Get sample pitches that sold to The New York Times, TIME, CNN, Elle, Marie Claire and more.
Need help getting assignments? Here’s the lowdown on everything you need to know about pitching and marketing.
But before you do that, download 9 query letters that sold to The New York Times, TIME, Global Post, Ms., and more.
Of course, don’t forget to check out the treasure trove of articles on every aspect of pitching and marketing below that show you not only what I did to build my own freelance writing career, but exactly how I did it.
Why Your Story Ideas Are Key To Getting Freelance Assignments
Your story ideas should be such that they can be summed up in a single sentence. They also need to say something new and something interesting that the editor may not have heard before.
The 9 Types Of Query Letters (And When To Use Them)
Here are the the different types of query letters and why they work in different situations.
What Gets Your Queries Assigned? A Top Editor Tells All
Early on in my career, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with a senior editor at TIME magazine. Here’s what he told me.
The 6 Essential Traits Of Query Letters That Work
Take each individual query apart and you’ll start seeing certain patterns, certain styles, certain traits that they all seem to hit and make them query letters that work.
The Nuts And Bolts Of Turning A Story Idea Into A Pitch
Here are some ways to take a generic story idea, give it a twist and turn it into something more.
Why Sending Pitches Is Important And How Not To Give Up
Every time I’ve had a row of two or three bad months, I’ve realized that they’ve followed a busy period in which I’ve neglected my marketing.
5 Reasons Your Queries Bring Home Rejections And Not Assignments
Why do most of your neatly-crafted, queries come boomeranging back from cyberspace bringing home unwanted rejections?
How To Write And Send 25 Queries A Week
In this post, I’m going to share with you my barebones system for writing and sending 25 queries in the span of a week.
30 Tips From 30 Days Of Querying
Here are my 30 top tips from sending a query letter each and every day for a month.
How To Break Into That Dream Publication — This Year
You know that dream publication of yours? Pitch it.
The Real Reason You Haven’t Cracked The Nationals Yet
If your query letters are consistently bringing back rejections and/or silences, there are only three reasons why. Fix them, and you’ll be well on your way to cracking the nationals in no time.
When It Comes To Pitching, Should You Aim High… Or Low?
Whether you start at the top or at the bottom will depend not only on your goals for your work, but your income situation, your circumstances, and often, the story idea itself.
Why Editors Love Certain Writers (And How To Become One)
In my experience, editors often like to work with a select group of freelance writers or journalists, those who’ve earned their respect and trust over time.
7 Reasons Editors Are Not Responding To Your Queries
While most editors actually do respond to pitches sent their way, here are some good reasons why they don’t.
The Simple Pitching Technique That Doubled My Response Rate
Rejections are tough sometimes, but most of us understand that they’re a part of the job and we don’t take them personally. Was there a way I could get more responses, even rejections? I decided to experiment.
Psychological Barriers And Easy Wins AKA How To Get Over Yourself And Get Work Done
Writers, as a side effect of being creative folk, are masters of the art of the excuse. We create all kinds of psychological barriers for ourselves when it comes time to pitch a story or an idea.
4 Things You Must Do When Your Ideas Don’t Sell
What should you do when a story comes back rejected and your ideas simply don’t sell? Here’s my advice.
Waiting For A Response To Your Query Letter? 8 Productive Things To Do While You Wait
The hardest wait for freelance writers, it seems, is waiting for a response from an editor on an idea that you think is timely, a perfect fit, and of course, marketable elsewhere.
21 Small Things You Can Do Today To Find New Clients
All it takes is one marketing effort a day, no matter how big or small. Here’s my list of the 21 small things you can do today that will help you find new clients.
Lessons Every Writer Can Learn From Foreign Correspondents
Here’s a funny thing that I noticed during my time in India: When journalists came to India from abroad to work as foreign correspondents, they had a far easier time making it as freelancers than local journalists born and brought up in the country.
Turn Your Biggest Disadvantage Into Your Biggest Strength
No matter what your difficulty or weakness, I can assure you that there’s a way to turn it into an advantage. Here’s how.