Queries to children's magazines

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!

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Is the Cricket Group taking unpublished author queries?

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, 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.

Excellent resource, thank you for sharing, Shrug!