Problem Pitches: Asking the Wrong Questions

Asking questions can be very beneficial for a writer. To an editor, questions show that a freelancer is really engaged with the project. Of course, there are some questions that are good pre-acceptance and others that should not be asked until acceptance.

The Problem
Pitch from freelancer includes information about how qualified the freelancer is and then launches into questions like this:

• What is the length of the pieces?
• What can I expect as payment?
• Which rights do I get to keep?
• How long will my bio note be?
• Will you use my material online?
• Etc.

Sometimes, there is a short pitch after the barrage of questions. More often, the freelancers suggest they'll send over an idea or two after I give them these answers.

As I've posted previously, I like pitches that jump straight into the proposed article idea and that give me a good idea of what the proposed article will cover. However, let's look at why the questions above are not typically appropriate.

What is the length of the piece?
For me, I don't give the answer to this pre-acceptance for two reasons. First, I need to review other pitches first to determine if I just want a sidebar from the freelancer or a full blown article. Second, most freelancers have the ability to go to a bookstore or library and skim through a previous edition of Writer's Market or Poet's Market to get an idea of how long the articles are. This is research 101 for freelancers.

What can I expect as payment?
Never ask an editor about this before acceptance. There's probably a 99.9% chance that I'll never ever assign an article to a freelancer who asks me this pre-acceptance, because I don't want a freelancer who is distracted by the money and/or money-to-work ratio that they're putting into an article. The time to talk money is after I fall in love with your great article idea.

Which rights do I get to keep?
Listen: Rights are very important for freelancers, but as with the discussion of money, it's best to wait until you get the assignment to negotiate how those rights will be distributed. If I have a writer with an almost paranoia about rights before I've even accepted their pitch, then I start to develop a paranoia that the writer will be difficult to work with.

How long will my bio note be?
Talk about "all about me and more about me!" Seriously, this isn't even the most important question to ask, but you can probably discover the answer by doing a little of that Research 101 mentioned above.

Will you use my material online?
In today's shifting media environment, the answer to this question will probably be "yes," or at least, it should be. However, this is a question that is better left up in the air until your pitch is accepted. Once the editor contacts you with the assignment, it is appropriate to ask this question.

The Fix
If you have questions, that's a good thing, but make sure you ask the correct questions at the correct time. Many of the "business" questions should be discussed once the pitch is actually accepted.

That said, there are appropriate pre-acceptance questions an engaged freelancer can ask (if they aren't already mentioned in the submission guidelines or call for submissions):

• When is the deadline for pitches?
• Is there a limit to how many pitches a freelancer can submit?
• Are there topics that editors wish were getting more coverage?

Of course, if the editors have really good guidelines, then don't try to ask a question just for the sake of asking a question. Just make your pitch and move on to the next one.

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Need places to pitch?
Check out the 2012 Writer's Market Deluxe Edition, edited by yours truly. It combines more than 200 pages of business, submission, and marketing advice with thousands of publishing opportunities, including magazines, book publishers, literary agents, screenwriting markets, playwriting markets, contests & awards, and more! In addition to the book, the 2012 Writer's Market Deluxe Edition includes a one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com and an exclusive, recorded webinar on how to build a writing platform. It's truly the best value we've offered before.

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Problem Pitches: Pitch Placement

There are many common problems with pitches (and queries) that writers can fix easily. Last week, I went over pitches that need to adjust their focus. This week, I want go over another very common problem: pitch placement.

The Problem
Here's the situation for these problematic pitches:

• First, the writers tell me about how they got started writing.
• Then, they tell me nearly everything they've accomplished since that moment.
• Then, they tell me how they found this opportunity.
• Then, they tell me how my publication (Writer's Market and/or Poet's Market) has changed their life.
• Then, if I'm lucky, they finally pitch me an article idea.

Of course, if I'm not lucky, the letter will end with something along the lines of: "Anyway, I'd love to write an article for you, so please keep me in mind."

Needless to say, even if these pitches are good, sometimes I have trouble locating or processing them after reading through paragraphs of "non-pitch" information. Plus, putting the important stuff last (or hiding it in the middle) reflects poor judgment on the writers--so I'm not impressed with their writing skillz.

The Fix
Luckily, this problem is very easy to fix: Just lead with the pitch.

You can include all that other information if you need to get it off your chest, though it's not all completely necessary or appropriate, but do so after you've pitched your article idea. As an editor, that's what I care about the most, so it's the most important information in your pitch (or query) letter--even if you have won tons of awards and honors.

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Want to improve your pitching? Try these resources out:

• The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters, by Wendy Burt-Thomas
• How to Write a Great Query Letter, by Noah Lukeman
• Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, by Chuck Sambuchino
• 2012 Writer's Market Deluxe Edition, edited by Robert Lee Brewer

Problem Pitches: Adjusting the Focus

This week, I've been reviewing pitches for the 2013 Writer's Market and Poet's Market. I've made it through my first round of cuts, but I haven't made any final decisions yet. That'll come by the end of the month (for those who are patiently waiting). However, I have been able to use the first round of cuts to make a list of common pitch problems that will hopefully help writers with pitching and querying other markets.

First off, let me say that even very good pitches get rejected each year. I have a defined budget and page count: Once I hit the limit on either or both, I have to start sending out rejections and hope the good pitches make their way to me again next year. That's just the business of publishing, and it's important for writers to understand that editors and agents are looking for pitches to accept--not reject.

That said, I want to look at the problem of unfocused pitches.

Problem #1: Focus Too Broad
A certain percentage of the pitches I've read recently can be boiled down to this message: I propose to write an article on how to make writers more successful. Of course, I'm interested in publishing articles that make writers more successful, but the pitch includes no specifics on how the writer intends to make other writers more successful.

A better approach would be to pick a common problem writers have--such as pitching editors and agents, handling tax forms, creating a professional website without spending a ton of money, etc. When you can't give specifics, you're most likely using too broad of a brushstroke.

This same principle applies to other markets as well. If you want to write for a parenting magazine, don't make a general pitch that claims it will make better parents. Instead, pitch an article that will help parents handle five common temper tantrums or that gives strategies for getting children to stay in bed at night.

Problem #2: Focus Too Narrow
I usually find this problem more in Writer's Market than Poet's Market, because Writer's Market appeals to a large swath of writers, while Poet's Market is already a niche of the writing community. So, how can a pitch be too narrow?

Here's an example (completely made up): I'd like to write an article on dealing with editors of trade magazines for the farming segment.

The problem here is that it only appeals to a slice (nonfiction article writers) of a slice (for trade magazines) of a slice (that focus on farming). At most, this article would probably appeal to fewer than a dozen readers of Writer's Market--even if it's a brilliant article.

A better approach would be to broaden the focus by dealing with editors of various magazines and identifying their different needs and expectations. A well-executed pitch would offer to break the article down into important groups: national consumer magazines, regional consumer magazines, trade magazines, and online markets.

This pitch is still very specific, but it will appeal to a broader audience.

One more thought on narrow topics
Sometimes, narrow is fine if you're trying to get a small piece published in a publication that has a section for very specialized information. For instance, Writer's Digest magazine has an Inkwell section that collects such pieces in the front of each issue. In these spaces, narrow and quirky can be a good thing.

You can also include your narrow idea as a possible sidebar to go along with your broader article idea. It's all about how you package your ideas.

I know it can feel like a balancing act at times, but practice really does make perfect. The more you pitch the easier it will get to find that right balance.

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Interested in more information on the business of writing? Check these out:

• 2012 Writer's Market Deluxe Edition, edited by Robert Lee Brewer. This book is loaded with publishing opportunities and articles on the business of writing, including a pay rate chart, information on contracts, data protection, social media tips, pitches that never fail, and more!
• How to Write a Book Proposal, by Michael Larsen. This is my favorite resource on how to write a book proposal. Larsen does an incredible job of breaking down the proposal into manageable chunks that create a coherent whole. 
• Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript, by Chuck Sambuchino. This is the top guide on formatting and submitting your writing. This book doesn't just tell you how to format your manuscript, it shows you how with several examples.