- QUERY TYPE: E-mail query
- PITCHED TO: Editor
- SOLD TO: Health/lifestyle website
- AUDIENCE: General public
- TYPE OF PITCH: Full article, 1,200+ words
- COMPENSATION OF SOLD ARTICLE: $500 (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. Query Letter for a Childhood Obesity Article
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,
Childhood obesity is rapidly growing out of proportion; an alarming 15.5 percent of adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, America is facing an unprecedented epidemic.
Obesity can lead to chronic health problems including diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Growth problems in the hips and legs are also more prevalent in overweight children.
Experts are emphasizing that obesity is not a disease but a condition that people bring about themselves. It can be prevented but the fight against fat is won or lost by parents not councilors or fat camps, and parents may not be doing all they can to help their children maintain a healthy weight.
Many studies have shown that there is not a big difference in the amount of food
eaten and physical activity between obese and non-obese kids. Probably small differences in eating and activity over time really add up and lead to weight gain.
So how can parents help? The best way to prevent obesity is prevention. There are a number of ways to encourage children to maintain a healthy weight. For those parents whose children already have weight problems, all is not lost, weight gain can be prevented before it becomes life threatening.
The complete article explains how parents can tell if their child is obese, what they can do to help their children prevent or reverse obesity, including the latest tools, and advice from experts in the field.
The experts I have interviewed include: Susan L. Johnson
Ph.D., expert on childhood obesity, University of Colorado; David Ludwig, MD, PhD., and Alison Field, Sc.D., researchers in childhood obesity, Children’s Hospital, Boston; Mary Story Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Director of Healthy Eating Research, a new national program designed to combat childhood obesity.
I am experienced researcher, writer and editor. I specialize in health and fitness. I have had articles published in Canada, USA, UK and UAE and in a diverse range of health fields including, eating disorders, cancer, sports injuries and mental health issues.
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: Pitching an Obesity Article in 9 Easy Steps
Follow these steps and comments to write your query letter.
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
Childhood obesity is rapidly growing out of proportion; an alarming 15.5 percent of adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, America is facing an unprecedented epidemic.
*NOTE: Articles on childhood obesity are hot topics with editors. This writer uses the opening paragraph to mention the problems of childhood obesity, and includes facts to support the importance of her topic.
STEP 4: SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH
Obesity can lead to chronic health problems including diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Growth problems in the hips and legs are also more prevalent in overweight children.
Experts are emphasizing that obesity is not a disease but a condition that people bring about themselves. It can be prevented but the fight against fat is won or lost by parents not councilors or fat camps, and parents may not be doing all they can to help their children maintain a healthy weight.
Many studies have shown that there is not a big difference in the amount of food
eaten and physical activity between obese and non-obese kids. Probably small differences in eating and activity over time really add up and lead to weight gain.
*NOTE: This writer explains the risks of chronic health problems in obese kids, alluding to the fact that childhood obesity is a major problem and a concern with most parents.
STEP 5: UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
So how can parents help? The best way to prevent obesity is prevention. There are a number of ways to encourage children to maintain a healthy weight. For those parents whose children already have weight problems, all is not lost, weight gain can be prevented before it becomes life threatening.
The complete article explains how parents can tell if their child is obese, what they can do to help their children prevent or reverse obesity, including the latest tools, and advice from experts in the field.
The experts I have interviewed include: Susan L. Johnson
Ph.D., expert on childhood obesity, University of Colorado; David Ludwig, MD, PhD., and Alison Field, Sc.D., researchers in childhood obesity, Children’s Hospital, Boston; Mary Story Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Director of Healthy Eating Research, a new national program designed to combat childhood obesity.
*NOTE: This writer has many unique selling points to sell her article because it focuses on a major, national problem and her article provides some solutions to handle the problem. Her article is also a perfect match for the readers of the website, and it will provide invaluable advice to help parents (the readers) improve their children’s lifestyles. Furthermore, the writer strengthens her pitch by including the names of experts with whom she has interviewed for the article.
STEP 6: EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN WRITING THIS ARTICLE
I am experienced researcher, writer and editor. I specialize in health and fitness. I have had articles published in Canada, USA, UK and UAE and in a diverse range of health fields including, eating disorders, cancer, sports injuries and mental health issues.
*NOTE: The writer reveals her experience and tailors her bio. with related article topics which she has had published in similar fields.
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
