at the end to give the editor an idea of your writing range.

7). Here's an example of a winning query.

I recently pitched a story to The Advocate on first-time author Johnny Diaz. The pitch resulted in a 1,000 exclusive published on Advocate.com.

Dear (A&E editor of The Advocate):

In Boston Boys Club, first-time novelist Johnny Diaz follows a trio of friends as they search for that perfect guy at the most happening bar in Boston, Club Café.

Diaz, a staff writer for The Boston Globe and former reporter for The Miami Herald, is probably best known as Dan's boyfriend from MTV's Real World: Miami.His book is scheduled for national release on Tuesday, April 24.

For the 1,000 word feature I'm proposing for The Advocate's "Culture" section," I plan to explore the real-life Boston locales/events that inspired the 33-year-old writer.

What interested me about Sex and the City is how the sights and sounds of Manhattan are just as much of a character as Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte. In Boston Boys Club, Diaz manages to weave real Boston locales within a fictional account.

In my initial interview with Diaz, he explains: "I describe the book as a Same-Sex and the City because men and women of various backgrounds related to that show, even though it was about four straight women and their search for Mr. Right. I hope that readers who pick up Boston Boys Club will relate to one of the characters, even if they are gay or Hispanic."

Currently, I'm a full-time freelance writer based in Somerville, MA. However, I just finished a four-year stint with The Independent News in Northwest Florida as their A&E editor where I also acted as a regional stringer for The New York Times. My previous works have appeared in Newsweek, Seventeen and The Improper Bostonian.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Sam Baltrusis
(My phone number)

RELATED CLIPS:

Drunk in public with Ron White
http://www.inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=307

Confessions of a Claymate wannabe
http://www.inweekly.net/article.asp?artID=2176

Stephen King's wife spins spooky yarn
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/181382/ghost_writer_stephen_kings_wife_spins.html

My Associated Content page
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/61789/sam_baltrusis.html

8). Here's the finished article.
http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid44221.asp

9). Always follow-up with your editor.

After the piece is published, thank the editor for accepting your work. This is also a great time to have another query ready to send to the publication.

10). Got it? Now start writing.