Misguided Queries
You've heard it a million times. Your idea must not only match the magazine, but must also address additional concerns such as timing, format and intended audience. Now, most freelancers don't have time to spend ardently studying multiple issues of every magazine, but you do need to spend at least a little time with a couple of back issues to work out any kinks.
Wrong Editor
Pick up the phone, the Writers Market, or your mouse and figure out the right editor to send your query to. Doing so increases your chances of acceptance immediately!
Stalker Tendencies
Once your pitch is in, don't expect (nor ask for) a response immediately. Don't nudge the editor until the advertised turnaround time has passed, and don't waste your time repeatedly asking for an answer. It's not fun, but sometimes no answer is your answer.
Bad Aim
Having bad aim comes in many varieties (see #1 and #2 above). Another hot spot? Pitching the "wrong" area of the magazine. If you're a new writer, find out which sections are open to you (probably not the cover story!). As a freelancer, you should know some sections are entirely staff-written. Find out which those are, and avoid those areas.
Neglecting the Gift Wrap
What's that? You didn't "package" your story, complete with intended section, likely interviewees and a proposed word count? That's too bad, because an editor will probably move on to the freelance writer who did.
The Perfect Query
Sometimes editors will receive a near-perfect query: all the bases are covered, and all the components are squared away. So what's the problem? The idea! If the idea tanks, is trite, doesn't fit, or was recently done, then your perfect query still ends up with all the chaff.
Self Neglect
Once all the other pieces pan out, an editor is going to be expecting one or two lines near the bottom about YOU. Why should the editor trust you with their time and efforts? Why shouldn't they assign a piece to their established cache of writers instead? Don't forget this final piece!
