Show me... Market

Show editor that you know his magazine. Jeff Peck, editor of Insider’s Journal, recently wrote, “...I end up rejecting fully 90 percent or more of submissions because would-be authors simply don’t take time to understand what our publication is about.” Are you sending out random queries shotgun style or are you using laser targeting to pinpoint your target magazine? As published authors, it should be latter. Most editors recommend reading several back issues. Sending an article on living like a tightwad to an affluent parenting magazine won’t work. If you think a few hours learning about your market is a waste of time, then sending out queries wastes both editor’s time and your time.

Show me... Readers

Show editor that you know who her readers are. Your query needs to show that you understand who will be reading your article. The Christian Librarian caters to librarians at Christian academic centers. Christian Library Journal meets needs of academic librarians, but is also read by homeschooling parents, church librarians, school librarians, and public librarians. These two magazines have similar topics, but address very different needs. Be specific when stating planned content of your article. When information in your article matches interests of readers, editor will give you a “go”.

Show me... Perspective

Show editor that you know his magazine’s perspective. This is similar to understanding readership. Focus on Family provides articles to help families live out their Christian faith. Many other Christian magazines publish similar articles. What makes this magazine unique is their focus on offering only this type of article. From interviews to humorous anecdotes to serious topics, Focus on Family only publishes articles that provide distinct methods families can follow to grow closer to Christ together. Every magazine has a unique perspective and focus. Many publications place mission statements on their website on “About Us” page. Some even include it in writer’s guidelines. Make sure that your query reflects fact that your article will mesh with editor’s goals.

Twenty query letters and no responses. Even my SASEs weren't returned.

I bought a great book called How to Write Attention Getting Query and Cover Letters by John Wood. Merging its advice with my style, I sent off queries that editors responded to.

Let me tell you what I do. If you follow these guidelines, I'm willing to be that you'll increase your response rate too.

The basics of good letter writing are essential. Get editor's name correct, use good grammar, and double-check your spelling. Editors WILL throw out good ideas if writer's work is amateurish.

The first paragraph of my query is always a catchy paragraph similar to what I'd use as opening for an article. It usually contains a quote or an anecdote, idea of article, and a lead that makes reader want more. A paragraph written in a style similar to that in magazine I submit to always receives good responses.

Here's an example:

"The thrill of victory, agony of defeat," says a popoular television sports announcement about excitement of watching athletic events. That's how we tend to see loss. Loss is defeat, failure, and death. When I graduated with a physician assistant license, I experienced both of those things - thrill of graduation and agony of not getting a job. I was pregnant and considered unemployable. Like small child in my womb who underwent apoptosis to change a paddle into a hand, I went through a painful spiritual apoptosis that made me more useful to God.

The second paragraph of my query tells editor what I'll do for him. It gives length of article (which always matches magazine's preferred length for similar articles), title, what article will do for reader, and experts I plan to interview. The benefits of article for reader are most important thing discussed here. Editors need articles that give readers something they want.