Question: What's Wrong With My Query Letter?
So, you've mastered the query letter, and have begun pitching ideas and turning them around quickly, but you're still not getting any bites? Let's take a deeper look at some of the things that can go wrong when it comes to your query letter.
Answer:
- Your query letter is too long. If your idea cannot be succinctly expressed in about one to one-and-a-half pages, then you’re not ready to sell. In addition, remember that you don’t have to sell everything that you’ve ever done to an editor. Editors are busy, and a lot of skimming and scanning are done. Therefore, make sure to get to the point!
- Have you checked for typos? I’m sure you probably have, but have you checked twice? Again, don’t give an editor any reason to question your abilities, especially in this first stage.
- Your query letter is too short. Many magazines want to know where exactly you’re going with this idea. Don’t leave your pitch open-ended. Think about the end you have in mind, and find some way to express that (briefly) to the editor. Make sure you have addressed all of the elements of a successful query letter.
- You went off on a tangent. This is especially easy when you are excited about an idea, but, again, keep in mind that if it doesn’t address one of the parts of a great query letter, it’s simply not needed.
- You sent the “wrong” clip. If you submitted a clip with your letter, perhaps you submitted the wrong one. Maybe you sent one that was completely unrelated to the subject at hand, or perhaps you sent one that was simply ho hum. Now is the time to wow the editor, and to get their attention.
- You forgot the readers! Let’s be honest, every magazine wants to…needs to…sell issues to keep afloat. In order to sell to the readers, you first have to sell to the editor through the readers. Why should the editor pick up your article? What’s in it for his readers? What will make them purchase the magazine? Your pitch letter needs to include a hook of some kind that the editor can pass on to potential customers. This may be something as simple as a fresh perspective, a newsy angle, or an interesting expert.
- You didn’t read the magazine first.It is nearly impossible to sell without perusing at least one issue of a magazine. You need to observe tone, audience, style. You need to read the masthead and takes some guesses at organization and values. You need to see who the advertisers are, and keep them in mind, too. You must read the magazine!
- You sold the article…but not yourself.Why are you the one writer that should get this assignment? What makes you able to address the material better than anyone else. Is it because you’re an expert? Because you’ve published in the area before? Or perhaps it’s simply because you are offering a fresh idea along with a professional partnership that will get the job done.
