- QUERY TYPE: E-mail query
- PITCHED TO: Editor
- SOLD TO: Health/lifestyle magazine and website
- AUDIENCE: General public
- TYPE OF PITCH: Full article, 1,000+ words
- COMPENSATION OF SOLD ARTICLE: $450 (US)
The following italicized text is a full query letter sample, followed by a step-by-step explanation of the email’s various parts.
1. Sample Article Pitch for a Health and Lifestyle Website
From: Your Full Name (with e-mail address)
Subject: To [Editor’s Full Name], [Job title] : Re: Submission Query
Date: Today’s date.
To: [Editor’s e-mail address]
Hello Nancy,
It’s a tough world out there. You’re constantly battling the enemies; pollutants, additives, and toxins. It’s a tough world inside your body to0, where free radicals lurk, waiting to prey on healthy cells. Free radicals are single atoms or atom clusters with an odd number of electrons. This means they are volatile; their unpaired electron causes free radical to collide with other molecules, hijack them and steal an electron. The victim’s structure is then altered and it too becomes the free radical. This can have a domino effect so vast that it can alter the structure of millions of molecules in a matter of nanoseconds. When free radicals steal electrons from such important components as DNA, protein molecules and enzymes, their proper functioning is affected. Free radical damage can lead to degenerative diseases such a heart disease and cancer. Many scientists believe that they are also the basis of the aging process.
But what causes free radical and can they be stopped? Free radicals are normally present in your body in small numbers. To be fair to them, they do not have beneficial uses like the promotion of beneficial oxidation that produces energy and the destruction of certain types of bacterial invaders. Free radicals are normally kept in check by the action of your body’s naturally occurring free radical scavengers. These scavengers neutralize free radicals , rendering them harmless. Problems arise when your body has an excessive number of stalking free radicals.
The good news is you can win the war on free radicals by recruiting a defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants consist of a group of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that capture free radicals and neutralize them by binding to their free electrons. Your body makes its own free radical busting enzymes. Two of the main ones are super-oxide-dismutase, (SOD) and catalase. These are generally dependent on the availability of trace minerals like selenium, zinc, copper, and manganese. You can obtain all the antioxidants you need by making some simple modifications to you daily diet.
The complete article will contain details of how to maintain an antioxidant rich diet to reduce the risk of many common diseases and to dramatically reduce the risk of aging. It will include the latest research from studies published in peer reviewed journals. I believe this would be an interesting and informative article for your readers, who are all concerned with reducing their chances of disease and slowing down the effects of the aging process. I would be happy to submit the complete article (approx. 1,000 words), at your request.
During my seven years as a freelance writer I have been published in print and online in a wide range of publications and websites worldwide. I specialize in health and fitness writing. My research, writing and editing skill are impeccable. I have a BA in Literature and Philosophy and an MA in Women’s Studies. Because I have experience at all levels of writing from journalism to feature writing, I have the ability to present even the most complex information in an interesting way and reader friendly style. I enjoy the challenge of presenting a new angle on even the most familiar of topics.
My features and departments have been published in magazines including: Alive, Alternative Medicine, Health and Fitness, Ultimate Athlete, Hard Core Muscle, Herb Monthly, Life Extension Foundation, Interactive Dad, Publisher’s Weekly and Chronogram.
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. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your First Name, Last Name
2. Query Letter Sample: Health and Lifestyle Site – 9 Steps to the Perfect Pitch
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.
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
It’s a tough world out there. You’re constantly battling the enemies; pollutants, additives, and toxins. It’s a tough world inside your body to0, where free radicals lurk, waiting to prey on healthy cells. Free radicals are single atoms or atom clusters with an odd number of electrons. This means they are volatile; their unpaired electron causes free radical to collide with other molecules, hijack them and steal an electron. The victim’s structure is then altered and it too becomes the free radical. This can have a domino effect so vast that it can alter the structure of millions of molecules in a matter of nanoseconds. When free radicals steal electrons from such important components as DNA, protein molecules and enzymes, their proper functioning is affected. Free radical damage can lead to degenerative diseases such a heart disease and cancer. Many scientists believe that they are also the basis of the aging process.
*NOTE: This writer uses the opening paragraph of her article as the opening pitch of her query letter. This technique is most commonly used to hook an editor’s interest.
STEP 4: SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH
But what causes free radical and can they be stopped? Free radicals are normally present in your body in small numbers. To be fair to them, they do not have beneficial uses like the promotion of beneficial oxidation that produces energy and the destruction of certain types of bacterial invaders. Free radicals are normally kept in check by the action of your body’s naturally occurring free radical scavengers. These scavengers neutralize free radicals , rendering them harmless. Problems arise when your body has an excessive number of stalking free radicals.
The good news is you can win the war on free radicals by recruiting a defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants consist of a group of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that capture free radicals and neutralize them by binding to their free electrons. Your body makes its own free radical busting enzymes. Two of the main ones are super-oxide-dismutase, (SOD) and catalase. These are generally dependent on the availability of trace minerals like selenium, zinc, copper, and manganese. You can obtain all the antioxidants you need by making some simple modifications to you daily diet.
*NOTE: This writer elaborates on the “health problems” and then uses a third paragraph that introduces a solution to better health.
STEP 5: UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
The complete article will contain details of how to maintain an antioxidant rich diet to reduce the risk of many common diseases and to dramatically reduce the risk of aging. It will include the latest research from studies published in peer reviewed journals. I believe this would be an interesting and informative article for your readers, who are all concerned with reducing their chances of disease and slowing down the effects of the aging process. I would be happy to submit the complete article (approx. 1,000 words), at your request.
*NOTE: The writer engages the editor’s interest by positioning her article as something unique and beneficial to readers. She also can submit the full article immediately.
STEP 6: EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN WRITING THIS ARTICLE
During my seven years as a freelance writer I have been published in print and online in a wide range of publications and websites worldwide. I specialize in health and fitness writing. My research, writing and editing skill are impeccable. I have a BA in Literature and Philosophy and an MA in Women’s Studies. Because I have experience at all levels of writing from journalism to feature writing, I have the ability to present even the most complex information in an interesting way and reader friendly style. I enjoy the challenge of presenting a new angle on even the most familiar of topics.
My features and departments have been published in magazines including: Alive, Alternative Medicine, Health and Fitness, Ultimate Athlete, Hard Core Muscle, Herb Monthly, Life Extension Foundation, Interactive Dad, Publisher’s Weekly and Chronogram.
*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 and background will convince the editor to buy her article.
STEP 7: 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 8: CONCLUDING
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Your First Name, Last Name