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Know the Traget Before Firing the Query
by Joseph M. Kelly

Spraying the publishing landscape with poorly targeted queries rarely leads to a bull's eye with editors. Haphazardly aimed queries from unfocused writers demonstrate laziness and lead mostly to rejection.

When you send a query to an editor, make sure you have done at least the minimal amount of homework required to get your query considered. Otherwise, your laziness could thwart any chance of getting published. Here's an example of a lazy writer who didn't care enough to take the extra few minutes of effort to personalize his pitch, which led to a quick rejection.

This recent query jumped off my monitor to inform me the writer was not a serious candidate for an assignment. The heavy stench of gross laziness led to its prompt deletion from my in-box. This particular query was sent to my e-mail address, which indicated the writer had the right person for submissions. Then, the words "Articles Editor" and "Dear Sir or Madam" smacked me with a brand of indifference and laziness that compelled me to send it to the trash bin without replying.

After the first few lines I could tell this same letter had been sent to dozens of editors listed in some database -- a blanket approach that isn't personal enough to catch the attention of any editor. The writer must have failed "Freelancing 101." Anyone serious about writing knows and understands that impersonal queries do not spark attention.

Then, the query got worse. The self-proclaimed "author" began his query with his credentials: An active author for seven years, eight hardback and four paperbacks to his credit, 55,000 copies sold, etc. They were solid credentials, but they were jammed down my throat before the writer so much as attempted to sell me on a story idea. Sell the story first, then sell your abilities.

After forging through the credentials, which rambled on at a length inappropriately long for a query letter, I finally made it to his pitch. In this case, the writer suggested a series of 2,000-word stories addressing a legal matter -- a topic already covered monthly in my magazine by a contributing editor. This freelancer failed to take the time to conduct a five-minute Internet search, which would have revealed:

• the editor's name is Joe Kelly;
• he is a "Sir," not a "Madam;"
• there is no "Articles Editor;"
• the magazine already covers the subject being pitched;
• the subject being pitched is covered by a regular columnist who is also a contributing editor for legal issues;
• the columnist has written monthly for the magazine for several years; and the magazine rarely runs stories of a 2,000-word length.

Copyright © 2001 Joseph M. Kelly

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