Comments on: How to Improve a Query Letter – Sample Pitch to a Magazine Editor http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/how-to-improve-a-query-letter-sample-pitch-to-a-magazine-editor/ Tips for writers, freelancers, and novelists paired with quips from successful authors, to help you write better! Tue, 15 May 2012 00:28:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Karl http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/how-to-improve-a-query-letter-sample-pitch-to-a-magazine-editor/comment-page-1/#comment-16713 Karl Sat, 30 Jul 2011 04:01:31 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/?p=144#comment-16713 I think all query letters should follow the same pattern as a direct mail marketing letter. 1. Picture What is it that the editor is likely to be looking for, hook them with the picture they most desire. What problem can you solve for them as a writer. 2. Promise Target with hot words a solution to that specific problem you have just presented an image of. It could be your take on an article, a book etc. This is where you plug your idea. 3. Proof Either explain your understanding of their problem, or even use a few example excerpts. Better just to show your understanding. How does your idea from (2) solve the problem presented in (1). 4. Push Reiterate (1), (2) & (3) and push for acceptance. Just my 2 cents. I think all query letters should follow the same pattern as a direct mail marketing letter.

1. Picture
What is it that the editor is likely to be looking for, hook them
with the picture they most desire. What problem can you solve for
them as a writer.

2. Promise
Target with hot words a solution to that specific problem you have just
presented an image of. It could be your take on an article, a book etc.
This is where you plug your idea.

3. Proof
Either explain your understanding of their problem, or even use a few
example excerpts. Better just to show your understanding. How does your
idea from (2) solve the problem presented in (1).

4. Push
Reiterate (1), (2) & (3) and push for acceptance.

Just my 2 cents.

]]> By: Laurie PK http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/how-to-improve-a-query-letter-sample-pitch-to-a-magazine-editor/comment-page-1/#comment-2663 Laurie PK Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:06:38 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/?p=144#comment-2663 Hi Amber, Sorry it took so long to get back to you; I'm exploring Prague, Czech right now and am only logged on a couple hours a day! Here's an example of a query letter for unpublished writers: <a href="http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/freelance-writing/example-of-a-query-letter-for-unpublished-writers/" rel="nofollow">Example of a Query Letter for Unpublished Writers</a> This article should answer your question about pointing towards your personal blog as a sample of your writing style. Of course, this depends on the type of article you're pitching and the type of blog you have. If you're pitching a hard-hitting news article and your blog is about kittens, you may want to leave it out. Good luck with your journalism classes....I hope you're learning a lot :-) See you in cyberspace, Laurie .-= Laurie PK´s last blog post ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/QuipsTipsForFreelanceWriters/~3/K_DnTjw9zes/" rel="nofollow">Example of a Query Letter for Unpublished Writers</a> =-. Hi Amber,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you; I’m exploring Prague, Czech right now and am only logged on a couple hours a day!

Here’s an example of a query letter for unpublished writers:
Example of a Query Letter for Unpublished Writers

This article should answer your question about pointing towards your personal blog as a sample of your writing style. Of course, this depends on the type of article you’re pitching and the type of blog you have. If you’re pitching a hard-hitting news article and your blog is about kittens, you may want to leave it out.

Good luck with your journalism classes….I hope you’re learning a lot :-)

See you in cyberspace,
Laurie
.-= Laurie PK´s last blog post ..Example of a Query Letter for Unpublished Writers =-.

]]> By: Amber http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/how-to-improve-a-query-letter-sample-pitch-to-a-magazine-editor/comment-page-1/#comment-2640 Amber Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:40:47 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/?p=144#comment-2640 Hey Laurie - I'm a journalism student right now, and I'd love to see an example of a BEGINNERS query letter. I do have some clippings, but most of them are for local newspapers and magazines. Also, do you recommend pointing editors towards your personal blog as an example of your writing style? I've done it with a few editors in the past and they liked reading my un-edited work, but I'm not sure if thats a little immature? Thanks, Amber Hey Laurie – I’m a journalism student right now, and I’d love to see an example of a BEGINNERS query letter.

I do have some clippings, but most of them are for local newspapers and magazines.

Also, do you recommend pointing editors towards your personal blog as an example of your writing style? I’ve done it with a few editors in the past and they liked reading my un-edited work, but I’m not sure if thats a little immature?

Thanks,
Amber

]]> By: The Dreaded It’s-Not-You-It’s-Us Rejection(s) « It’s a Freelanceful Life http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/how-to-improve-a-query-letter-sample-pitch-to-a-magazine-editor/comment-page-1/#comment-701 The Dreaded It’s-Not-You-It’s-Us Rejection(s) « It’s a Freelanceful Life Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:37:05 +0000 http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/?p=144#comment-701 [...] Pawlik-Kienlen’s blog post “Tips for Improving Your Query Letters” quotes Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell in their book, The Renegade Writer’s Query [...] [...] Pawlik-Kienlen’s blog post “Tips for Improving Your Query Letters” quotes Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell in their book, The Renegade Writer’s Query [...]

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