Queries allow an editor to determine, quickly, whether you:
• Can write effectively
• Have a coherent, well-thought-out idea that fits the publication's content
• Have a basic grasp of grammar and spelling
• Have read the publication
• Have the credentials or expertise to write the article
• Are professional in your approach to writing
Queries save you time by ensuring that you don't invest time and energy into writing an article that won't be accepted. They can also be gateways to other assignments.
Five Components of a Query Letter
• The hook (first paragraph – attention-getter; problem/solution, question, etc.)
• The pitch (what you’re offering – how long the piece is, what your angle is, etc.)
• The body (details about the article – interview sources, structure, etc.)
• The credentials (your writing background)
• The close (say thank you)
Editors
ReplyDeletePittsburgh Magazine
Dear Editors,
Cupcakes are more than just an after-dinner treat. They symbolize sweet moments in life, moments that are their own contained package that make life the way it is – bittersweet. We all have had cupcake moments that stand out in our memories, and as we live our lives, more are baking and waiting to cool so that the icing can top it off.
This time in my life is a new cupcake baking that reminds me of past cupcakes made and eaten – wedding planning, house hunting, and beginning a new life. A Sprinkle in Time is about a ___ word piece that includes short memoir pieces about growing up, and learning the lessons of life. Coupled with each piece is a cupcake decorating recipe, each one relating to the story told beforehand.
The article is in chronological order, beginning with moment s that I can recall when I was younger, up until moments I have recently had. To get the stories straight, I interviewed the characters in each story, as well as referred back to old documents, emails, photos, and more. The source for the cupcake decorating recipes is Wilton.com.
An outline of the article is as follows:
1. I Dream of Being Jeannie
2. My Mother’s Fur Coat
3. Spice Up Your Life
4. Mrs. Dombroski
5. First Kiss
6. One Night at Jetz
7. The Proposal
8. One Strong Woman
9. Butler Farmer’s Market
10. A Dinner with Dad
Thank you for your time and for your consideration in advance. I look forward to hearing from you.
Melissa Marullo