By Lanee’ Blunt
It is a challenge to get a
feature article sold to a magazine publisher. Decide what is important to you,
is it seeing your by-line or is it making money? Writers are required to write query letters
before sending a manuscript to a publisher. When writing a non-fiction article
never send the publisher a completed manuscript on speculation.
A query letter is a detailed
one page proposal of what you intend to write.
Demonstrate to the editor that you are a professional and you are able
to focus on tight writing in your query. Write a business letter single spaced,
double space between paragraphs and don’t indent your paragraphs. “A longtime
rule for query letters is: Keep it to one page. That’s still a good rule.
Without it, writers might assume they have carte blanche to write a
novella—which, given the chance, many would do.” According to John Wood’s book, How to Write Attention-Grabbing Query & Cover Letters.
Read the last six copies of
the magazine. Read every article and
note which articles are like the one you want to write. Usually if your article
is too close or the same idea it generally will be turned down. Send the editor
a query letter with a fresh idea or approach to an old idea.
The great thing about querying
is that you don’t have to spend hours writing an article that will never sell
because you don’t have to write the story until it is requested.
Reference
How to Write Attention
Grabbing Query & Cover Letters; John Wood; Writer’s Digest
