What’s on the iPod: Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore
It’s a week off for me. Not intentionally, but the projects were finished early and others that were supposed to show up didn’t, so I get some much-needed time to myself. This house is cleaner than it’s been in years, and today is the day the tent, tables, etc. arrive for the stepson’s rehearsal dinner.
Because I’m currently idle, I’ve been sending out some queries in hopes of getting something to fill in. This month will undoubtedly be my worst earnings month in years. I took much of last week off, so that’s no great surprise.
But the queries are getting some notice, at least. I have one editor I’m trying to work details out with. I proposed something, but he’s looking for a different angle. We’ll see. But we’re at least talking about it. It’s an editor I don’t work with often, so I’m eager to please him.
Queries are a great place to start looking for business when you’re new to freelance writing. While magazine work shouldn’t be your only staple, it’s solid work that pays well if you can get the right idea in front of the right editor. That part isn’t hard — just do your homework. Notice what they print, what ads they run, what they don’t print (almost more important than what the do), etc. Once you figure out what they’re after and you have your idea, write that query.
That’s where I see a good deal of problems, though. We’re writers, yet when it comes to writing content that can get us more work, we falter. We don’t like talking about ourselves, selling ourselves, or even approaching “busy” people. We’re busy too, but we’re not exactly focusing on that part, are we?
So here’s how I write queries that get attention. Feel free to use any of these methods or adapt them to fit who you are:
K.I.S.S. Ah yes, the old “keep it simple, stupid” method. It should be part of every query, and it starts with defining your topic and narrowing it down. Don’t pitch an article on “Obamacare” — that’s way too broad a topic. Instead, pitch an article on how Obamacare affects teenagers whose parents aren’t insured. Or how about an article on five ways Obamacare can make more sense than your employer’s health plan?
Start with your lede. Your lede is the first lines of your article — your hook to get readers to continue. Don’t hold back on this one. Your first audience is the editor, and if you can entice them to want to learn more, you’ll get the assignment. Make it strong. For example, “You pay $80 a paycheck for your employer-sponsored health care, and your deductibles are high. Could the ACA be a better option?”
Mention experts. I include three potential interview sources. I don’t necessarily contact them before getting the assignment, but rather I put their names out there (and their titles/affiliations) to show I’m prepared to go forward with good interview subjects.
Test your focus. Part of your query letter should be the questions you intend to ask. I include this for one reason; if I can write five to seven questions, I know my focus is tight and I have a good topic. Also, these questions will help you later on when they become the basis of your subheads.
Keep it succinct. Notice I didn’t say short. Some topics may require a little more detail. Ideally, your query will fit on one page and be, at the most, four paragraphs — the lede, the proposal (include your experts and questions here), your experience and published clips, and your request to write the article. If you can’t present the idea in a few sentences, your focus is too broad. Go back and narrow it to one aspect.
Writers, what goes into your best queries?
Do you have a specific formula or template style you follow for each query?
What’s your query success rate?
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