Get an editor's attention, the right way

Mar 16, 2023

Fiction and nonfiction writers, need to know how to pitch editors well.

As an editor and a writer, I’m on both sides of the query letter biz.

Here’s some quick What Not to Do tips for you.

(“Kelly, I just want the free pitching guide!!” No problem: Here you go.)

Don’t spend too long introducing yourself.

I get emails where writers spend well over half the email trying to convince me they’re a great writer.

They post links to their blogs and novels and websites.
They give me a long run down on every writing experience they’ve had since they were 6 and all the struggles and successes they’ve had along the way.

Do you know what I do?

Skip it.

I don’t read a single word.

All I need is:

“Hi Kelly, I love your publication. I’ve been published in X, Y and Z and I’d love to pitch an idea for Inspired Writer.”

Then I want the title of the story! That’s it!

Some publications want to see whole drafts (not just pitches).

Straight after the title, link to the draft.

If you’ve been published in The New York Times, I’ll probably think “Oh! Nice. I have to read this one!”

But honestly, I read them all so it doesn’t really matter who you are and what you’ve done.

Some very busy editors won’t read every piece.

Bylines (like being in NYT!) are important in that case.

If other editors have published your work, they know you’re a decent writer. But really, it’s the story that counts….

If you’re querying, give them something to consider. Very rarely is any editor going to hire you or publish you on your credentials alone.

But you’re Stephen King?

“So, Stephen, what ideas have you got for me?”

Okay, maybe I would just say “Yes, Stephen!! Anything! I’ll publish your napkin scrawls if you like!”

If you’re not Stephen King, you need a story.

You need to prove you’ve got some ideas in that head of yours.

Most places take pitches—that’s when you offer a TITLE and explain your idea in a couple of paragraphs.

But as a new writer, you may need to send a whole story to show you can actually write.

Most editors want 2-3 links to your previously published work. There’s a nice neat way to do this:

“Please find links to my previously published work here and here.”

Simple, right!

If you don’t have any published work, get some decent stories up on Medium—anyone can.

What’s your dream publication? Let me know in the comments.

P.S. You can grab a free guide to pitching at my Gumroad shop too.