The American way: pitching vs. querying

Speaking of The Renegade Writer, as I’ve been reading the book as well as the blog, I’m amazed how the pitching (or in US-speak, querying) process varies across the pond.

When I approach editors with ideas, I send an email labelled with a clear subject line that sums up my pitch, with a clear explanation of the idea written in an appropriate style and details of any news hooks, suggestions for who I would interview, case studies I have lined up etc. I then add one or two lines about me, a link or two if I have any clippings that are particularly relevant and my signature, which contains my website link. And that’s it.

No unsolicited CV or writing samples attached, because editors don’t like receiving attachments from people they don’t know. They don’t have the time or inclination to read CVs they haven’t asked for and they don’t really care what university I went to. And we’re talking email here. It wouldn’t even occur to me to use snail mail to approach an editor unless they specifically requested it.

But it seems the process works very differently in the US. From what I’ve gathered from The Renegade Writer and a brief wander through the Absolute Write forums, it seems if you’re querying a US publication you’ll be sending a CV and writing samples as well as your pitch, and you may well be sending them by post and enclosing a stamped, self-addressed envelope to encourage a reply.

From my own experience, both on staff and as a freelancer, I suspect that if most UK pitches were sent by snail mail, most UK editors would let them build up into a teetering pile and simply never find time to open them, let alone respond. I can’t help wondering how much time and money goes into mailing out these please-hire-me packets to editors who may not even look at them.

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Published:: October 8, 2008 / 6:13 am

Category:: freelancing

Tags:: freelancing, pitching, Renegade Writer

Diane 10.8.08 / 10am

If you read Query Letters that Rock (also by the Renegades) you’ll see they say that email is the best/only way to go and that most eds don’t welcome unsolicited packets of stuff. I just kind of filtered that out of the original book, I think… x

writeyouare 10.8.08 / 10am

Thing is – I don’t know about you but I find it laughable to even suggest sending packets of stuff to get one commission as opposed to a job. What ed in this country would have time to read them?

My ex-boss worked in NY at places like Conde Naste and said it’s very different there. More staff, eds have their own offices, etc. Here it’s just a question of getthehellonwithitalready.

Diane 10.8.08 / 11pm

Well, yeah, it’s different in the US, a bigger business – factchecker is a job in its own right for e.g – but I still don’t think *that* many US journos do send out a CV/packet with their query – a website link is enough these days.

I have always, always wanted to work for a US publication, though. Always!

Diana Burrell 10.9.08 / 1pm

Very strange. I don’t recall writing anything about CVs/resumes or sending packets of clips to editors in the Renegade Writer. Are you sure you’re not mistaking our book for another book? I’d never send a resume to an editor, and I haven’t sent out a packet of clips in years — and wouldn’t advise other writers to do so, either. It’s e-mail all the way.

writeyouare 10.9.08 / 1pm

Hi Diana, it was on Absolute Write that they talked about sending clips and things. With the book, it was all the talk of sending written queries with SASEs that got me!

Yes, but to make it clear, we don’t advise writers to send written queries with SASEs.

I got the impression you did – for example there was advice from one person who sent SASEs with yes/no tickboxes so the ed could say if they wanted to commission. I’m not trying to have an argument though and I do like the book!

I can’t imagine sending snail mail to an editor regarding freelance, let alone an SASE. I remember one magazine here said on its website queries should come via snail mail and everyone kept talking about whether that was really true as it seemed so ridiculous.

Diana Burrell 10.9.08 / 2pm

Oh, I’m not arguing, but as a writer, I like to be accurate, especially when my name is attached to the work in question. I think when you read RW, QLTR, and the blog, Linda and I advise writers to use e-mail, not snail mail. We, as well as every other working freelancer we know, pitch by e-mail just as you do.

One thing American freelancers don’t do as often as I think British freelancers do is pitch stories by phone. That’s perceived as a real no-no here. (Although I’ve done it, but more often than not, the editor will say, “Sounds good. Now write it up and e-mail it to me.”)

writeyouare 10.9.08 / 2pm

I think that’s true. Personally I only ever phone editors I know very well to pitch by phone because it’s not easy selling yourself cold and also because, when I worked on staff, I hated people phoning me to pitch ideas and much preferred email.

monica 11.13.08 / 8pm

US or UK, I probably wouldn’t bother pitching if I had to snail mail it. Though one thing I’ve been wondering lately is if there are different pitching styles… I’m from the US living in London and have had much more success pitching to US pubs vs UK. Not sure if it’s the market or my pitching style. Regardless, I’d rather be making GBP so I hope to sort that one out soon. =)

writeyouare 11.13.08 / 10pm

It could just be that the eds you’re pitching happen not to be open to new writers, or the style – it’s odd because with these things you can’t really ask for feedback on why your pitch was rejected or ignored. Some eds take the time to do this but if you asked I suppose it would be a little like a door to door salesman demanding to know what they should have done differently next time…

write you are…

The American way: pitching vs. querying

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