What we’re talking about on the Five Buck Forum: Where to send the query
Another slow day yesterday. I’m thankful for them at the moment because I’m able to catch up on my bookkeeping, desk cleaning, personal writing, and marketing planning. I had one interview yesterday, then I unraveled a few online accounts that locked me out (the downside of different passwords for everything is I can’t remember any of them). Once I got my Visa Rewards account back up, I ordered four Christmas gifts. There’s something to be said for a debit card with Visa logo attached – free gifts.
I had a chance to go back through some queries I’d sent two, three, even five years ago. What surprised me was that a good portion of them (six) were still relevant. So why hadn’t I sent them out again when they didn’t sell the first time? Because I failed to track them.
I thought – wrongly – that having saved the queries, I’d revisit them sooner rather than later and resend them. Funny how time and experience has actually taught me something about my memory for such things. So I dug those queries out and found new potential homes for them. It was a damn sight easier than coming up with six new queries.
Here’s why I now track every submission, even if it’s just a bullet point with a date attached. I can:
Extend the shelf life. Like I mentioned already, I was able to send out those six ideas again. I double-checked the facts and tweaked each one to fit the intended audience. Voila! The ideas live again.
Follow up on submissions. I realized with some regret that I’d sent ideas and not followed up on them. Who knows how much income I left sitting? Not anymore. Now I’m bouncing back to them in six weeks (three weeks if it’s an emailed query).
Decrease my query work. Not every idea flies with the first pitch. Why put out 24 unique ideas when maybe three of them will get a home? Reworking and resubmitting those ideas that didn’t sell free up my time considerably.
Revise the topic. Maybe the idea didn’t sell because it was developed correctly or the focus was off. Going back to it allows me to rework it, put in new facts if needed, and check the focus.
Get used to doing business professionally. The more I get used to tracking and following up on queries, the more likely I am to extend the practice to marketing, client contact, etc. It’s just good business sense.
Do you track your submissions? Why or why not?
I don't track my submissions. Like you, I thought because I saved them, I'd get back to them sooner or later. Another lesson learnt.
Damaria, it's one we learn with a palm slap to the forehead, isn't it? 🙂
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I track my submissions and mean to follow up, but if I don't note it on my infamous lists, I will forget.
I have a multi-page, hand-written list (surprise!) where I log my daily submissions – queries, LOIs, invoices, inquires, even requests for editorial calendars. Yesterday, for instance, I noted two things: 1) I sent in an article, and 2) I sent the invoice for that article and the previous one I submitted to the same editor.
When I hear back from queries or LOIs, I make a note right on the list stating when I heard back and what the answer was (sometimes as simple as + or – to indicate a positive or negative response).
To improve my follow-through, I'm starting to track submissions on my calendar, too. When I send a query, I'll flip ahead a couple weeks and remind myself to follow-up on that query or LOI if I haven't heard back yet. That's how I landed one of the articles I'm working on now.
I need paper lists and calendars, because they're physical reminders. I'd never remember to open and look at lists or calendars if they were electronic.
Tracking submissions is good. Being consistent at following up on them is better. I intend to become more consistent.
Wow Paula, you are very organized. What I'm internalizing from Lori and the comments, is that you need to treat freelance writing like an actual business. (Duh) Real businesses track everything, so why shouldn't I? Finding ways to keep the details together is vital for a successful freelance writing business.
I query so infrequently that I know the status of everything, haha. I do keep a stockpile of past submissions, however, so your idea of revisiting them is a solid one.
Have a great weekend!
Me organized? Trust me, it's just an illusion.
Sometimes I feel I'm too reliant on my lists and notes to myself. Then again, I've been known to write detailed grocery lists only to carry them around the store without reading them until I'm ready to check out. I usually remember 90% of the items, but invariably forget the key ingredients to whatever I'm planning for dinner that night.
Betty, the thing that concerns me about sites like that are how secure are THEY?
Great idea to put it on your calendar, Paula. That's worked well for me, too. In fact, I have a note here to call someone back whom I didn't remember contacting in the first place. Luckily, I made a note in the "appointment" on when she was contacted and why. Amen, because I'd forgotten to put her on my master contact list.
Wade, exactly the point. We're in business. We have to act like it and do the mundane stuff we don't like. 🙂
I'm aspiring to be like that, Jake. No queries, just clients coming to me begging for my mad skilz. LOL