How to Write a Pitch Letter

Video Transcript

"Hi, this is Laura Turner and today we're going to talk about how to write a pitch letter. For the purposes of this video I'm going to talk about how to write a pitch letter as a freelance writer for publications. First find a publication that you know that you can add your expertise to, that you know that you can write for. This also goes for people writing pitches for screenplays for productions companies, things like that. You want to know what kind of work they do before you submit to them because you might not actually be a perfect fit for them. So make sure that you can fit into that publishing company. Next, in order to find this out and if you are a good match for them, do research on what kind of stories they publish and how many stories about the pitch or the subject you are going to write about, how many stories have been written about that subject so that you know that they have an inundation of stories about high gas prices and what are you going to bring about to writing about that subject that no one else has brought to the table. Next, find out who you need to contact. Either by calling the office or finding it online in order to get considered for a feature. So, write that person specifically. Usually you can send them an email but sometimes you may have to send them an actual letter, but actually make sure that you're addressing it to the right person. That you're also spelling that persons name correctly, that you sort of present as thought you've done your research to the people at that publication. Next, state why your article will eliminate new things about the subject matter and add in what kind of publications you've worked for before. Why you're the right person to write this new feature for the publication. What you've done before and how people have liked your work before. Next, actually tell them how long you think it will take to write your feature and how long your feature is going to be so that they will know, you know this is the kind of stuff we're looking for now, can we take this persons really long article about airplanes or you know should we just totally drop it. So you really, you want to find the perfect fit for your and they want to find a perfect fit for you so be honest about how long you think it will take and how long it will be. And finally, read over your message before you send it because the worst thing you could do as a writer is send a letter to a publisher or to a production company and actually have not proofread it and have proofreading mistakes in it. So go ahead and read over your letter before you send it. And those are some tips for writing a pitch letter."