- QUERY TYPE: E-mail query
- PITCHED TO: Editor
- SOLD TO: Parenting/lifestyle magazine and website
- AUDIENCE: Parents, women
- TYPE OF PITCH: Full article, 1,500+ words
- COMPENSATION OF SOLD ARTICLE: $575 (US); $20/photo (estimated price)
1. Parenting / Lifestyle Magazine Sample Query Letter
JoAnne Campbell,
freelance writer
P.O. Box 2222
New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212-000-0000
E-mail: [email protected]
August 12, 20__
Nancy Jacobs, Editor
[Title of magazine/publication]
5413 Livingston St.
Brooklyn, NY 11249
Dear Ms. Jacobs,
Claudia Newman grew up in a series of foster homes, feeling increasingly misunderstood, seeking an outlet for her love and creativity. She spent her adolescent years teaching herself to knit, cross-stitch and crochet. As a young, independent adult Fran wanted to try her hand at quilting and sought a mentor to help her in her quest.
When she met her mentor, Claudia’s life and her love of quilting changed forever.
“I was bitten, in passionate love with the design planning, choosing the perfect pattern, the mathematical computations, the random surprises of placing fabrics next to something otherwise discounted as not possible and being delighted with my serendipitous choice.”
Claudia’s first handmade quilt was one of dozens she would go on to design and make. Inspired by a community of experienced quilters, Claudia learned patience in herself, trust in others and found an outlet from her creativity that would both challenge and soothe her for years to come.
I would like to tell your readers the story of Claudia’s inspiring journey into quilting and I can also provide quality images of her creations.
My full article run 1,500 words, and I can provide several high-quality images. I would be happy to submit the complete piece at your request.
I have been a published author for more than ten years and have written in a number of fields including inspiring and life changing biographies. I have been published in magazines including Alternative Medicine, Alive, Andaaz, Chronogram, New Woman and After Dark.
You may visit my website at [include your website address or URLs to specific articles] to view recent samples of previous published articles.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
______________________(signature line)
JoAnne Campbell
212-000-0000
[email protected]
www.mywebsite.com
Twitter:
Facebook:
2. Parenting / Lifestyle Magazine Query Letter Breakdown – 9 Steps to a Perfect Query
STEP 1: ADDRESS YOUR QUERY LETTER
From: Your Full Name (with e-mail address)
Subject: To [Editor’s Full Name], [Job title] : Re: Submission Query Date: Today’s date. *Note: If you are e-mailing this query, then you do not need to include a date since your e-mail account will automatically insert a time and date
To: [Editor’s e-mail address] *Note: Always get the e-mail address of the editor or the person in charge of accepting submissions, such as [email protected]. Never e-mail a query letter to a general e-mail address such as “[email protected].” Always include the Job Title, such as Editor, Managing Editor, Editorial Assistant, etc.
*Note: The “RE:” is optional. You can use “RE:,” meaning ‘regarding’ to inform the editor what you are submitting.
STEP 2: START YOUR QUERY LETTER BY ADDRESSING THE EDITOR
Hello Nancy,
*Note: In many instances, you will address the editor with a more formal salutation, such as “Hello [Editor’s First Name, Last Name] or “Dear [Editor’s First Name, Last Name].” This writer used a more friendly salutation because he has already worked with this editor.
STEP 3: DEVELOP A STRONG LEAD-IN. GRAB THE EDITOR’S ATTENTION WITH A NARRATIVE OF YOUR ARTICLE
Claudia Newman grew up in a series of foster homes, feeling increasingly misunderstood, seeking an outlet for her love and creativity. She spent her adolescent years teaching herself to knit, cross-stitch and crochet. As a young, independent adult Fran wanted to try her hand at quilting and sought a mentor to help her in her quest.
When she met her mentor, Claudia’s life and her love of quilting changed forever.
“I was bitten, in passionate love with the design planning, choosing the perfect pattern, the mathematical computations, the random surprises of placing fabrics next to something otherwise discounted as not possible and being delighted with my serendipitous choice.”
*Note: This writer catches the editor’s attention instantly with a strong, emotional pitch and a piece of inspiring dialogue. The first paragraph of the query letter is extracted almost verbatim from the writer’s full article. One of the best techniques to catch an editor’s attention is to introduce some type of emotion, such as hope and empathy.
STEP 4: SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH OR UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Claudia’s first handmade quilt was one of dozens she would go on to design and make. Inspired by a community of experienced quilters, Claudia learned patience in herself, trust in others and found an outlet from her creativity that would both challenge and soothe her for years to come. I would like to tell your readers the story of Claudia’s inspiring journey into quilting and I can also provide quality images of her creations.
*Note: This writer elaborates on the opening paragraph to introduce more emotion, such as hope and encouragement. What reader would not want to read such a story? Now that the writer has brought the editor into the personal life of the main character, the writer proposes to submit a full article about Claudia’s inspiring journey. The writer also introduces a Unique Selling Point in her sentence: she can provide images of Claudia’s work to accentuate her article and to captivate the emotions of the magazine’s readers.
STEP 5: CALL-TO-ACTION
My full article run 1,500 words, and I can provide several high-quality images. I would be happy to submit the complete piece at your request.
*Note: Short, sweet and simple. This writer has finished her article and can offer it without delay.
STEP 6: EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN WRITING THIS ARTICLE
I have been a published author for more than ten years and have written in a number of fields including inspiring and life changing biographies. I have been published in magazines including Alternative Medicine, Alive, Andaaz, Chronogram, New Woman and After Dark.
*Note: This is a perfect brief bio. of the writer, detailing her experience. She mentions relevant publications similar to the magazine that she is pitching to. Her professional experience will convince the editor to buy her article.
STEP 8: SHOW SAMPLES OR PUBLISHED CLIPS
You may visit my website at [include your website address or URLs to specific articles] to view recent samples of previous published articles.
*Note: if similar magazines have published your articles, you can also provide the exact URL to articles that pertain to parenting.
STEP 9: CONCLUDING
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your First Name, Last Name
