Multiple Article Proposals & Rewrite Question

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Our articles are written by our readers is just another way of saying we don't pay for our content. Do you think the editor is working for nothing or is she getting paid? I'll bet my next check she isn't a reader who happens to edit the pub out of the goodness of her heart. And I wouldn't worry too much about them rejecting your book proposal. Writing an article and not being paid is one thing, but writing a book and never seeing a cent is another thing entirely.

I think you dodged the bullet on this one. Put your work up on your site and work on your book on the side, then self-publish it as an ebook. You can sell it to your readers and while you may not be buying a new car from the proceeds, at least you won't be doing all of that so someone else makes money.

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Hi Orianna! I probably am too late on this, but wanted to add some insight.

• If you're interested in writing for this Threads, research the editor and send him/her a freelance query, very short, about yourself and what you can offer her 'zine. You can pitch 1-2 NEW ideas, no more. (I do not recommend ever pitching stuff from a blog.). Each pitch is one sentence.

• Don't sweat that they ask for reader submissions, instead ask to spell out terms up front. If you don't they will take advantage of free or low-cost work. So the way I've done it is query. When they request an article, then ask to clarify terms before you submit the article.

• I wouldn't say never to writing on spec. Only once to start building your name. They sometimes call it a tryout. And sometimes trying out is the only clear path to writing for them. My highest paid article ever was written on spec. The editor loved my work and paid me quite well for it.

Best of luck,
Lucie

Dear Editor is unacceptable. Look them up on social media or choose one person from the masthead. The one who would most likely publish yoyr article. As a writer who sends very few queries, I tend to research people a lot and customize my pitch to each person. Good luck, Lucie

I made a living writing articles on spec when I decided to go freelance. And there is no way that my work would have been picked up by the places it did had I not offered to write on spec. Pretty much my offer to write on spec was a standard line in all my pitches. I don't see it as a bad thing at all.

I would suggest pitching one story at a time until after they have taken one from you. But after that, sure, shoot the editor an email, asking if he's interested in any of your other ideas. But don't overwhelm him. He doesn't want to get twenty ideas from you, but three good ones, why not? Just don't expect him to take more than one idea at a time.

When it comes to rewriting things that you originally published on your blog, you might have to be careful. I used to write for one magazine that never would have been okay with this. And my contract stated that I would not resell the piece I did for them anywhere else for 30 days. That would have included a rewrite. When you want to break in somewhere, send them new and fresh ideas. I think you'll have more luck with that.

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Orianna2000 said:

Thanks, Gettingby and Mewellsmfu. I will start with one article and see what happens from there. One reason I write my articles before subbing is because my health is fickle, which makes it difficult to write under a deadline. I don't want to tell the editor, "Sorry, your article is going to be late because I was in too much pain to get out of bed this week." I'd much rather write it first, then it's ready to go when they ask for it. If I don't sell it, I can always use it on my own website, for my students. I enjoy writing so much, it's not really a chore. If I can't use the article anywhere, at least I'm gaining writing and editing experience, so it's still not wasted.

Okay, so the magazine in question lists the names of five editors: Editor, Special Projects Editor, Technical Editor, Senior Copy/Production Editor, and Senior Special Projects Editor. Plus several "contributing editors" whose names I recognize as being famous sewing experts who've written articles for the magazine. Is any one of the above editors the one I should write to with an article proposal?

I checked their Facebook page and website--there's no name given anywhere for a submissions editor. I even tried Googling it, but no luck. If anyone feels like calling to ask for me, I will cede my firstborn child to you. Or, you know, a big plate of virtual brownies. Whichever's easiest. I can provide the phone number in a PM, if anyone volunteers.

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The problem with writing articles before hearing back from an editor is that often editors want to tweak your idea a little. The editor might say he loves your idea, but can you focus it on the how snaps are replacing buttons and not just how button factories are going out of business. Or not just on young people are making their own clothes but that high schools are bring back home economic classes. Things like this can change the focus or an article.

What I would do is shift your efforts from writing full articles to writing great pitches. Usually, I would do a third to a half of the reporting before pitching an idea. One thing that works really well is to include a short quote from an expert you have already interviewed. (Make sure when you interview someone before you pitch the story that you let them know you will want to follow up with them again after you've heard from your editor) This shows editors that you know what you are talking about and have access to good sources. But I would just include one short quote. You can say something like... Industry experts are already acknowledging the end of buttons. "It's all about snaps now," says the owner of the biggest snap manufacturer.

Sorry my examples are a little stupid, but I hope you get the idea.

As far as who to pitch, managing editors are usually a safe bet. The main editor is fine. If it's a good idea, any editor will respond to you or send it to the right editor. If you really want to you can call and ask who to send pitches to. Is there a reason you feel like you can't make that call? You're a sewing reporter now, and reporters of any kind usually have to make a lot of phone calls. Also, it will be a really quick phone call. The receptionist has gotten that exact same call from someone else before. No one is going to ask you anything or want to keep you on the line. If you really think it would help, you can PM me the phone number and I will call on Monday for you. But it might feel good to do it for yourself. I don't know anything about this magazine or sewing. You are the expert. You are the writer. You are professional and capable.

There is an email address in the guidelines. It's at the end. I would use that instead of sending directly to an editor. I know sometimes people like to pitch to a specific editor. Sometimes that's the way to go. But after reading the guidelines, calling yourself to pitch stories is what I would do. I know you're nervous about calling. The more you make these kinds of calls, the easier it gets. And there is a great opportunity to pitch stories over the phone, according to the guidelines. You won't find that a lot. I once called a publication to pitch a story because I didn't have access to the Internet. The editor was super interested in my pitch, and I quickly became a regular writer for them. Most of the time editors don't want your phone calls. But I would really see if there is anyway you can make yourself call since they state welcoming such phone calls. A conversation is a great way to start building a relationship with the editor.

If you really can't muster up the courage to make this phone call, I would just send your pitch the the email listed in the guidelines and not address it to a specific editor at all or address it to the main editor if you really want to include a name, but I don't think you have to. It's not going to matter if you put an editor's name on it. Based on the guidelines, I would expect you will here back from them either way. The guidelines with an invitation to call them up if you want to write for them means they are really looking an open to ideas from you.

I only looked at the guidelines just now because I was going to give them a call for you, but I'm sure they would tell me to use the email in the guidelines. I wish there was something I could say to get you over your phone fear. How do you interview sources if you're not calling them? Maybe you are trying to do everything over email, but I believe you can get a lot more info and a better story by having a conversation rather than emailing a list of questions. Maybe if you practice making this phone and pitching the stories to a friend it will help you.

Don't get me wrong. I understand the anxiety that comes along with all this. It's real, and I'm not trying to say it isn't. But if you make this phone call, end up talking to someone about story ideas and it turns into some work for you, it's going to feel really good. I think the only reason to call is to pitch your stories, and, unfortunately, I really can't do that for you. Do keep us posted on how this works out for you. I'm cheering you whether you call or email. You got this!