How to Sell an Article

Newspapers and magazines are often looking for new articles. Sure, they have writers on staff but a number of media outlets will also select freelance work as well. The trick is to impress them with your initial pitch and the finished article.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• An article idea
• A query letter

1. Write a query letter. In the query include the first paragraph of the article. There should be a definite hook that draws the editor in: what makes the editor keep reading?
2. Describe the importance of the article. What’s the demographic? Does it affect a lot of people? Is this a story that has yet to be told?
3. Talk about your own credits. After all, an editor might just assign this hot story to a writer on staff. Make the case for yourself as being the best fit for the story. Mention contacts you have already made and how you offer a unique perspective. Also list past credits.
4. Research editors. Don’t just research the magazine. Different editors at the same magazine will be in charge of different stories—i.e. don’t send your query about a political story to the sports editor. Look into local newspapers, weeklies, magazines, websites, or even books.
5. Check if there’s email submission available: much cheaper than submitting by snail mail. You may be submitting to hundreds of editors at once.

Tips & Warnings

• Tailor the query letter to each editor individually. Mention articles that you have liked in the past. Editors can smell a spam query.
• Make sure the query is a page long, two pages at the most.
• You can sell the same article to different local papers, but not necessarily national papers. In addition, you have to check if the article will also be printed online. This may affect where you can sell the article.
• Don’t resell an article you have sold in the past if you no longer retain the rights to the article. Try and retain the rights.