Michael Stelzner is at it again! He’s tallying your votes to come up with a list of the Top 10 Books for Writers. Visit his Writing White Papers Blog to cast your vote.
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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King. All rights reserved.
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
The more letters you send out, the better your chances of receiving an assignment and getting published. Joining the 2007 Inkthinker Query Challenge will help you increase the volume of your queries, but what about increasing the quality?
Even if you send out 25 queries a day, if they’re not what editors are looking for, it’s not going to get you closer to publication. A solid query should demonstrate your writing skills, show that you’re familiar with your target publication and its audience, and give the editor a sense of your ability and experience. But there are also a few key elements that editors look for, and that they’ll want to see in your letters.
Here are some resources I recommend to help you develop your query-writing skills and get the assignment time after time.
Books
Sample Queries
Linda Formichelli, co-author of The Renegade Writer and Query Letters that Rock, offers a free packet of successful query letters. Just send a blank e-mail to queries@renegadewriter.com. The auto-reply will contain 12 examples of query letters that landed assignments.
Articles
There are tons of other query resources out there. What’s worked for you? Leave suggestions, stories, and links in the comments.
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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King. All rights reserved.
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
I’ve gotten a couple of questions more than once, so I think a few clarifications might be in order:
Is it too late to join?
You can join the challenge AT ANY TIME.
Can I count queries I sent earlier this year even though I just joined?
When you join, you can COUNT ALL QUERIES YOU SENT OUT RETROACTIVELY TO JANUARY 10.
If I send in a completed piece, like an essay or something, does that count as a query?
Submissions to lit mags, etc, WILL count as queries. However, use good sense in submitting–don’t just sent out the same piece to 100 random mags you found at Duotrope so you can win the challenge. That’s stupid, and a waste of your time and the editors’. Like I said before, the prize is good, it won’t be so good that it’s worth completely destroying your personal integrity–or being unprofessional.
Do I have to link back to you if I join? I don’t like you/don’t want to/don’t have a website/other reason.
You don’t have to link back to Inkthinker if you join the challenge, but it would be appreciated. The more people who know about it, the more people who will benefit from it.
So, I should, like, copy you on all of my queries so I can get credit for them,
right?
For the love of God, NO. Do NOT copy me on your queries. I will seriously go bonkers. Then, in my defensible-by-reason-of-mental-illness state, I will be forced to bludgeon you with your keyboard. I definitely want your success stories, but please, please, PLEASE don’t copy me on your correspondence with editors. There’s absolutely no reason to do that. And besides, you’re reporting numbers to me at the end of each month anyway.
Now, get back to work!
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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King. All rights reserved.
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
Courtesy of my friend and yours, Lori Widmer:
I solemnly swear that I, Lori Diane Widmer Bean, shall get off my arse and send out 120 queries in as many days. I promise to make them GOOD queries, not just “Yo, editor! Try this on for size!” I promise to work like a busy beaver at finding new markets and new ideas, and at hitting up old markets with new ideas or regenerated ones. I promise to worship at the feet of one Kristen King, Super Freelancer, should half of these queries hit pay dirt. I promise to sing her praises to the mountaintops should I get even 20 gigs out of this. I promise to be her biggest fan even if I don’t sell a single one. :)
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King. All rights reserved.
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
Kristen,
Well, I’m off to a great start with two queries sent in two days, with one acceptance and an interview for a travel column! This was the response to yesterday’s query:
Thanks for your quick response and the writing samples. They look good! I’ll put together an assignment for you for Slovenia and Croatia , including a template for the order of information.
And this was the response from today’s query:
I received your clips. I actually might be in the market for a new travel writer soon. I’d love to set up a time this coming week or the next to talk more about possibly writing travel stories for the [redacted]. Is there a day or time that works better for you? Fridays are best for me, and I’m usually available from about 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.I look forward to hearing from you.
I know this is not normal, but I wish it was!
Jeez, Terah, me, too! This is excellent news! Keep up the good work. :]
Do you have a 2007 Inkthinker Query Challenge Success Story? Great! E-mail me!
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www.kristenkingfreelancing.com
Finalist in 2006 Writer’s Digest Best Writer’s Website Contest
Contents © Copyright 2007 Kristen King. All rights reserved.
Contents Copyright © 2006-2014 Kristen King
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