When should I ask someone to interview them for an article- before or after I get the assignment?
Great question, and one I had myself for a long time!
The thing is, sometimes the right interviewee will land you an assignment, and so you'll want to include it in your query. But can you just mention it in the query as a possibility? I don't think so. I think that your query shouldn't be full of what ifs and maybes. Therefore, if the query is more likely to be accepted with the right expert named, then, by all means, call up that expert, and speak to them ahead of time. Tell them the subject, and some potential magazine titles that you are submitting to- but be sure to tell them a full range of possible magazines- not just the top names. Many experts are happy to talk about their subject matter, so don't be shy!
On the other hand, if this isn't necessarily going to boost your query, save it for later. Go to your expert with an assignment in hand. You'll feel more confident that way, anyway. Notice how I base this answer on your query. The bottom line in this career is keeping those assignments rolling- so keep that in mind as you slog through the getting started phase.
