Queries to children's magazines

[Marilyn Braun]

I've done some research and I've found some children's magazines which have upcoming stories ideas I'd like to write. They're relatively close to the subject matter I specialize in - British royalty.

In the submission guidelines it says to send an angle for the story as well as a bibliography of books to be used.

Has anyone ever done this before? How many books should I list in the bibliography? My thoughts right now are to go to the library, take out every book on this subject and put it in the list. Is this the right way to go about this? I can't read every single one of those books to know whether they would be good sources - especially if I want to query now - so what do I do?

Also, could the internet be used as a valid source of information (provided I've backed the information up with another source)?

Also, are query letters different for submitting to children's magazines? Having never written a real query letter before, should I mention my knowledge of British royalty? The ideas are not specifically about that but it's not far off.

The guidelines also ask for a proposed word count for the article - what would be a realistic word count to suggest?

[JuliePgh]

Sounds like you're targeting one of the Cobblestone group. I've queried them before, and it really isn't difficult.

Cite 5 or so books in your bibliography. Go to the library and just find a few than relate to the angle you'd like to present. Don't cite an internet source unless it's a trusted source such as CNN, PBS, Discovery, etc. and even then, make sure you have several books listed as well.

Take a look at the magazine's other articles that would be similar to what you expect to right in length and then use that as the word count. Or outline the idea for yourself ad do a word count based on the number of points you have. The first few times I queries, I practically wrote out my artcles to get an idea of word count, but when those queries aren't accepted, it proves to be a total waste of time. Now I take a guess, figuring I'll make my article fit the word count if and when my idea is accepted. Don't stress over wordcount, just try to be in the ballpark. Decide if you're targeting 50 words, 300 words, 800 or 1200 words, etc.

You don't have to mention any experience in the field you wish to write about, but if you do have an expertise, i.e. you teach it, you've lived it, etc... then include it because it may help sway an editor.

The most important thing is to write professionaly, submit a good idea, and include everything they ask for in the guidelines. Query letters to children's magazines really aren't that different than query letter to adult magazines. You're still dealing with an editor in a business, so treat is as such.

Ultimately, your professionalism and your idea will sell you, or not.

Good luck!

[Marilyn Braun]

Hi Julie,

Thanks for your response.

I'm working up the guts to query them - the queries are due in May but I'd like to submit sooner than that.

What I'm wondering is, when you query them, how do you write it? The theme issue would be Helen Keller. How do I query without practically writing the entire article? How do I give just a taste? I have an angle, but where do I start and end it? Do you give the title of the article. I think that the title says a lot about what the article would be about, but where would I mention it? If I do mention it, how do I do it without saying - The title of the article is _________. Shouldn't it be more open, in case it needs to be changed later?

Any advice, from Julie and anyone else with more experience than I do would be appreciated!

Marilyn

[stormie]

In case the editor wants to change the title (which has happened to me), call it a "working title."

Queries are short and to the point.

Know the editor's name. Dear So-and-So):

The first paragraph introduces your manuscript, something such as, Helen Keller was not only blind and deaf, but did you know that...? My manuscript of (# of words) with the working title "--" tells about ..... I feel it would be a good fit for (name of) magazine.

The second paragraph is about yourself, with anything that pertains to the children's market or similar to what you wrote the ms. about. Or if you taught certain grades on par with the targeted age group of your ms.

Third paragraph is something such as, Thank you for your time and if you wish, I can send you the completed manuscript, ("name of ms.") for your consideration. I look forward to hearing from you and enclosed please find a SASE for your response.

Best regards,

(Your name)

This is just an idea. Remember, short and to the point. Hope this helps!

[Marilyn Braun]

Dear Stormie

Thank you for your response and advice. The piece that I would be submitting is an article for a theme issue. Do you still call that a manuscript?

When I see examples, it shows the beginning of the idea "Did you know heart disease claims..." And then the second paragraph begins with evidence and statistics. This is just one example I've seen.

How do you do that with a real person who is no longer alive? You can't really offer statistics on Helen Keller - She was deaf, mute and blind, accomplished a lot,etc No statistics here. So how do you present this without giving away the entire article?

I have, almost, written the article, which is mainly to give me an idea of what I'm going to send in if anything else. To flesh out my idea. I guess I can't send the entire thing in can I?

I also don't have any experience in terms of writing for children. I have my own blog but I don't really think that counts for this (or any writing assignment for that matter), so I can't really present any experience. Now, if they had a theme issue relating to royalty, then it might be a different story.

The guidelines say to email the query, so not a problem with sending things back and forth. Another query, for a different theme issue and magazine, says to send the query on disk - do they mean diskette or cd? Just curious.

[stormie]

The way computers are today, "disc" means cd. Computers usually don't come with slots for floppies anymore.

Skip over the fact that you don't have any experience writing for children.

Read as many articles you can in children's mags (targeted to the age group you're writing for) to get a feel of how to write for kids.

Anything you write-- a filler, novel, or work of nonfiction--is a manuscript.

Nothing wrong, by the way, with "giving away the entire article" to an editor. They want to know what it's going to be about and included in it. Think of something--anything--that will hook the editor about Helen Keller.

[Tish Davidson]

Here is a site where you can download free the national (US) vocabulary lists for grades one through five. Maybe this would help get a feel for the right level for your story.

http://www.tampareads.com/trial/vocabulary/index-vocab.htm

[Marilyn Braun]

Wow, thanks Tish! I never thought about it in terms of specific vocabulary. I was more focused on thinking of it as entertainment, but you're right it is suppoed to be more of a learning tool isn't it? If they want entertainment there's always all the teen magazines out there (I won't even dare name them - I'm still thinking about Tiger Beat, 16, Seventeen..)

One thing that I did notice from reading the magazine, is that the articles seem to be very heavy on dates "the declaration of independence was signed on ...."
So that changed the query idea for me. Originally it was broader, more of a bio of Helen Keller condensed into 800 words. Instead I realized it had to be more specific and I've focused on an important day in her life instead of her entire life!

I think the query looks pretty good, now I just have to get up the guts to send it in!!

[stormie]

Go for it and good luck! (Let us know what happens.)

[Marilyn Braun]

I had my husband read over my query letter last night and he wondered whether or not I should change the intro. Right now I have:

Dear (name of editor)

Helen Keller regarded (date) as the most important day of her life...

*************************************

I go right into the idea, without prefacing it. Should I instead say: I'm proposing an article for your Helen Keller theme issue or is that obvious by the fact that I'm writing them about it?

One of the magazines has a procedure for contacting them:

Brief detailed cover letter stating the subject and word length of the proposed article

Detailed one page outline explaining the information to be presented in the article.

Can't this be done in the cover letter itself or does there need to be two separate sheets?

I'm not sure I understand the detailed one page outline. This procedure isn't for the Helen Keller issue, it's for a different Cobblestone publication, but with my Helen Keller query I'm including everything on one page, intro, a brief description of the article, and the resources I intend on using. Shouldn't one page be enough?

They also ask for a writing sample, where do I get one from? I've written lots of articles for my royal blog, but is that enough? They're not asking for published samples, just a writing sample, would a blog article cover that?

It also suggests including a stamped postcard to request acknowledgement of receipt. Maybe I'm asking a redundant question (I'm new at this) but do I have to get my own personal postcards or can a regular postcard with the CN Tower do?

[Tish Davidson]

If the publication specifies how they want the query, follow their directions. Otherwise, there is no single right way to do a query. I like to start the way you did and give the editor a paragraph or so on the idea and then fill in the details of what I am proposing, how long the story will be, my credentials, etc. This has worked well for me for adult magazines, but I haven't ever queried children's publications. Other people like to start with all the mechanical details (topic, length) up front. People sell stories both ways.

About the post card. In the US the postal service sells pre-stamped blank post cards. You just buy one and put your address on the front. The back is totally empty, and someone at the publication either writes a message here. I don't know if the postal service in other countries (are you in Canada?) does the same, but a blank pre-stamped card has always seemed most professional to me.


The directions that said: Brief detailed cover letter stating the subject and word length of the proposed article

Detailed one page outline explaining the information to be presented in the article.

I would interpret as two separate sheets. In the cover letter I would just say something very brief like I am proposing a xxx word story (make sure you know the word length the mag usually uses based on past issues or guidelines) on [topic as specific as you can make it and still stay brief]. Enclosed is an outline of this article. Then I would add a line about who you are and/or your credentials --I am a writer specializing in royalty etc.

I would also be sure to put your name and contact information on the outline page in case it gets passed around the office and is separated from your cover letter.

[cwgranny]

I know of one writer who used the article itself *as* the sample when submitting to the Cobblestone group and she made the sale. They want a sample of you writing some sort of nonfiction to see how well you (1) write, (2) transition between ideas, and (3) capture young reader attention.

Good luck with the piece.

Oh...forgot to add...most of the folks I know who send postcards for acknowledgement just get those simple blank ones from the post office and then write the actually 'acknowledgement of receipt' message on it. Cobblestone would prefer to just drop it in the mail.

[Marilyn Braun]

Silly question, but are the pre-posted postcards called anything specific? I'm envisioning a blank, confused look from the teenage clerk at the post office.

When I submit my sample, do I attach it as a word document? or in text format? I think that some publications are wary of attachments with the whole virus issue, so how do I get around this?

[stormie]

I've said "postcards that are stamped." "Preposted" is fine.

Usually the publication will state if they take attachments or want it in the body of the email. rtf. or txt. is fine, if it's an attachment. In the body of the email, txt. translates better.

[cwgranny]

Cobblestone doesn't want attachments...I actually asked an editor recently. The Cobblestone group wants samples and what not pasted into the email. Be sure the format doesn't get messed up during the cut and paste.

gran

[Marilyn Braun]

Thanks for letting me know. I'm new at this so I'm not sure what to do. I don't want to look unprofessional or be out of running just because I attached something, didn't send the right type of postcard. I appreciate the benefit of your experiences.

[stormie]

I've found out (through others here at these boards:) ) that saving your clip or work in txt format then cutting and pasting it into the body of the email, translates best.

*This is in response to formatting for pasting into the body of the email, not attachments.

[Marilyn Braun]

I sent the query in this afternoon - it's due in May but I thought that since I'd finished it, I would be procrastinating if I didn't.

I attached a sample that I wrote for another website, it's in pdf format so I hope that's okay with them.

[kindone]

I am also interested in submitting ideas to Appleseeds, but I read on the publishing companies general website that they are not accepting queries because they are so busy with the ones they already have. Does anyone know if this is true?

With serenity,

Mary

[Marilyn Braun]

Yes, I saw that too, but I don't remember which mag it is. There are several publications listed so you need to check the individual links for guidelines.

****************************************

Update: I've just looked on the site and Ask & Muse magazines are not accepting unsolicited manuscripts and queries at this time.

Cricket books is temporarily not accepting unsolicited manuscripts

[Marilyn Braun]

If the publication specifies how they want the query, follow their directions. Otherwise, there is no single right way to do a query. I like to start the way you did and give the editor a paragraph or so on the idea and then fill in the details of what I am proposing, how long the story will be, my credentials, etc. This has worked well for me for adult magazines, but I haven't ever queried children's publications. Other people like to start with all the mechanical details (topic, length) up front. People sell stories both ways.

.......The directions that said: Brief detailed cover letter stating the subject and word length of the proposed article

Detailed one page outline explaining the information to be presented in the article.

I would interpret as two separate sheets. In the cover letter I would just say something very brief like I am proposing a xxx word story (make sure you know the word length the mag usually uses based on past issues or guidelines) on [topic as specific as you can make it and still stay brief]. Enclosed is an outline of this article. Then I would add a line about who you are and/or your credentials --I am a writer specializing in royalty etc.

I would also be sure to put your name and contact information on the outline page in case it gets passed around the office and is separated from your cover letter.

I just noticed that the query for the theme issue has to be mailed in - I'd emailed one for another Cobblestone publication and I guess I assumed this one could be emailed as well. So, I'm trying to get the query ready so I can courier it off.

I'm just wondering. How brief is a brief cover letter? Right now all I have is, from Tish's suggestion:

Dear (name of editor)

I am proposing an 800 word article for the John F. Kennedy theme issue.

Enclosed is an outline of the of this article.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Braun


I wouldn't include this part but I"m just wondering how I would handle saying something about myself when I've never been published before and I'm not sure that my writing about royalty would be relevant. However I am very fascinated with the Kennedy family, so how would I say something along those lines?

[Sentia]

Marilyn, the era of John and Jacqueline Kennedy in the White House has often been referred to as Camelot.

My info is a little thin because I've never studied them too much, but that would be one way to approach it: The Kennedys were the closest thing to royalty that the average American has ever known, and we shall not pass the way of Camelot again.

If you'll google the Kennedys and Camelot, I bet a wealth of information will come up. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[wyntermoon]

Excellent resource, thank you for sharing, Shrug!