Using a Query Letter to Sell an Article
Is Querying Always Needed for Freelance Writers?
Oct 12, 2008
Of all the practices of freelance writers, the query letter is perhaps the most argued practice. Many authors will not proceed with an article unless they have queried an editor and gotten the go ahead for the piece. Only then do they proceed accordingly. Others who are equally successful never query, and for good reason.
Guidelines
Some periodicals demand a query; some prefer agented articles. If these are the specific guidelines, it will be best to adhere to them. Otherwise, a writer must give serious thought as to whether the query is the way one wants to proceed. Many believe that working on spec is unprofitable and that before one writes an article, one should sell it. Others do quite well writing on spec.
Two Types of Writers
Whether one queries or not, largely depends on the type of writer one is. Some people will not invest the time and energy in a piece unless it is pretty much guaranteed a place in a magazine. Others, however, are people who, once they get an idea, will proceed with an article out of interest, curiosity, or just plain obsession with the idea. These writers shop for a market when the article is completed. Basically, these latter kinds of writers are simply going to write the article regardless.
Querying Is a Waste of Time
Many writers who proceed with the piece first and then shop for a magazine to publish the piece, feel that querying is a monumental waste of time. First, it takes time to compose the query which may sit on an editor’s already overflowing desk for a period of time. Editors are extremely busy and have exacting deadlines. The editor will then have to take the time to answer the query, which often does not happen. During all of this correspondence, months can go by. Even if the editor expresses interest in the idea, it does not mean that the piece will ever see print.
An ambitious writer writes the piece and then shops for the right periodical. The advantage here is that there’s no time wasted in correspondence and the editor has a piece he or she can use immediately if needed.
Kill Fees
Some of the more “prestigious” magazines who agree to an assignment may offer a “kill fee” if the resulting article is not used. The kill fee is usually half of what the author would have been paid had the article been printed. These magazines, obviously, require a query. Usually they’re also familiar with a writer’s work.
Material Is Reassigned
There is little doubt that there are times when a writer’s great idea may be assigned to a staff writer by an unscrupulous editor. Too many freelancers have had this happen for it to be coincidental. This is not to say that all editors will do this and of course these events could be accidental, or an oversight. This can still happen if the article is sent, but it’s less likely to occur.
Timeliness
Another reason not to query is that often an article is very timely, politically, economically or socially. By spending time querying, valuable time is lost. If one must wait months for a response, the impact of the article may be lost, or the event may be long over. No one wants to read an article that is out of date.
Resources
A good resource for writing a query letter is Cynthia Laufenberg’s Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript.
