When should you query?
Sorry I'm peppering the board with questions. However I'm not sure about the practical answer to this- most magazines say you should submit seasonal work 2-6 months in advance.
Does this mean I should query them 8 months in advance and if accepted submit the article 6 months in advance? Or do I query 6 months in advance then submit the piece if accepted?
-Yoli
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mammamaia The Queen Mum
Posts: 2036
(8/7/04 10:11 am) Reply
Re: Hmmm
thing is, if you're not a successful writer with a lot of good clips, querying is usually a waste of time... in such cases, it's best to just submit the work with a cover letter giving your bona fides in re the article [if expertise is needed], and asking to have it considered for whichever issue you are targetting...
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Re: When should you query?
I've always queried six months in advance and then sent something in when I received the response. I'm not sure I follow the "querying isn't worth the time" opinion that I've been reading so many comments about lately. Since I first started, I've had far more success with queries than I have with finished pieces. Like I mentioned in another thread, my mentor hammered the fact that you should query first and write later. (only difference now is I include samples)
:: ponders :: Has this changed? I talk to new writers ALL the time and I want to be sure I'm not sending them down the wrong path . . .
which path?
Jenn, its not that you're sending them down the wrong path. . .ultimately, querying first is probably best, but what I have posted regarding submitting full manuscripts (& I think mammamaia is saying the same thing) are meant for newbies or intermediates who are just getting started. . . perhaps they don't have clips at all, or don't have suitable clips. There are quite a few publications with guidelines stating they will accept complete manuscripts.
I would never send a complete manuscript to a publication with guidelines that say "query first".
The best advice you can give new writers is to study the guidelines closely and then follow them.
Re: Which path?
Thanks, that makes sense for those without clips -- I've always advised that reading/studying the guidelines is extremely important . . . and have always been surprised at the amount of writers I've come across who weren't doing this. (and wondered why)
wondering why
I always wondered why also, especially since every bit of advice given writers begins or ends with the words "study the guidelines". No one is exempt.
Re: wondering why
Newbie or not, when a magazine wants queries, you send queries. Editors give newbie writers the go-ahead on queries all the time. The difference is that with a newbie writer the editor asks to see the manuscript on spec, and with an established pro the editor will actually buy the article based on the query, and then pay a kill fee if he ultimately doesn't buy or use it.
The quickest way to build good clips is to learn how to write a good query letter, no by submitting already written articles. When the article is only a filler, or you're writing something small for a department, it's all right to write the article and submit it without querying. Most often, however, writing an article you haven't queried on is just a waste of time.
mammamaia The Queen Mum
Posts: 2045
(8/8/04 7:58 am) Reply
good additions from james!
to what's already been said... summing up:
follow submission guidelines
query first with clips if you have them
query first any that ask for queries, even if you have no clips
and
learn how to write great query letters!
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Re: good additions from james!
Good advice. I will definately spend today looking up guidelines!
Maybe I should query but go ahead and start the article instead of waiting for a "yes" and then go and try to build a repor with sources? Save some time?
-Yoli
PS- I've sold some piece off just a query letter, so it works!
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When should you query?
good additions from james!
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