Pitch Perfect Additional Resources
Suggested Reading: ● Writer’s Market 2012 edited by Robert Lee Brewer ● The Renegade Writer by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell ● The Renegade Writer’s Query Letters that Rock by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell ● Get A Freelance Life by Margit Feury Ragland ● Starting Your Career As a Freelance Writer by Moira Anderson Allen ● How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larson ● Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz ● Get Known Before the Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strength To Grow An Author Platform by Christina Katz ● You Can Write For Magazines by Greg Daugherty ● The Everything Guide to Magazine Writing by Kim Kavin ● Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why by Jeff Herman ● Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More by Robert Bly ● The Writers Guide to Queries, Pitches, and Proposals by Moira Anderson Allen ● Pen on Fire: A Busy Woman’s Guide to Igniting the Writer Within by Barbara DeMarco Barret ● Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott ● Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg ● On Writing by Stephen King
Suggested Websites: ● mediabistro.com (yearly membership $55) ● ed2010.com ● freelancewritinggigs.com ● therenegadewriter.com ● queryshark.blogspot.com ● writersdigest.com (especially the Guide to Literary Agents blog) ● theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting ● blog.nathanbransford.com ● dominiquebrowning.com (example of a well done writers website)
Attachments: ● Personal Essay Markets AE from Mediabistro.com ● How to Pitch: Real Simple from Mediabistro.com ● How to Pitch: Inc from Mediabistro.com ● American Way Query Letter ● Afar Query Letter ● Babble Query Letter and Response ● Artful Blogging Query Letter and Response ● Country Living Query Letter, Followup and Response ● Falls the Shadows Query Letter (letter to a literary agent) ● The Weird Sisters Query Letter (letter to a literary agent) ● Hidden Cities Query Letter (letter to a literary agent) ● Sample Freelance Contract ● Masthead for Boston Magazine 1 Personal Essay Markets AE *copied from MediaBistro.com
1. AARP The Magazine The crucial ingredient in essays for AARP is that they must offer fresh insight into an aspect of life after 50. Style and emotional heft are also important. Length: 1,2001,500 words Pay: $2 a word Assigning editors: Margaret Guroff or David Dudley, [email protected] Guroff's advice: "Originality is key. Certain life events, such as caring for a parent with Alzheimer's disease, inspire many more great essays than we could ever hope to publish. We're looking for the compelling reads and universal truths in unusual, extreme or commonbutlittlediscussed life experiences."
2. Adoptive Families "At Home" These essays are virtually always written by adoptive parents. Review submission guidelines. Length: 600 words Pay: $0100, depending on writer skill Assigning editor: Eve Gilman, EVE at ADOPTIVEFAMILIES dot COM Gilman's advice: "We are looking for wellwritten essays that capture a moment related to families and adoption without being heavy handed." 3. American Baby "Sharing" American Baby covers the spectrum of pregnancy and parenting issues relating to babies up to six months. "Sharing" is the personal essay column, and the editors are currently seeking true stories pertaining to pregnant women or new moms. They are open to firstperson accounts in addition to astoldto stories. A past example is an account of a woman who livestreamed her birth on YouTube. Length: 7501,000 words Pay: Roughly $1.50 a word Assigning editor: Mindy Walker, MINDY dot WALKER at MEREDITH dot COM Walker's advice: "We consider a wide range of parenting topics, as long as it's something our readers can relate to."
4. Anthologies Anthologies are approached one of two ways: open submissions or by invitation. Word of mouth is the best way to discover upcoming anthologies. Some publishers with ongoing series have websites with an official call for submissions (see Travelers' Tales and Chicken Soup for the Soul). Editors will occasionally announce a call for submissions on their blogs. Some anthologies will accept previously published essays. Length: Varies Pay: Usually $100500, but can be up to $2,000 depending on the advance paid for the book One writer's advice: Lori Gottlieb, a writer with 10 anthologies to her name and author of Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough, says that editors tend to be most interested in
2 an unusual and nuanced take. "If the book is about, say, women's relationship to money, they're not going to want what readers see all the time in women's magazines ('I was afraid to ask for a raise at work,' etc.). Anthologies tend to be a space where writers can be very intimate and personal and explore the topic in all of its complexity. Really think about the topic and what you have to say that you've never expressed to anybody, or that nobody has ever talked about but you wish they had. That's the beauty of these collections, both for the contributor and the readers."
5. The Bark Dog lovers unite in this magazine that covers canine culture and publishes at least a couple of essays in each issue. Essays should convey essential truths about the human/dog relationship, ones in which the dog is the key focus rather than incidental to the story. Review submission guidelines. Length: 1,2001,500 words Pay: Determined on an individual basis Assigning editor: Claudia Kawczynska, CLAUDIA at THEBARK dot COM Kawczynska's advice: "It's a good idea for the potential essayist to be familiar with The Bark's voice and previous content."
6. The Boston Globe Magazine "Connections" A Boston connection is not necessary, but essays for this column must offer a fresh perspective on a personal relationship, whether with a romantic partner, friend, family member or even an interesting exchange with a stranger. Past examples include an essay on the importance of saying hello, even to strangers; a volunteer's developing friendship with a young orphan in Haiti; and a conservative's decision to come out as Republican to his largely liberal friends. Length: 650 words Pay: $500 Assigning editor: Veronica Chao, VERONICA dot CHAO at GLOBE dot COM Chao's advice: "Please submit a completed draft rather than a pitch. Anonymous or pseudonymous bylines are not permitted at The Globe, nor is changing the names of people mentioned in the essay. Anyone you write about significantly in the essay must approve of your writing about him/her. We respond to an essay we want to publish within a month; we don't respond to essays we won't pursue."
7. Brain, Child: The Magazine for Thinking Mothers "Personal Essays" This literary magazine is dedicated to the meatier issues of motherhood. Between its print, blog and online forums, it publishes 20 essays a month. "We have a twiceayear special issue devoted to parents of teens," says editorinchief Marcelle Soviero. In previous pieces, one mother explored her love and concern for her overweight baby; another wrote of her infertility treatments and subsequent adoption; and another talked about raising her children in Somalia. Length: 8004,000 words Pay: $50500 Assigning editor: Marcelle Soviero and Randi Olin, EDITORIAL at BRAINCHILDMAG dot COM
3 ("We both assign and choose essays," Soviero says.) Soviero's advice: "We present voices of women of different ages, backgrounds and circumstances in order to provide our readers with new insights and perspectives on issues that matter to mothers. We look for a strong narrative voice with vivid scenes and liberal use of dialogue. We like essays that make the readers think or want to share/discuss the piece immediately. Every editor says it, but familiarity with the magazine, and our writer's guidelines, really does help."
8. Brain World "The Last Word" Intended for the general reader, Brain World is a magazine dedicated to the human brain. It publishes one personal essay in each of its four issues per year. Length: 800850 words Pay: Varies, and depends on the writer/topic Assigning editor: Liz Belilovskaya, BRAINWORLDMAGAZINE at GMAIL dot COM Belilovskaya's advice: "I'm seeking essays on any topic related to the brain. Past examples have included recovering from brain injury, how friends helped my mother's Alzheimer's, life with Tourette syndrome and hypnoses cures."
9. BUST BUST publishes personal essays and firstperson reported articles in its feature well. A past essay was by a woman who had a jewelry phobia. Writers should query firstperson pieces and keep in mind that the magazine publishes bimonthly, so it might be a while before your pitch is reviewed or accepted. Length: 2,500 words or less Pay: Generally $100200 for features Assigning editors: Molly Simms and Emily Rems, SUBMISSIONS at GMAIL dot COM (both editors check email submissions) Simms' advice: "Please keep the tone of the magazine in mind; BUST is known for its frankness but also its humor. Finding an inventive way to approach your subject will be much appreciated."
10. The Chronicle Review "Observer" Published as part of The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Chronicle Review is a weekly magazine dedicated to arts and ideas for people in academe. Its "Observer" column runs personal essays, like the piece by a philosophy professor who, although skeptical of virtual classrooms, decided to teach an online course and was surprised to discover how well it worked. Length: 1,200 words Pay: Varies Assigning editor: Denise Magner, DENISE dot MAGNER at CHRONICLE dot COM Magner's advice: None, other than the submission guidelines.
11.Coastal Living "Coastal View"
4 This backpage essay is all about life on the water. In addition to spotlighting the Atlantic, Pacific and the Gulf, the magazine seeks stories that tie into the Great Lakes, Hawaii, Alaska, coastal Canada and Mexico, and the Caribbean islands. A past example includes an essay by a wife (and mother) who rented a cottage by the sea for a solo retreat. Length: 750 words Pay: $1 a word Assigning editor: Jennifer Slaton, JENNIFER dot SLATON at TIMEINC dot COM Slaton's advice: "To pitch, submit at least a couple of paragraphs to provide an idea of topic."
12. Creative Nonfiction Its motto: True stories, well told. And, according to its submission guidelines, "a typical issue of CNF contains at least one essay by a previously unpublished writer." Although CNF occasionally runs themed issues, unthemed essays are welcome yearround. Length: 4,500 words maximum Pay: $50 flat fee, plus $10 per printed page Assigning editor: Stephen Knezovich, Creative Nonfiction, 5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202, Pittsburg, PA 15232; or use its online submissions form ($3 convenience fee). Knezovich's advice: "Essays accepted for publication in Creative Nonfiction undergo a fairly rigorous factchecking process. To the extent your essay draws on research and/or reportage (and ideally, it should, to some degree), CNF editors will ask you to send documentation of your sources and to help with the factchecking process. We do not require that citations be submitted with essays, but you may find it helpful to keep a file of your essay that includes footnotes and/or a bibliography."
13. Culture This magazine is looking for essays related to cheese. Length: 500 words Pay: $200 Assigning editor: Katie Aberbach, KATIE at CULTURECHEESEMAG dot COM Aberbach's advice: "We're seeking personal, political, provocative or amusing essays related to cheese."
14. EatingWell "Nourish" "Nourish" essays should be stories from the heart that have to do with food and how food nourishes us in unexpected ways. It is a short essay with a broader message and shows how food connects us to others and to ourselves. Writers may send finished essays on spec. Length: 600800 words Pay: Starts at roughly $1 a word Assigning editor: Gretel Schueller, GRETEL dot SCHUELLER at EATINGWELL dot COM Schueller's advice: "Think of this as a oneact play or short story: Who are the characters, what is the plot, what is the culminating scene? Ideally, the theme should tie to the season and in some way relate to our core areas of focus: food, health and sustainability. We have published a few overthetransom pieces in the last five years but do assign to new writers whose work
5 we've seen elsewhere and admire."
15. Elle Elle uses personal narrative as a way to explore the gray area of hotbutton issues, from health to culture, so timeless "chestnut" topics probably won't get ink. An example of a recent piece explored how one woman crossed the line from Facebook friends to fullblown affair. Length: 2,000 words Pay: $2 a word Assigning editors: Rachel Baker, RACHELBAKER at HEARST dot COM; or Ben Dickinson, BDICKINSON at HEARST dot COM Dickinson's advice: They're called personal essays for a reason, so please be as open as possible in your manuscript. Elle editors say they hate getting submissions that read as if the writer is holding back.
6 How To Pitch: Real Simple *copied directly from MediaBistro.com
Pitch broad to this mag's 2 million plus readers Circulation: Over 2 million Frequency: Monthly Special issues: Real Simple Family, published in September
Background: Laundry. Dinner. Work deadlines. Shopping. A woman's todo list is neverending. Thankfully, there's Real Simple. "Real Simple is the magazine for women who are very busy and want ways to simplify their lives," said deputy editor Noelle Howey. And, since the publication's launch in 2000, Real Simplehas been doing just that, covering every facet of everyday life, from throwing the best cocktail party on the block to improving your credit score. While the magazine competes with titles like O: The Oprah Magazine and More for advertising dollars, Howey explained that the unique nature of Real Simple's content makes direct comparisons difficult. "We cast a pretty wide net in terms of the areas that we cover, so each one of our beats could theoretically compete with a different magazine," she said, "and we also try to pitch as much of our content as possible to as broad a range of readers as possible."
Real Simple's focus on universality may be foreign to some freelancers used to writing for (or reading) niche pubs with narrow demographic bases, but it's a proven formula for success, nonetheless. Circulation numbers have been above 2 million for some time, and loyal readers range in age from their 20s to their 50s and 60s.
And, of course, the title of the magazine itself also greatly impacts Real Simple's editorial direction. "'Real Simple' is the defining characteristic of the magazine," explained Howey. "We are a service magazine presenting solutions, and the idea is to take complicated concepts and simplify them for the reader."
What to pitch:Though most of Real Simple is pitchable, two sections of the book offer considerably better odds of snagging a byline. Naturally, Howey advises new freelancers to start there. "Money," said Howey, functions as the magazine's frontofbook, which means that there are lots of smaller, lessrisky assignments for editors to dole out. Coverage here runs the personal finance gamut, including securing the best mortgage rate and decoding retail industry propaganda. On length, word counts of these service pieces vary considerably, starting around 100 words and going up to 1,000. "Health" ranks second on the magazine's list of freelancerfriendly sections and, like "Money," offers writers a chance to test the Real Simple waters through a variety of topics. Nutrition, fitness, hygiene, metabolism, weight loss, skincare and more are all covered here and, if you can weave a pitch that tackles multiple healthrelated subjects at once, even better.
7 Features are a longer shot for new freelancers, but folks with standout ideas should still pitch away. So, what do editors want for these meaty, 1,0003,000word articles? "They're somewhat hard to define because we're just looking for really interesting stories about real women," said Howey. Reported pieces, profiles and essays are all fair game, but, take note: Editors want an interesting hook, but they are not looking for sensationalism.
What not to pitch: No section of the magazine is completely offlimits, but Howey cautioned that "Food" and "Fashion" are extremely hard to crack, as is the "Life Lessons" essay column. Regarding the latter, she said that the vast majority of pitches she receives are for this section, but it is by far the hardest to get into. Most "Life Lessons" authors have one or more published books to their credit and/or a ton of magazine publishing experience.
Online opportunities: At its core, RealSimple.com follows the same editorial direction as the magazine, with an emphasis on churning out "smart, helpful, surprising, and beautiful content that makes life a little easier." But, said Kathleen Harris, RealSimple.com's managing editor, "we produce more seasonal content and have the luxury of being able to focus on soughtafter niche topics like curly hair solutions, DIY Halloween costumes and how to build a pillow fort. The site doesn't use a ton of freelancers, but for writers with a novel take on a trending topic that includes a service angle, the best section to pitch is the Work & Life channel. Here, editors want to see creative ideas for timesaving content and work/life balance stories. Online word counts are across the board (from 500 to 1,500 words for indepth pieces) and pay rates vary accordingly.
What publicists should pitch and when: Editors at Real Simple are open to a variety of pitches from publicists, provided they align well with the publication's mission to make life easier for its readers. They key is to examine each beat in the magazine and finetune a targeted pitch. And definitely send a personalized email; general press releases won't have the same impact.
Percentage of freelancewritten content: 3040 percent
Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: Though Howey admitted that the percentage is "very low," she doesn't want potential freelancers to be discouraged from pitching. "If you target the magazine well, you're familiar with the magazine and its voice, and you aim at a section that's open to pitching with a thoughtful pitch, your chances of getting an assignment are much better," she said. She also advises writers to be dogged in their approach. If at first your pitch doesn't succeed, try, try again.
Recent freelance stories pitched and published: In the July 2012 issue, a freelance piece titled "Sole Sisters" told the story of nine women who came together to overcome various physical ailments and learn how to run.
Etiquette: Howey wants to see wellwritten pitches with a brief bio of the writer. Although clips are helpful, she said that she learns a lot about a freelancer's capabilities from the pitch itself.
8 With that in mind, writers should be careful to avoid spelling or grammatical errors while also incorporating the voice and tone that will be used in the completed story. One more tip to stay out of the slush pile: Don't use "Pitch:" in the subject line of your email. Editors will think it's a PR pitch and may miss it completely. Instead, include a working title and/or the section of the magazine you're pitching.
Lead time: Four to six months Pay rate: $2/word Payment schedule: On acceptance Kill fee: 25 percent Rights purchased: All Contact info: Real Simple 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 (212) 5221212 www.RealSimple.com
Direct pitches to the appropriate editor: For home, Nicole Sforza: NICOLE underscore SFORZA at REALSIMPLE dot COM For money, Ashley Tate: ASHLEY underscore TATE at REALSIMPLE dot COM For beauty/health, Alexandra Gonzalez: ALEXANDRA underscore GONZALEZ at REALSIMPLE dot COM For Real Simple Family, Amy Maclin: AMY underscore MACLIN at REALSIMPLE dot COM For the Web, Kathleen Harris: KATHLEEN underscore HARRIS at REALSIMPLE dot COM, or Maura Fritz: MAURA underscore FRITZ at REALSIMPLE dot COM For "Life Lessons," Julia Edelstein: JULIA underscore EDELSTEIN at REALSIMPLE dot COM
9 How To Pitch: Inc.
*copied directly from MediaBistro.com
Think like an entrepreneur to break into this newly revamped business mag.
Circulation: 700,000 Frequency: Monthly Special issues: The Inc. 500 (September) Background: Ask anybody who's launched a business and they'll tell you: The road to successful entrepreneurship is treacherous at best. And Bernard Goldhirsh, the late sailing aficionado, knew this all too well. Goldhirsh started the magazine Sail as a 16page newsletter targeted to other sailors and sailboat owners, but, while he knew all the ins and outs of nautical life, he struggled with growing his fledgling company. Goldhirsh realized that other entrepreneurs likely faced similar challenges and had nowhere to turn for answers, so he launched Inc. in 1979.
Although Goldhirsh eventually sold the pub before passing away in 2003, little has changed about the magazine's strategy. "The definitive focus is on entrepreneurs," says Bobbie Gossage, Inc.'s executive editor. "We focus on informing and inspiring them. Entrepreneurs are amazingly interesting characters, and we want to show their excitement in our stories." Editorinchief Eric Schurenberg led a full redesign of the magazine last June. There's no FOB or feature well anymore; all of the articles are put into four different sections (there are seven sections total, but they take turns rotating through each issue). "Launch" is about how to start up and create a business. "Innovate" discusses how entrepreneurs come up with cool ideas and turn them into action. "Lead" focuses on management and leadership. "Made" is about manufacturing and product development. "Tech" covers technology startups and innovations. "Build" shows readers how to scale up a business and take it to the next level. "Money" covers everything from raising venture capital to personalfinance skills. Each section is like its own magazine, with a feature, a column, a "howto" story, an infographic and some short news and trend pieces. There has not been a change in topics covered (for example, there's still no coverage of franchise owners). "The magazine is now broken up by topic," Gossage says. "Like you'll get all the articles about manufacturing in one chunk, followed by all the articles about financing and capital in another chunk."
What to pitch: Except for the firstperson columns written by entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, every section is open to pitches. Gossage says the easiest way to break in is with a "Tip Sheet," the article that starts off every section. It's a trendy, howto story usually accompanied by a relevant quiz or a fun sidebar (the Tip Sheet for the "Money" section in the
10 February 2014 issue is about what buyers and sellers need to know about the booming businessforsale market; for the "Innovate" section, it's on unlocking creativity in one's brain and one's company). "You can have a lot of fun with those, and we definitely need pitches for those," Gossage says. Other needs: Infographics, howto stories and bigissue topics on entrepreneurs' minds, such as government decisions that will affect them. If you have your heart set on a feature, it is possible for new writers to do so, but you need to have done lots of homework, meaning some interviews done in advance and a great pitch. "I love it when people have reported in advance and put a lot of thought into their pitch," says Gossage.
What not to pitch: It can't be "'This company' is cool and I fell in love with their product," says Gossage. There must be a larger theme to why Inc. is covering that company, and why it's important for readers to know about it. "We're more interested in how a company works, compared to what it makes," Gossage adds. "The inner workings of a business, why it's so wonderful and unique, and what other companies can learn from it."
What publicists should pitch: Like writers, publicists should avoid the "Here's a cool company" pitch. Explain how what this company does can be applicable to other businesses, and what those in a completely different industry can take away from the story. Percentage freelance content: approximately 50 percent (the entire February issue was pretty much written by freelancers, Gossage says)
Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: 10 to 20 percent
Recent freelance stories pitched and published: One close to Gossage's heart is Kris Frieswick's article "I Once Was Lost" in the June 2012 issue, about a woman who found redemption by setting up an entrepreneurship program for former criminals. "It was not a typical business story, but it was a great topic and personal profile simultaneously," says Gossage. "Kris [now an Inc. editor] had access to the subject, so we could jump right in to do the story."
Etiquette: Gossage actually likes long pitches: "I like when they're well thought out." Links to online clips are also good. And point out early on in your pitch that you're a freelance writer to distinguish your pitch from a press release. "Things can get lost in the shuffle, so if you make clear that you're a writer and not a publicist, we'll be sure to reply quicker." Lead time: Four to five months, as issues are now being planned farther out. Pay rate: Between $1 and $2 a word, with $2 for longer stories Payment schedule: Six to eight weeks after invoice; pay on acceptance of stories. Kill fee: 25 percent. "But we don't kill often," says Gossage. "If a lot of work goes into [the story], we'll try to salvage it." Rights purchased: First worldwide publishing rights, plus all digital iterations, syndication and various other sub rights Contact info: Inc. Magazine 7 World Trade Center
11 New York, NY 100072195 (212) 3895377 www.inc.com
Direct pitches to the appropriate editor: For "Launch," associate editor Kasey Wehrum: KWEHRUM at INC dot COM For "Made/Tech/Money," senior editor Kris Frieswick: KFRIESWICK at INC dot COM For "Innovation" and general features, executive editor Bobbie Gossage: BGOSSAGE at INC dot COM For "Lead," editoratlarge Hank Gilman: HGILMAN at INC dot COM For "Build," executive editor Scott Liebs: SLIEBS at INC dot COM
12 American Way Query Letter *copied from MediaBistro
From: Steven Beschloss To: Chris Wessling For your consideration: Playing Croquet, Seriously: When Jerry Stark lost his auto assembly plant job in Kansas City (1), he donned his whites and joined the professional croquet circuit. His friends thought he was crazy, and not just because there wasn't money in it. Come on! Isn't croquet a game kids play in lumpy backyards with chipped balls and bent wire wickets? (2)
Today, Stark is having the last laugh (3) and the time of this life. As the resident pro at Meadowood Resort in Napa Valley for nearly two decades (which also produces wine), this croquet world champion and national hall of famer teaches guests the art, ethics and sheer force needed to play and enjoy croquet. A big man with an orange handlebar mustache (4), Stark joins them in his finest whites on a pristine, fullsized lawn (35 X 28 yards), one of the nation's best venues. I propose joining Stark there (5) to tell the improbable and amusing story of one man's unlikely journey and share with readers some surprising facts about a game that they thought they knew. (6)
By way of background (7), for the last three years I worked as Managing Executive Editor and occasional writer at The RitzCarlton magazine (links to two of my cover features from Moscow and London are below) and served as the founding editor of 6 magazine, a new luxury lifestyle magazine launching this fall. I have contributed to dozens of publications, including The New York Times, The New Republic, The San Francisco Chronicle, TV Guide and The Village Voice. I hope this idea intrigues. I'd be glad to send you others.(8)
Best Regards, Steven Beschloss
An awardwinning writer, editor and filmmaker with more than 20 years of experience producing content for international audiences, Steven has a passion for travel and a deep commitment to excellence in art, design, style and fine writing. A former editor of The RitzCarlton magazine, Steven has written for dozens of publications, including The New York Times, The New Republic, The Village Voice, TV Guide and The Wall Street Journal. A graduate of Haverford College and the master's program of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, Steven's film work has been seen in more than 20 countries and translated into more than a dozen languages.
Link to two clips: www..com (9)
13 Afar Query Letter *copied from MediaBistro
Dear Derk: Paring knife in one hand, empty plastic bag in another, I am following my friend Lakis as he climbs a narrow goat path through thorny brush to a meadow he promises will yield tasty results. We are high on a mountain plateau on the eastern Peloponnese Peninsula in Greece, and we are in search of "horta," the wild greens prized by Greeks for their health benefits and flavor. Boiled or steamed and then topped with olive oil, lemon and salt, horta apo ta vouna (horta from the mountains) is, handsdown, my favorite dish in Greece. In my village of just under 300 souls, where for nearly everyone the growing, the gathering and the meticulous preparation of food are not hobbies but necessary chores, foraging for horta is done with consistency, efficiency and seriousness. And this day is no exception. Lakis has gathered horta in these mountains for most of his 55 years; thus, he knows the territory. I watch as he scrambles over a rock wall and do my best to keep up with him.
Long a staple in the traditional Greek diet, horta grows all over Greece. In this region, the season for gathering horta stretches from the rainy winter months until early spring, just before the greens blossom. The same greens we eat today were prized by the ancients: according to myth, the hero Theseus ate a dish of horta before taking on the bull at Marathon. Through the centuries, horta has helped Greeks endure through lean times, and again it does today. For some, horta is less a food of necessity than a delicacy, and it can be found on menus in restaurants throughout Greece, steamed, baked into pies, and as an ingredient in stews and casseroles.
I propose a 500word story on horta for AFAR's "Feast" department. At least 80 different varieties of horta grow in Greece; my article will examine some of the most interesting and cherished of the wild greens. It will explore horta's prolific role in the Greek diet and the Greek proclivity for foraging for it be it from the mountains of rural Greece or along roadsides in suburban Athens. It will offer insight on the fascinating role of horta in Greek history, and it will help readers identify and sample dishes made with horta apo ta vouna should they travel to Greece. Finally, it will feature a stepbystep recipe for hortopita, or wild greens pie. (Spanakopita is a refined version of this dish.) I can provide beautiful, highresolution photos to accompany the story.
Over the years, I have covered topics ranging from sustainable agriculture to matters of the spirit for The Sun Magazine, Yoga Journal, Saveur, The Art of Eating and other publications. I have had the great good fortune to interview many fascinating folk, including the environmental writer and activist, Bill McKibben, the founder of the Utne Reader, Eric Utne, Krishna Das, dubbed "the chantmaster of American yoga" by the New York Times and, here in Greece, nomadic shepherds in the Peloponnese who combine ancient techniques with the raw milk of their goats and sheep to create rich, earthy cheeses. Because I've contributed to American and European publications for more than 10 years, I understand that editors want compelling, wellcrafted,
14 accurate pieces delivered on time.
Many thanks for considering my proposal. Sincerely yours, Alexis Adams
15 Babble Query Letter
Dear Ms. ,
My husband and I were only two weeks pregnant when we decided to start spreading the news. We were like children who had just been told a secret; we were giddy with our need to share.
"Let's start with close family and friends," Vijay suggested.
And so I did; first telling my mom, dad, aunts, grandparents and cousins, followed by my group of friends from college, work and the neighborhood. By the end of that first day, our pregnancy seemed to be making national headlines. We were two young, healthy, newlyweds... what was there to be afraid of? Sure, we had heard the warning, "Don't tell anyone until the start of your second trimester, just to be on the safe side." Needless to say, those warnings fell on deaf ears.
Six weeks later, we lost our baby. By then everyone from friends and family, to our friendly Starbucks barista knew of our pregnancy. Slowly, they came to know of our loss.
The first thought I had coming out of my D&C (dilation and curettage, to get technical) anesthesiainduced haze, was how embarrassing it would be to tell people about my miscarriage. I felt a burning sense of shame. My body's failure would be public knowledge. Slowly, though, it occurred to me that this was no more my fault then someone stricken with breast cancer or Alzheimer's. I couldn't understand society's pressure to keep this thing under wraps.
We had been warned not to tell, but why? Have we become so superficial in our dealings with others that someone's personal loss creates awkward situations that should be avoided at all costs?
Telling the world was the very best thing that I could have done. We had support pouring out from every direction. Cards and flowers lined our mantle. Best of all, I did not have to hide my sadness and pretend that nothing had happened. By being open about my joy, I could be open about my grief. When we try again, you can bet the phones will start ringing the minute we conceive, because as hard as it is to share a loss, we could all use the joyful news that the start of a new life brings.
I would like to explore my experience with my open miscarriage in a personal essay for Babble. In the age of Facebook, Twitter, blogging and YouTube, one would get the impression that there is no such thing as a secret. Why then, is it taboo to share news of a pregnancy in its early stages? What are we so afraid of?
Please let me know if you are interested in this article or have any other questions. I have linked below to a recent clip for your convenience. I look forward to your response and thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
16 Babble Response
Hi Christine, I think this could be great. I would love to see it. We run essays at 1,000 words or so, and pay $250. Best,
Hi ,
Great, I will get working on it to bring it up to 1,000 words. I am very excited to be considered for Babble! Please let me know what the next steps are; a contract or a due date?
Thanks, Christine
Hi Christine, Would love to see something by midMarch? Here’s a contract. Please sign and return to me by fax email or mail with your SSN and address. We pay within 30 days of publication. Thanks!
17 Artful Blogging Query Letter
Dear Ms.
This past month, I traveled to India for the first time and I hope that the stories and images that I returned with will be a perfect fit for Somerset Life, which celebrates the beauty of both everyday life and travel. I have attached a few of my favorite pictures (highres copies are available), and I would love to tell you a bit of my story:
From the moment I met my husband, who is Indian, I have felt a deep pull towards India. It took us two years of marriage, but finally, this past December, we embarked on a two week trip to the country that has had such a hold on me. It is impossible to truly see a country in a mere two weeks, let alone a country as expansive as India. But it is possible to catch glimpses of its spirit; glimpses that allow you to imagine it in its entirety. Glimpses of a vibrancy that captures your heart and imagination.
I have to say, it wasn't so much the sights that captured my heart. The Taj was beautiful, the Amber fort stunning...but it was the people, the daytoday life that drew me in. To walk through a market in the late afternoon is to experience the "real India." Take Old Delhi for example, with it's narrow alley ways where rickshaws, mopeds, bicyclists and pedestrians vie for space, weaving their way past stalls filled with saris, marigolds, silver and spices. Oh the spices...we ate with our hands, thick curries and fluffy naan, until the spices seeped into our skin. Turmeric, cumin and coriander were our perfumes.
But there is another side to this vibrant country. Traveling to India means coming face to face with crushing poverty, a type of poverty that you don't see in the States; the refuse and grime are simply indescribable... The filth and beauty exist in a strange harmony here. In the middle of a ramshackle village, you will find a neat little snack shop, painted the most beautiful color of turquoise. The jars will be neatly lineup on the shelves, the front stoop will be free of dust, thanks to eager sweeping, and the packets of snacks will be hung just so. Right outside of the shop, the gutters might be awash with waste water and trash...but inside, a shelter from the storm.
For your sake, I will stop myself there...I could go on and on! That is just a piece of the story that I came back with! I posted many more pictures and stories over at my blog: http://lavenderlimes.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your consideration!
Fondly,
Christine Chitnis
18 Artful Blogging Response
Hi Christine,
Happy New Year to you! Jenny’s already left Stampington, but I have taken over for her as Director of Publishing and EditorinChief.
I’ve loved reading what you’ve written in this email. I feel as if I were actually there in India with you, eating curry with my hands, just as you did. I’m so glad you got to experience this. It’s truly inspirational to see those who strive to maintain beauty and harmony when everything around them is in shambles. Wow.
I can see applications for this in either Artful Blogging or Somerset Life. Do you mind if I run it by my publisher to find out where it would best fit?
And I have to tell you, I’ve followed your blog for a long time now and I personally followed this journey to India and it moved me very much.
Best,
19 Country Living Query Letter
Hi Monica,
I hope you enjoyed your minivacation a few weeks back. I would like to compliment you on your August issue. I just picked it up and was so excited to see Squam featured in your summer camp roundup! While I was at Squam a few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Susan Gibbs, the owner of Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm. She had such an interesting tale to tell and I thought it would make a great feature for Country Living:
Talk about an inspirational love story...Susan Gibbs and Patrick Manning met while Susan was interviewing Patrick for a story in the local paper. They fell in love, bought a big stack of howtofarm books and started Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm. The farm is the first yarn and fiber CSA, giving knitters and spinners the chance to buy a share in the fleece the farm's wellcaredfor animals produce each year.
I will be traveling to Martha's Vineyard this summer, and I am definitely planning a visit to the farm. I think a feature article on the Fiber Farm, its owners and their lovely flock of Cormo, Cotswold and Babydoll Southdown sheep and Angora goats would be appealing to the crafty side of Country Living's audience.
Please let me know if you are interested in this article or have any other questions. For more information on Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm, visit www.fiberfarm.com. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely, Christine
Followup:
Dear Monica,
I wanted to follow up on the submission I sent you on June 30th. I have copied the original query below for your convenience.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thank you, once again, for your consideration, Christine
20 Country Living Response
Hi Christine,
At this point, I can't commit to the story. If you visit and want to take some scouting shots, I'd love to see them. I can't guarantee anything will come of it, though.
It's more of a feature well type idea for us, which means it wouldn't be handled like a normal travel story. The idea does seem to have potential, though.
All my best, Monica
Hi Monica,
We just returned from Martha's Vineyard and I had a lovely visit with Susan Gibbs, shepherdess extraordinaire and owner of Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm. Her story was just incredible, as was my visit with her adorable Angora goats and Cormo sheep. Susan has created such a tight knit (pun intended!) community through her yarn CSA (community supported agriculture) and I think it would be a fantastic story for Country Living. Martha's Vineyard Fiber Farm is the first ever yarn CSA, where knitters and crafters buy a share of the actual sheering. It is a revolutionary method of farming wool. Susan's shareholders have bonded over their love of the high quality yarn and have become fast friends, who now hold meetings and knitting circles all over the country. Her shareholders have also helped her out during difficult times. During a tough winter, when hay prices skyrocketed, Susan's shareholders held a fundraiser to help feed the sheep...they raised over $1500 in a few weeks time. Susan believes that the knitting community has so greatly supported this idea because every knitter's dream is to have a flock of their own...and for many, this is the closest they will come to that dream.
Susan hosts a sheering party every fall, where CSA shareholders from all over the east coast come to the farm for a potluck lunch and sheering activities. The lunch takes place at a gorgeous old barn in West Tisbury. If you are interested in this story, Susan offered to arrange the sheering party around your schedule so that a photo shoot could take place during the festivities. It would be a picturesque way to capture the community that has formed because of the CSA.
I have attached a few pictures from my visit, as well as a couple taken by a friend of Susan's. There are plenty more where that came from, so please let me know if you would like to see anything else.
Thanks again for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely, Christine
21 Fall the Shadow Query Letter
Dear Ms. Megibow,
I’m currently seeking representation for my YA novel, FALLS THE SHADOW. Given your interest in science fiction, I thought it might be a good fit for your list.
When Cate Benson was twelve, her sister died. Two hours after the funeral, they picked up Violet’s replacement, and the family made it home in time for dinner and a game of cards.
It’s the year 2055, and Cate’s parents are among the wealthy elite who can afford to give their children a sort of immortality—by cloning them at birth. So this new Violet has the same smile. The same laugh. That same perfect face. Thanks to advancements in minduploading technology, she even has all the same memories as the girl she replaced.
She also might have murdered the most popular girl in school.
Or at least, that’s what the paparazzi and the crazy anticloning protesters want everyone to think: that clones are violent, unpredictable monsters. Cate is used to hearing all that, though. She’s used to standing up for her sister too, and she’s determined to do it now—even if proving Violet’s innocence means taking on those protestors and anyone else attacking her family. But when her own life is threatened—not by protestors, but by the very scientists who created her sister’s clone—Cate starts questioning everything she thought she knew about the cloning movement. About herself. About her sister.
And the answers she finds reveal a more sinister purpose for her sister’s copy—and her own replacement—than she ever could have imagined.
FALLS THE SHADOW is complete at 80,000 words, and is the first in a planned series. The manuscript is available, in part or full, upon request. Thanks for your time and consideration!
Best, Stefanie Gaither
22 The Weird Sisters Query Letter
Dear Ms. Winick:
Because you represent upmarket and women’s fiction, I hope you will be interested in my novel, The Weird Sisters.
The Andreas sisters are failures: in love, in career, in life. And so they have come home to the small college town where they grew up: to their professor father, whose devotion to Shakespeare freezes their communication in the words of a man who has been dead for 400 years; and to their quiet mother, who is fighting breast cancer.
The prototypical oldest sibling, Rose (Rosalind) was sure that if she followed all the rules, she would have everything. Instead, she has nothing. She has lost her job, her fiancé has abandoned her, and she is trapped by the safety she has spent her life seeking.
Always afraid that she would be lost in the middle, Bean (Bianca), escaped to the glamour of New York. Her return is anything but glamorous; she was fired for embezzling funds from her employer. Praying that the love of a holy man will wipe her sins clean, she seeks forgiveness by pursuing the town’s handsome new reverend.
For seven years, Cordy (Cordelia), the baby of the family, has been a ghost. She dropped out of college to take to the road, skipping from place to place like a stone on water, trading passing love for shelter. But that life has lost its luster, and she has come home with only one thing to show for her time on the road: a pregnancy of uncertain paternity.
My writing has been published in anthologies, magazines and journals, including the Philadelphia City Paper and Crab Orchard Review. In 2005, I won the RWAsponsored “Get Your Stiletto in the Door” contest. I hold an M.A. in Literature, and teach English in South Florida.
The Weird Sisters is complete at approximately 90,000 words, and I would be delighted to send the full manuscript for your review.
Thank you for your time and attention, Eleanor Brown
23 Hidden Cities Query Letter
To: Alyssa Reuben Subject: Query — Hidden Cities: Inside the Secret World of Urban Explorers
Two adventures from New York City embark on a worldwide journey through the urban underbelly, taking them from the catacombs of Paris to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Moses Gates, an bookish and intensely curious urban planner, meets Steve Duncan, a frenetic adventurer obsessed with the underground of New York City. Soon the two become immersed in the worldwide subculture of Urban Exploring. This subculture rejects prepackaged “tourist adventures” in favor of exploring the urban environment on their own terms – terms which are often dangerous, and always completely illegal.
Venturing through three continents, Gates and Duncan find a world of people who create secret art galleries in subway tunnels, break into national monuments for fun, and travel the globe sleeping in centuriesold catacombs and abandoned Soviet relics rather than hotels or bed and breakfasts. They push each other further and further – visiting the hidden side of a dozen countries, discovering ancient underground Roman ruins, partying with mole people, sneaking into Stonehenge – until finding themselves under arrest on top of the Notre Dame. It’s an amazing journey of discovering what can still be seen and done in today’s world of terrorism scares and “no trespassing” signs, as well as a story of an enduring friendship forged in the strangest of places.
The author, Moses Gates, is an urban planner and licensed New York City tour guide. His explorations of New York have been featured on the History Channel, New York Times, Guardian UK, and Maxim en Espanol. His website is www.allcitynewyork.com The other main character, Steve Duncan, is a photographer and historian. His adventures have been featured on the Discovery Channel show “Urban Explorers,” as well as on National Public Radio, CNN, the Columbia University Journal, and other print and television media. He is the star of the short documentary “Undercity” with over half a million views on Vimeo. His website is www.undercity.org
Hidden Cities: Inside the Secret World of Urban Explorers is a 50,000word true adventure and travel story, as well as a subculture expose. Despite documentaries, reality TV shows, and numerous magazine and newspaper articles about Urban Exploration, this would be the first true adventure or subculture expose published about the subject. There is also the possibility of producing the book with highquality photographs of all the locations visited.
I’ve written an extensive outline, and approximately 20,000 words. As follows is first five pages (1,366 words). If you’re interested, I can follow up with other sample chapters and table of contents.
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Thanks for your consideration, Moses Gates
25 Sample Freelance Contract
CONTRIBUTOR AGREEMENT/WRITER
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Contributor: CHRISTINE CHITNIS ADDRESS
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