By Ian Paul There are many different ways to take the plunge into freelance writing. My own experience has led me to it through the world of public relations. While many writers dread PR people, the industry can provide you with a strong understanding of how the media industry works. In addition, PR's fundamental skills are very similar to a writer's; including the keys to composing a successful pitch letter. Here are a few tips based on my experiences from working with editors, writers and producers to help your next pitch stand out!
1. Can your idea stand on its own merits? It doesn't matter how well written your pitch letter is if your idea is not engaging. Obvious as this may seem you really need to take a step back and make sure your idea is strong. Pare your idea down to one sentence. Is your focus interesting, insightful, original, or innovative? Be honest, but don't be too harsh on yourself. Besides, further scrutiny could lead you in a direction you never considered.
2. Where do you place the 'hard sell'? In every pitch letter you inevitably have to state what publication or section you are pitching your idea to. While there are many different ideas about how to handle this, I usually follow two simple rules:1. If the editor oversees one department then your target is obvious so feel free to place the 'hard sell' where you feel it fits into the rhythm of the letter.
2. If the editor directs several sections of a publication you should consider stating your focus in the early part of the letter so your reader has a clear idea of where you are going.
Either way, make sure you grab their attention with a good introduction first!
3. Tell a story, be interesting. If the editors snooze you lose! Treat your pitch like an abstract for your future piece. Grab the reader right away with a great introduction, build momentum throughout your letter and present your facts in an engaging and clear way. Remember that even in a query you are trying to tell a story.
4. Keep it short. Your letter should be one page or less with a nice amount of white space. According to Maria Schneider, who blogs at The Writer's Perspective, most people are not willing to read more than 2.5 screens and they read text 25% slower on a computer monitor than on the printed page. This advice applies specifically to blogs, but it is also a great way to think about pitches. If your letter is too long, or the screen is filled to the brim with text, it may end up in the trash bin.
5. Revise, Revise, Revise: Treat your pitch the same way you'd treat an article—never, never, never send out a first draft. You might be tired, you might be hungry, you may have slaved over your letter all night and all you want to do is send it out. NO WAY!!! The point is to get work, not to mark another item off your to do list. In fact, do not send out your second draft! Read it again. 'Third time's a charm' is not just a cliché!If you'd like to read more about pitch letters try these resources:
· Publicity Insider's "How to Write A Great Pitch Letter": written with PR people in mind, but there are still some great tips in here for writers.
· Get A Freelance Life: An excellent book on all things freelance from Mediabistro.com. Ian Paul blogs at The Freelance Diaries