Writers know what the drill used to be: Writers who wanted to submit articles to magazines sent query letters by postal mail, addressed to the right person. The letters needed to contain not only the query itself, but also a resume, sample clips, and, perhaps most important, an SASE (self-addressed stamped envelope) so editors could more conveniently send back the rejected material. (It's worth noting that acceptances almost never arrived via an S.A.S.E)
But what are the rules in the Internet age? Do editors still expect query letters by mail? Or do they accept e-mailed queries?
Finding Editors Who Accept E-Mail Query Letters
Obviously, editors who work on on-line publications are by definition used to a work-flow that includes managing electronic files. So for an on-line publication, don't hesitate to use e-mail.
The vast majority of print editors, too, accept e-mail queries. However, some print editors are still stuck in a by-gone age. A small minority of editors require hard copies of clips from new writers, and an even smaller number (which is decreasing every year) require introductory queries be sent by mail as well.
Many writers simply don't bother approaching publications with these rules, under the assumption that an editor who refuses to use modern communications technology may be difficult to work with in other ways, as well. Alternatively, some writers simply ignore the stated preferences and take their chances with an e-mail, reasoning that if no response comes, no harm is done. But if this is a market the writer really wants to crack, there's no choice but to go back to snail mail.
The challenge lies in figuring out which editors require hard copy submissions. Usually, the publication's writer's guidelines can be found on-line. These will include instructions for submissions. However, on-line guidelines are designed for the 'transom," as it were, and often include addresses such as Submissions@PresitigiousPublication.com. When new writers send submissions to a general address, they often feel that they are sending their work into a big black hole.
A different strategy is to try to dig up the name of the correct editor of the section for which the article is intended. This information can sometimes be found on-line, on the masthead, or from other writers posting in various on-line writing communities. Make sure the information is up-to-date.
How to Get a Response From a Query Letter
Unfortunately, editors' workloads are only growing larger as more and more editors lose their jobs, particularly in the print world. So although it may seem reasonable to expect a quick "no thanks," writers at all levels of their careers, from neophytes to New York Times bestselling authors, report a deafening wall of silence to unsolicited (and sometimes, even solicited) queries. Often, the writer doesn't even know whether the e-mail was received. However, there are some things writers can do to raise the chance of success:
- Make the initial e-mail as strong as possible, containing all the elements of a formal query letter. It should contain a compelling, descriptive headline, the tone should be formal, and the presentation should include links to published work. Never include attachments unless they are requested. In the initial e-mail, ask for an acknowledgement of receipt.
- Repeat the inquiry. E-mails can and do get lost and forgotten. Never assume that just because a query was sent, it was received. Always include a copy of the original query so the editor doesn't have to go back through thousands of e-mails (that is, if it hasn't been deleted).
- Follow up with a postal copy of the query, including the clips. Instead of an S.A.S.E, submit a stamped and addressed quick-response postcard.
- Follow up with a phone call. Many writers view the phone as an alien object, and many editors aren't responsive to phone calls to check up on ignored queries. but writers who can stomach the rejection sometimes achieve results with this direct approach.
The print world is changing, but editors are still looking for good ideas. Getting a well-formatted query letter to the right editors is still the way most writers break into most new magazines. E-mail has made it much easier. By sending well-written and well-formatted queries, writers can raise their chances of a positive response. .
Karen Berger - Karen Berger is the author of 15 books. Please click on her name to read her full bio.
