Query letters

Some tips from Writer’s Digest (and me) on getting your work published

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting– Background research

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting– Background research– A few interviews

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting– Background research– A few interviews– Narrow your focus

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting– Background research– A few interviews– Narrow your focus–Write a theme sentence and a nut graf

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications–What is a likely market for my story?

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications–What is a likely market for my story?–Who is its target audience?

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications–What is a likely market for my story?–Who is its target audience?–Whom should I contact?

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch– Formal letter or e-mailed proposal?

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch– Formal letter or e-mail?– Finished article or story proposal?

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets– Northeastern News

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets– South End News

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets– Bay Windows

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets– ThePhoenix.com

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets–Weekly Dig

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets– Improper Bostonian

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets– Boston magazine

Develop your idea

• Do your pre-reporting

• Research publications

• Making the pitch

• Possible markets– Boston/Bay State Banner

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced– Address the editor by name

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced– Address the editor by name– Do not assume “Mr.” or “Ms.”

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention– Your first paragraph could be your lede

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about– Your second paragraph could be your

nut

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed– List a few people you will/have

interviewed

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed– List a few people you will/have

interviewed– Offer a bit of background information

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

• Outline your qualifications

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

• Outline your qualifications– Accentuate the positive

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

• Outline your qualifications– Accentuate the positive– Don’t be defensive

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

• Outline your qualifications– Accentuate the positive– Don’t be defensive– Always include clips

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

• Outline your qualifications

• End with a request to write the article

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

• Outline your qualifications

• End with a request to write the article– Approximate length

Elements of the query letter

• One page, single-spaced

• Grab the editor’s attention

• Explain what the story is about

• Tell the editor how you’ll proceed

• Outline your qualifications

• End with a request to write the article– Approximate length–When you would be able to finish it

Example of a query

Katrina vanden HeuvelEditor and PublisherThe Nation33 Irving PlaceNew York, NY 10003

Dear Ms. vanden Heuvel:

Example of a query

At a time when the mainstream news media are being threatened by declining circulation, shrinking audiences and falling ad revenues, Jay Rosen thinks he has a better idea. The New York University journalism professor is the founder of NewAssignment.Net, which seeks to bring professional journalists and citizen activists together to work on investigative projects that otherwise might not get done.

Example of a query

Such collaborations, which Rosen calls “pro/am journalism,” may be vital to reviving both the spirit and the reality of public-service journalism. Newspapers, television stations and other media are cutting their staffs, making it difficult to do the kind of investigative reporting on which democracy thrives. Rosen and his supporters hope they can develop a new model that will preserve journalism even in the face of shrinking news budgets.

Example of a query

I have been in touch with Rosen, who has agreed to an in-depth interview. I would also interview other participants in the project as well as skeptics who believe that “pro/am journalism” could undermine traditional news values.

Example of a query

Following a long career as the media critic for the Boston Phoenix, I am now teaching journalism at Northeastern University. I write a regular media column for CommonWealth Magazine and produce the weblog Media Nation, and I closely follow trends in how the Internet is changing journalism. You can read my recent work at www.dankennedy.net.

Example of a query

I would like to write an article for The Nation about Rosen’s project and what it means for the future of journalism. I propose a 2,000- to 3,000-word piece, which I could deliver to you around mid-May.

Example of a query

Thank you for your attention. I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Dan KennedyVisiting Assistant ProfessorSchool of JournalismNortheastern University(617) 373-5187da.kennedy@neu.edu