Comments on: Surefire ways to get editors to get back to you faster http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Freelancing in the Digital Age Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:10:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dear WordCount: How do I break into freelance writing? | WordCount http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-120378 Dear WordCount: How do I break into freelance writing? | WordCount Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:39:32 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4061#comment-120378 [...] feedback you get from any editor who takes the time to explain why they didn’t accept your query. Use it to make the next one [...] [...] feedback you get from any editor who takes the time to explain why they didn’t accept your query. Use it to make the next one [...]

]]> By: Anne Wayman http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-9443 Anne Wayman Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:35:23 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4061#comment-9443 Yes, to your article and Steph, and also know the publication... read it darn it. Get the guidelines and pay attention to them. Even doing all that there's no way to know that something is perfect for a pub unless you're on the inside... and not always then. Yes, to your article and Steph, and also know the publication… read it darn it. Get the guidelines and pay attention to them.

Even doing all that there’s no way to know that something is perfect for a pub unless you’re on the inside… and not always then.

]]> By: Michelle V. Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-7537 Michelle V. Rafter Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:52:55 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4061#comment-7537 Thanks for the question. But how do you know they deleted it without reading it? If and when that does happen it could be for a number of reasons: the publication has exhausted its freelance budget for the foreseeable future so can't buy anything new right now. They recently ran something close enough to your pitch they aren't interested. They're just plain not interested. The pitch wasn't a good fit for the publication. The editor's a witch. If you really want to know, ask. Send another email and flat out ask what it was about the pitch they didn't like. You may get an answer, or you may not. But it doesn't hurt to ask - and the answer may be something totally different from what you think it's going to be. If the feedback is that they've already run something similar, you can ask if there are specific topics or areas they're looking for pitches about - and if it's something you're interested in, waste no time coming up with another query. If you strike out completely, move along. Find another market that your pitch would be suitable for. But you really have to understand a publication - not just what they cover, but how they cover it and how they view their relationship with their readers/community - so you can take all of that into account when crafting your query. Hope that helps, Michelle Thanks for the question. But how do you know they deleted it without reading it?

If and when that does happen it could be for a number of reasons: the publication has exhausted its freelance budget for the foreseeable future so can’t buy anything new right now. They recently ran something close enough to your pitch they aren’t interested. They’re just plain not interested. The pitch wasn’t a good fit for the publication. The editor’s a witch.

If you really want to know, ask. Send another email and flat out ask what it was about the pitch they didn’t like. You may get an answer, or you may not. But it doesn’t hurt to ask – and the answer may be something totally different from what you think it’s going to be.

If the feedback is that they’ve already run something similar, you can ask if there are specific topics or areas they’re looking for pitches about – and if it’s something you’re interested in, waste no time coming up with another query.

If you strike out completely, move along. Find another market that your pitch would be suitable for. But you really have to understand a publication – not just what they cover, but how they cover it and how they view their relationship with their readers/community – so you can take all of that into account when crafting your query.

Hope that helps,

Michelle

]]> By: Michelle V. Rafter http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-7536 Michelle V. Rafter Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:48:18 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4061#comment-7536 Great advice Steph (as usual)! Michelle Great advice Steph (as usual)!

Michelle

]]> By: Steph Auteri http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-7503 Steph Auteri Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:53:09 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4061#comment-7503 Making yourself stand out with your expertise is key no matter the situation. Another good tip is to always try and find a news hook for every story idea you send out. If your story is (even loosely) related to a current event, the editor might want to run with it right away. Making yourself stand out with your expertise is key no matter the situation. Another good tip is to always try and find a news hook for every story idea you send out. If your story is (even loosely) related to a current event, the editor might want to run with it right away.

]]> By: Suzanne http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-7502 Suzanne Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:49:21 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4061#comment-7502 What do you do when an editor deletes your query without even reading it, and you know it's a perfect story for his magazine? This happened to me today, and I'd like to know how you'd handle it. Suzanne What do you do when an editor deletes your query without even reading it, and you know it’s a perfect story for his magazine? This happened to me today, and I’d like to know how you’d handle it.

Suzanne

]]> By: Tweets that mention Surefire ways to get editors to get back to you faster | WordCount -- Topsy.com http://michellerafter.com/2010/01/25/surefire-ways-to-get-editors-to-get-back-to-you-faster/comment-page-1/#comment-7458 Tweets that mention Surefire ways to get editors to get back to you faster | WordCount -- Topsy.com Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:12:32 +0000 http://michellerafter.com/?p=4061#comment-7458 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by michellerafter, Todd Rutherford, Theispot.com, Todd Rutherford, Dan Davenport and others. Dan Davenport said: RT @MichelleRafter: Surefire ways to get editors to get back to you faster. WordCount | http://is.gd/71zbK #freelance #writing [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by michellerafter, Todd Rutherford, Theispot.com, Todd Rutherford, Dan Davenport and others. Dan Davenport said: RT @MichelleRafter: Surefire ways to get editors to get back to you faster. WordCount | http://is.gd/71zbK #freelance #writing [...]

]]>