Sample Query Letter: Pregnancy Magazine

• QUERY TYPE: E-mail query
• PITCHED TO: Editor
• SOLD TO: Parenting / Pregnancy magazine
• AUDIENCE: Parents
• TYPE OF PITCH: Full article, 1,000+ words
• COMPENSATION OF SOLD ARTICLE: $750+ (US) (estimated price)

The following italicized text is a full query letter sample, followed by a step-by-step explanation of the email’s various parts.

1. Pregnancy Magazine Sample Query Letter

—–Original Message—–
From: Rosemary Campbell, writer [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 20XX 3:54 PM
To: ‘[email protected]’
Subject: To Nancy Williams, Editor : New Research Findings__________

Hi Nancy,

Baby intelligence pioneer Janet Doman says that modern babies spend most of their critical brain-growth months on their backs—in cribs, car seats, and strollers—a helpless position that hinders maximum neurological development.

Facts:

1) The brain literally grows by use and grows faster between birth and age six than it will ever grow again.

2) Humans are the only species who put offspring in a helpless “upside down” position that restricts movement.

3) Babies should be muscular, not flabby.

4) Babies with superior mobility intelligence score higher than back-prone babies in every category of neurological development tests.

5) Belly-down,
random movement of a baby’s arms and legs—the precursor to propelling himself forward—begins at birth and is a critical neurological marker.

I would like to submit a 1,000 word article based on the findings of Janet Doman.

My article is completed, and I can send it to you at your request. I can also provide five photos that illustrate _________________.

I am the
author of several books and have worked as a ghostwriter on numerous projects. My byline has appeared in major parenting publications all across the United States and I have written articles for over 200 websites______________.

You may visit my website at [include your website address or URLs to specific articles] to view recent samples of previous published articles.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Rosemary Campbell
P: 222-222-2222
E-mail:
Website:
Facebook:
Twitter:

2. Pregnancy Magazine Query Letter Breakdown – 9 Steps to a Perfect Query

Follow these steps and comments to write the ultimate 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

Baby intelligence pioneer Janet Doman says that modern babies spend most of their critical brain-growth months on their backs—in cribs, car seats, and strollers—a helpless position that hinders maximum neurological development.
*Note: All query letters must use the opening paragraph as a strong “lead-in” to interest the editor right away. A popular method of grabbing interest immediately is to use the name of an authoritative figure whose timely advice is going to serve as the structural support of the article that you are pitching.

• This writer grabs the editor’s interest by using the name of an authoritative figure.
• The writer is writing on a timely, relevant topic.
• The article provides new research that the magazine has not covered. The editor knows this will greatly interest readers who are pregnant or have newborn babies.

STEP 4: SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH OR UNIQUE SELLING POINTS

Facts:

1. The brain literally grows by use and grows faster between birth and age six than it will ever grow again.
2. Humans are the only species who put offspring in a helpless “upside down” position that restricts movement.
3. Babies should be muscular, not flabby.
4. Babies with superior mobility intelligence score higher than back-prone babies in every category of neurological development tests.
5. Belly-down, random movement of a baby’s arms and legs—the precursor to propelling himself forward—begins at birth and is a critical neurological marker.

*Note: This writer lists some very important facts that he will cover in his article. This helps the editor judge the interest level of the article. This writer simply lists the facts, and does not elaborate on each fact (which is appropriate to do). In a way, this teases the editor and nudges her interests to find out more. This writer also could have added that the research findings in his article have not been published elsewhere. This would tell the editor that the writer is providing exclusive, breaking-news information from an authoritative figure.

STEP 5: PROPOSE WHAT YOU: 1) INTEND TO WRITE OR 2) WHAT YOU WANT TO SUBMIT

I would like to submit a 1,000 word article based on the findings of Janet Doman.
*Note: The writer chose to provide a single sentence on what he intends to send. Short and simple. Most writers provide more information to persuade an editor. You can:

1. Target a specific department or column. (I believe my article fits perfectly in_______________)
2. Provide a future editorial need. Research the magazine’s editorial calendar or peruse back issues to determine the magazine’s publishing cycle of certain topics and subjects. (I believe my article will complement your August issue in which you plan to cover ___________________)
3. If the magazine’s readers are fans of the person whom you intend to interview for your article, then inform the editor.

STEP 6: CALL-TO-ACTION

My article is completed, and I can send it to you at your request. I can also provide five photos that illustrate _________________.
*Note: The purpose of the “call-to-action” is to create some type of urgency for the editor to see your article after reading your query. This writer informs the editor he has completed his article, and he can send it right away for review. You can use other techniques to improve a “call-to-action” such as telling the editor that you can provide photos or illustrations, or you have two useful sidebars that would complement your article.

STEP 7: EXPLAIN WHY YOU ARE EXPERIENCED IN WRITING THIS ARTICLE

I am the author of several books and have worked as a ghostwriter on numerous projects. My byline has appeared in major parenting publications all across the United States and I have written articles for over 200 websites….
*Note: Because this writer has worked with this editor before, he generalizes his writing experience. A better way is to provide specific names of magazines and websites that have published similar material (most recently), and where the editor can read them (if online).

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

I hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Your First Name, Last Name
*Note: In comparing different query letters at FreelanceWriter.com, you will notice that a “one-size-fits-all” query letter doesn’t exist in many cases. This query letter is shorter, and more to the point than most query letters. We can find several ways to improve this query letter. The fact that this query letter sold an article for $750 is evidence that what you offer in your article to engage readers, whom you interview, and the timeliness and relevancy of your article is more significant than how long or how grammatically perfect your query letter is.

You will notice that this writer has extensive experience—perhaps much more experience than you have. Such experience (along with his strong reputation among readers) grants him “special” privileges in constructing his query letter. He doesn’t need to cram in a wordy paragraph of his experience; he doesn’t need to elaborate on unique selling points to improve the importance of his article; nor does he need to convince the editor that he can write, engage readers, and why his article is in-demand right now.