Pitching markets that have already published your work

It's the same thing at most of the places I submit to. The same editor reads them.

When it is different, I still pitch where they ask me to pitch. They know who I am, and a pitch always goes to the appropriate editor, whatever teh e-mail address or submission process.

I have always send to the pitch address unless asked otherwise. Of course, I do mention in the pitch that I have written for them before...

I'd send it directly to the editor you worked with before. In many cases, the email address designated for pitches is not much more than a newbie-filter. If your new pitch is for a section of the mag which your editor doesn't handle, email her/him and ask who would be the right editor, and ask for their contact information.

It doesn't hurt to capitalize on the relationship you've already built with the first editor--in fact, it's expected. That's what networking is.

I ask my editor what the protocol is.

Well there you go, three completely different options!

Freelancing is a lot about relationship building. When you've worked on something with an editor, hopefully you've had a bit of back and forth during the editing and invoicing process.

Personally, after the first assignment is done and dusted, I typically just e-mail an informal, hey, I came across this idea and thought of you style e-mail to my editor. Sometimes, I've thought of an idea when the first issue with my article arrives and when I'm e-mailing to thank my editor for the copy, I might also add in a note about another story that might work for them.

Don't think of it as querying. It's only blind pitching the first time. After that, it's all about building a good relationship with your editor.