What editors want from freelance writers

If you hang around freelance writers enough, you know one of the biggest topics of conversation is editors: how to find them, pitch to them, work with them, get them to return your emails and phone calls and love you so much they call you with assignments.

Editors have the same kinds of discussions about freelancers, but it’s not often writers are privy to what they say. That’s why writer’s conferences are so popular: people will pay big bulks to hear editors expound on their likes and dislikes.

For that reason, I was excited to find a blog post on this topic called “The Relationship between Editors and Freelance Writers” on Junta42, a blog on content marketing. It was written by Tom Peric, president of a PR firm called Galileo Communications Inc. and the former editor of a custom magazine publisher.

Peric has specific suggestions for what freelancers should – and shouldn’t – do to get an editor’s attention. For example: when you send a query, include a headline and two or three paragraphs, explain why the editor/readers should care about the topic, and why they should care now.

Peric has written a book called Wacky Days: How to Get Millions of $$$ in Free Publicity. Find out more about him here.