Selling Articles

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

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Examples of Writing Query Letters

By Lanee’ Blunt

A query letter is a detailed one page proposal of what you are intending to write. 

When writing a non-fiction article never send the publisher a completed manuscript on speculation.  They are only going to accept a query letter from you and if you send them your completed manuscript they will just put it back in the package and send it back to you rejected.  The editor has to get a query letter.

Write the editors name and address in the upper left hand corner of the letter.  Drop down two lines where you will write a subject line followed by a colon. Write the name of the story.

Make the query letter interesting.   Express the freshness of your idea in the query. State what the research is and how you will use it in the story. Make the query interesting as if a sample of what the article is going to be. You are only selling an idea.

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Make sure that on your query you know the editor’s name, and what type of stories that she buys.  If you don’t know the editor’s name write story editor.

Your query letter should be one page.  Keep at least 10 queries in the mail until you receive a go-ahead.  Give the editor a chance to decide if they want you to write the article before sending it to another editor. Send a different query to each magazine you can not send out simultaneous queries of the same article. If you receive a rejection send that query to another publisher on your market list. Include a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) so you can receive an answer to your query letter. Send a SASE with all of your query letters.

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Writing a Query Letter

By Lanee’ Blunt

Most new writers believe that once an editor sees their story, then a query letter is not necessary. That’s simply not true.  It sometimes seems impossible for a new writer to break into one of the major magazine markets. If you want to sell your article to a publisher you must have a query letter.  Your query letter is all that an editor sees so gain their confidence by writing a good query and then write an excellent article.

The purpose of the query is to sell the idea to the editor about your manuscript. Make the query letter interesting by doing a small amount of research.  If you were to write the whole article you would have a lot of research, but with the query your research will be minimum. Express the freshness of your idea in the query.

Editors want to know if you can write and if you have what it takes to get the facts, whether you are reliable, and can meet a deadline.  A new writer may not have published credits, and that is only a minor problem, because you can tell the editor about how you’re qualified for writing the article. In the query tell the editor what you will provide and where you will get your sources.

Demonstrate your excellent writing skills.  Avoid typo’s and grammar mistakes.  Rewrite your query letter making sure that you have a tight letter to send to the magazine.  Make sure that you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your query (SASE).

Reference:

Gordon Burgett; Sell & Resell Your Magazine Articles; Writer’s Digest

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Writing a Query Letter for an Article

By Lanee’ Blunt

Writing query letters is important to learn and master. They are important because they keep you out of the slush pile. One advantage of using the query letter is that it takes your manuscript from unsolicited to solicit. You don’t have to write the full article until it is requested by a magazine publisher. If the manuscript is requested there is no guarantee that it will be sold, but only that they will read it.

Read the magazine that you want to appear in. Read at least the last six copies of the magazine. Your query will be turned down if the editor has just bought the article that you are querying. So it’s best to know what type of articles they have recently purchased from freelancers.

The query letter is only an idea. You will do enough research for the query letter to prove to the editor that you know something about the subject. More research will be done when you finish the article. Have an original and interesting idea. Express freshness to the approach of a subject. Leave nothing out including how that article will end. Tell the editor where you will get your research, facts, and people you will interview.

Have you been published before? For example, I have appeared in several magazines and state the name of the articles, publication dates, and where you have appeared. If you are a new writer don’t mention it because if you can write you might still get a go ahead. Tell the editor how you are qualified to write the article.

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Tips on How to Write Query Letters

By Lanee’ Blunt

New writers shy away from using query letters because they don’t understand how they can work for them.  Maybe you have heard that sending the magazine a query letter is how you should get your article sold, but as a new writer the query letter seems intimidating.  It sounds like something only professional writers’ use. A new writer can write an excellent query letter with a few tips. 

The query letter is not the place to try out your new logo or have fancy clipart with your writing aspirations.  Your query must look professional because you are competing with published writers.

When you write the query letter you are going to make it interesting and the advantage is that you are going to do a small amount of research for the query. 

Your idea should be interesting and original. Express the freshness of your idea in the query; don’t leave anything out including the ending. Tell the editor where you will get your facts and interviews.

Tell the editor if you have been published before; list the articles, the magazine, and the publication date. If you have never been published you can tell the editor about how you’re qualified for writing the story.  For example, if you’re writing a nonfiction piece on home school, you may tell the editor that you are a teacher and that you have many years of experience.

Your query letter should be one page.  Keep queries in the mail until you receive a go-ahead.  Send a different query to each magazine you can not send out simultaneous queries of the same article. Include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE) so you can receive an answer to your query letter. 


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How to Create a Query Letter

By Lanee' Blunt

Essentials for writing a query letter--

Image by Lupoianfla.

Writers are required to write query letters before sending a manuscript to a publisher. When the editor is interested she will inform the writer that she can write the feature or to submit the full story on speculation. The query letter has two goals, getting the writer from unsolicited to solicited status and the writer doesn’t have to write the story until it is requested. The query letter is single spaced with no indentions, and should encourage the editor to send for the full manuscript. It shows that you are a professional and able to focus on tight writing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need

Story idea

Computer

White paper

Step 1

Write the editors name and address in the upper left hand corner of the letter.  Drop down two lines where you will write a subject line followed by a colon. Write the name of the story.

Step 2

Start the first paragraph by writing the lead. Make the lead very interesting by pulling the reader into story. Drop down a double space before beginning the second paragraph.

Step 3

Start the second paragraph informing the editor about the idea.  Narrow down your topic. When you write the query letter you are going to make it interesting and the advantage is that you are going to do a small amount of research for the query.  State what the research is and how you will use it in the story. If you were to do the whole manuscript you would have a lot of research, but with the query your research minimum.

 Drop down two lines for the next paragraph.

Step 4

Start the next paragraph with an encouragement, for example, “My article will fit nicely with your Money Report section.”  This helps the editor visualize where and how it could best fit in with the magazine.  Tell the editor how you are qualified to write the article.  If you are an entrepreneur mention that in the query if you are trying to write for a business magazine. Write about your previous publications, but if you have never been published before, say nothing.

Step 5

Drop down two lines. Write respectfully or sincerely, and print your name and title.  Enclose a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE).

Tips

Proofread the letter making sure that it is free of typos, and make sure that you have checked the spelling of the editor’s name.

Reference

How to Write Attention Grabbing Query & Cover Letters; John Wood; Writer’s Digest

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Query Letter Mistakes

By Lanee' Blunt

If you are a new writer and want to break into the magazine market, you must have a query letter.  Most new writers believe that once an editor sees their story, then a query letter is not necessary. That’s simply not true. 

Query letter mistakes can prevent you from getting your foot in the door of a magazine.  You have only one chance to make an impression on an editor.  There are five common mistakes to avoid when writing a query letter.

A new writer can write an excellent query letter with a few tips.  Here’s how to avoid five common mistakes that some new writer’s make.

Wrong Publisher

Don’t send your romance story to a literary publisher because you think that it’s a work of art.  It’s a romance story and has to go to a romance publisher; furthermore don’t send fiction to a nonfiction magazine publisher with the belief that they may publish one story of fiction after reading your masterpiece.

Wrong Editor

Find out the editor’s name.  Read the magazine’s masthead making sure you have the correct spelling of the editor’s name. Don’t use an outdated reference book. According to John Wood’s book,  How to Write Attention Grabbing Query & Cover Letters, “The best way to avoid the slush-pile is to send your idea to the appropriate editor.”

Tell the Ending

The query letter should tell the whole story leaving the editor with no unsure parts about your story you want to write.  It should talk about the story that you want to write in an interesting way and it should be similar to the stories in that magazine.

Failure to mention what the ending will be in a fiction query is a mistake that new writer’s make also. You must tell what the ending will be here in the query. Another common mistake that new writer’s make is telling the editor there is more to come later and not telling the whole story.

Business Letter

The query letter is not the place to try out your new logo or have fancy clipart with your writing aspirations.  Your query must look professional because you are competing with published writers.

Tell the Editor about the Writer

A new writer may not have published credits, and that is only a minor problem, because you can tell the editor about how you’re qualified for writing the story.  For example, if you’re writing a nonfiction piece on home school, you may tell the editor that you are a teacher and that you have many years of experience.

Demonstrate your excellent writing skills.  This is not the place for typo’s and grammar mistakes.  Rewrite your query letter making sure that you have a tight letter to send to the magazine.  Make sure that you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your query (SASE).

Reference:

John Wood’s; How to Write Attention Grabbing Query & Cover Letters; Writer’s Digest

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Examples of Query Letters

By Lanee' Blunt

A query letter can get your manuscript from unsolicited to solicited status. Most magazine editors read only query letters and don’t read slush-pile articles.  A writer should not send a whole manuscript.

If you are a new writer and want to sell your article to a publisher you must have a query letter.  Although, you are a new write that doesn’t mean that you can’t write a good query letter. According to John Wood’s book, How to Write Attention Grabbing Query and Cover Letters, “Editors are looking for clear signs (as many as possible) that you have honed your skills and are ready to join the team, not someone who’s just starting out and trying his hand at writing.”

A Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE)

Include a SASE with your query letter; address the envelope to yourself, and a stamp. Fold the envelope and put it in back of the query letter.  When you hear from the magazine they will send you letter in your return envelope with an acceptance or a rejection.

Slanted Query to That Magazine

Read at least 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. But send a query letter with an offer to produce something fresh in your articles.

Have a Great Idea

Your idea should be interesting and original. Express the freshness of your idea in the query; don’t leave anything out including the ending. Tell the editor where you will get your facts and interviews.

How Are You Qualified to Write the Article?

If you are a new writer you don’t have to mention it in the query letter. You are selling an idea to the editor. You are a writer, so write a good query. Tell the editor how you are qualified to write the article.  If you are a nurse mention that in the query if you are trying to write for a fitness magazine.

One Page Query Letter

Your query letter should be one page.  This shows the editor that you are a professional and you are able to focus on tight writing. The query is a business letter single spaced, double space between paragraphs and don’t indent your paragraphs.

You will get better the more query letters that you write.  Keep querying the magazines you want to appear in and you will one day get a go ahead.

Reference:

John Wood; How to Write Attention Grabbing Query and Cover Letters;  Writer’s Digest

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The Advantages of Query Letters for Magazine Articles

by Lanee' Blunt

When you are a new writer it seems impossible to break into one of the major magazine markets. How should you approach one of the magazine publishers you may be asking yourself? Maybe you have heard that sending the magazine a query letter is how you should get your article sold, but as a new writer the query letter seems intimidating. It sounds like something only professional writers' use.

When writing a non-fiction article never send the publisher a completed manuscript on speculation. They are only going to accept a query letter from you and if you send them your completed manuscript they will just put it back in the package and send it back to you rejected. A query letter is a detailed one page proposal of what you are intending to write. "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; 1996.

Query Letters Can Get You Past the Slush Pile
One advantage of using a query letter is that it can take your manuscript from unsolicited to solicited. Your manuscript will be rejected and put back into the envelope if you are not sending a query letter, but if you send the query the editor might ask you to send the manuscript. There is no guarantee that it will be sold, but only looked at.

Small Amount of Research
When you write the query letter you are going to make it interesting and the advantage is that you are going to do a small amount of research in the query. If you were to do the whole manuscript you would have a lot of research, but with the query your research is minimum.

Editor Samples Your Writing
In the query the editor is able to sample your writing and can tell if you are a good enough writer to handle the article. If your query is interesting then it may intrigue the editor and make her ask for more, like the whole manuscript. Make sure that you write the query like you would the whole manuscript leaving nothing out and revealing even the ending. This is not the place to write, "You will get the rest when I send the article, because there is a surprise ending."

Professional
The query is professional and it gives the editor the confidence in your writing that you know what you are doing. Make sure that on your query you know the editor's name, and what type of stories that she buys. Send a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with all of your queries.

How Many 
When you are first starting out you can have at least ten queries at a time floating around. Make sure that you send a different query to each magazine because you cannot send out simultaneous queries of the same article.

These are some of the advantages of using query letters. They are a great tool for the writer because they save you a lot of time and you don't write the article until it is requested.


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