Q is for Query
A few blog readers have written me in the last few months, asking how to get an article published in a magazine. This post is a summary of the emails I've sent in response:
I'm happy to share a few tips about how to get articles published in magazines.
First, do not write the whole article.
There are exceptions, but usually you'll write a query letter (an email) to the editor, explaining your idea and your qualifications and seeing if they are interested. If they are interested, they may have ideas on the tone of the article, interview subjects, or length, that you'll need to include in the final piece.
What's in a Query?
Queries are generally short—a few paragraphs or a page or two—depending upon the magazine. You need to give them enough information so they can make a decision about the article. A query generally contains:
- A catchy opening: Your lead sentence or paragraph to the article.
- Summary of your idea: What is your article about? Why is this idea a good match for this magazine audience? Why now? (Is it timely?) How will you research it? Who will you interview? How many words will it run? When can you have it completed? Do you have photos or other artwork that could be used to illustrate the piece? You may not need to answer all these questions; it depends upon the market. But no matter which magazine you pitch, be specific. Don't suggest an article on "How to Sell Your Jewelry"—that topic can fill up an entire book! Focus on one aspect of that topic, such as "10 Ways to Use Social Media to Sell Your Jewelry."
- Your credentials: What makes you the perfect person to write this article? This doesn't have to be writing-related; it could be subject-related. If you want to write an article about photography and you've had your own photography studio for 10 years, you definitely want to mention that.
Think of a query as a sales pitch—you're trying to convince the editor
that this article is a perfect fit for her magazine and that you're the
one to write it.
If you need more information, there are lots of articles about query writing online, as well as some great books like The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rocked. Just make sure that the examples you're looking at are for writing queries to magazine editors and not queries to literary agents for a novel.
Good luck!