How Write a Query Letter to a Magazine

Read several copies of the publication before submitting

You don't have to be a full-time writer to get articles published in magazines. Getting articles published, particularly in professional journals, establishes your expertise, gets your name out there and serves as a resume builder when you look for another job in your field. The first step in getting published is not writing the article; it's submitting a query.

Things You'll Need

• An article idea
• A query letter

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with the publication. A big mistake many writers make is to target the wrong audience. Even within a single profession, some magazines may target management while others provide ideas for how to accomplish a task.

2. Research the publication's guidelines. This will explain the type of articles it wants and, possibly, which departments or editors to submit to based on the subject. The publication may also have specific dates during which it accepts submissions. Some magazines will also tell you what they don't want, based on the mistakes of past submitters.

3. Address your query to a specific person, if possible. Many magazines have specific editors of different departments. If you can't find the editor's name, address it to the editor of the department, for example, "Dear Features Editor."

4. Start with your article's lead. This is a line, or a few lines, that will begin your article, and it should grab the editor's interest. If you grab the editor, then the editor knows you will grab readers.

5. Explain what the rest of your article will be about. This should be only one paragraph. Busy editors don't have much time, but it needs to be specific. Karen Spaeder, an editor for "Business Start-ups," suggests bullet points.

6. Convince the editor that you are the only one who could write this article. Explain your expertise and your years working in the field. If you don't have specific expertise, tell her about the interviews you can line up with those who do.

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.

• If submitting by mail, always include a self addressed stamped envelope. If submitting by email, make sure you know whether submissions should be attachments or in the body of the email

• Be sure to include published clips, if you are asked.

• 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.

References

• 1099: Query Letters