Query Series: Following Up
You sent the query and now you’re checking your inbox every 20 minutes–if you can wait that long. So what should you do now?
- Take a Deep Breath. Walk away from the computer. But don’t go too far. Editors are usually prompt in responding to queries. They realize that your idea has a shelf life, and they don’t want to miss it.
- Prepare a Plan B. Even if your pitch is great, magazines have limited space. And that space shrinks during economic downturns because advertisers, trying to conserve cash, reduce their ad buys. So your best defense against a “no thanks” is to consider what magazine you’ll pitch to if the first magazine declines your query. Your query shouldn’t be one size fits all, but chances are you can adapt it to a different magazine that covers comparable topics.
- Write the Next Pitch. The best response you can give to a rejection is another pitch. Prepare a new story idea and have it ready. If you get a rejection, reply with a thanks for the editor’s consideration and your next pitch.
- Send a Polite Follow-up Message. If you’ve waited the amount of time the submission guidelines indicated for a response, politely follow up via e-mail. Forward the pitch and ask if it is still under consideration. Never call to check on a query. Follow up via e-mail only.
The querying process can be time consuming. If you’re serious about freelancing, you’ll want to dedicate a percentage of your time each week to the steps of the query process: getting to know the magazine, deciding what to pitch, writing the query, troubleshooting it and following up.
Your query is your resume, the thing that gets you in the door. When an editor says, “yes,” the real job begins. Write your piece, do scrupulous fact checking, meet (or beat) your deadline, and graciously make any needed changes. Then send your next query.
This is the last post in a five-part series on querying magazines. To read the previous posts, see Query Letters under the Series category.