By Christy MossIf you were a corporate advertiser looking to spend money in print, you wouldn't sit down and read the last six issues of a perspective magazine, yet how many times as a freelancer have you been given that advice? Advertisers don't troll the blogosphere looking for witty blogs. They don't allow their own personal taste to guide them – they look strictly at facts and numbers.
As writers, we often see breaking into a magazine as an art – as synergy is moving in our direction. While I agree to a certain extent, it is time to bring out the microscopes and let a more scientific approach guide us. As you’re studying back issues, here are some shortcuts to consider.
Find your column - Chances are, you won't break into a magazine by trying to sell a cover story. Open all issues of your magazine to the table of contents. Look for a regular column, relatively short in length and always written by a freelancer.
As you look at this column in each of your six back issues, notice the length of the column and the length of the lead. Is this column written with season in mind? In the short bio at the end of the story, notice how these freelance writers describe themselves. Do you have anything in common with them? Is there any expertise you need to gain before you would be considered an ideal candidate to write for this column?
Mimic the editor – Always read the letter from the editor. This is your window into the soul of the person who will be reading your query letter. Pay close attention to their style, their use of humor, their tone and word choices. Notice how they address their audience and be prepared to mimic their tone in your query letter.
Making your pitch - After you've dissected your column, brainstorm 3-5 ideas that could work for this magazine. Google the name of your magazine along with key words of your proposed pieces. Even magazines that don't share copy online often have online archives of their table of contents pages. If you are determined to cover something that has been done before, make sure your pitch includes a new angle. If you are pitching a seasonal item, convey this timeliness, but remember to send your query six months in advance.
Keep track – I’m sure you already keep detailed records of the queries you send out, and to which magazines. But other than using this data to know who to send billing statements to, do you ever look at these numbers? Keep track of every query letter you send – even the ones that aren’t successful. After a month, look at your numbers. How many queries did you write versus how many proposals were picked up by magazines. Do this same analysis after three months, six months, and then a year.
Knowing your rate of return will keep your spirits high when you are receiving rejection slips. People across the business world use this technique. Fundraisers expect to call 30 people to get five appointments. A recruiter at a certain university knows that calling 100 potential students will get him 10 students. Even baseball players use this calculation for batting averages.
The following chart will help you compile information which you can then use to write the meat of your query letter. While you will still need to develop your lead, this method will ensure your piece is right for the magazine, moving you one step closer to success.
"Stitched with Love," a 300 word article perfect for "Quilting Friends" in Quilt Magazine, tells the story of the quilters behind Cunningham Children's Home, a residential treatment center for children. Partnering with the Children's Home, local quilters have been enveloping each child in love, with a handmade quilt, since the Home's opening in 1894…. As a quilt lover and a weekend quilter myself, I can appreciate the labor of love each of these quilts represent.
Christy Moss, a writer and fundraiser for a Big 10 University, blogs at Thoughtful Philanthropy. She is passionate about inspiring a spirit of philanthropy in her peers. She specializes in making sense of the numbers for both philanthropists and fundraisers. Jump on over to her site to be counted in her latest generational philanthropy project.