How to Successfully Pitch an Article

When I started freelance writing in 2012, I felt lost. I'd taken courses in university where I learned about writing pitches, longform journalism and writing for print, but I hadn't yet found my voice when it came to pitching.

Despite having a working knowledge of pitching, I feared doing the wrong thing when it came to contacting editors. But as I wrote more and more pitches, I developed a go-to formula and a set of guidelines that worked well for me.

While many pitches were rejected—and others ignored—many were successful and resulted in getting published in places like Teen Vogue, HelloGiggles, The Mary Sue and more.

The process of writing a pitch can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a few hours depending on the subject matter you want to write about. Regardless, it's best to treat every pitch equally—you never know who's reading your work and what kind of effect you will have on them.

There's no right way to pitch and I'm certainly not an expert. But I do want to share the few tips and tricks I learned over the past couple of years.

TIP #1: Find the right editor's email address
It's best to take some extra time to research the magazine and find out which editor oversees the section your article will fit best (i.e. entertainment, culture, sports, etc.) Not all editors display their email publicly—after all, they receive thousands of pitches a year—but many include their email address in their Twitter bio. Many editors post call-outs for pitches on Twitter and will often include their email address when they do so.

Can't find the editor's email? Find the email address of another editor at the magazine. Chances are, their email addresses with follow the same formula (i.e. first initial followed by last name.)

TIP #2: Introduce yourself
Now that you have the editor's email, you're ready to craft your pitch. Some writers introduce themselves at the start of the pitch, especially if it's an editor they've never worked with before. It's also a good idea to end your email with a longer (2-3 sentence) description of who you are and where you've been published before with links to your articles. If you haven't been published before, don't worry. Editors can tell from your pitch if you're a good writer and if your idea is solid.

TIP #3: Mention important dates
If your article is tied to an upcoming date—a movie or book release, for instance—mention the date very early on in the email. In fact, it's best to mention it in the first 1-2 sentences. That way, the editor knows what kind of a timeline you'll both have in terms of accepting the pitch, writing the article, and sending back edits.

TIP #4: Keep it concise
Unless the publication's guidelines state otherwise, keep your pitch short and sweet at 3-4 paragraphs. If you're pitching a feature article, especially for a print magazine, then your pitch will probably be longer and more in-depth.

TIP #5: Know the audience
Toward the end of your pitch, state why the magazine's readers will be interested in this story and why your article is the perfect fit for the publication.

TIP #6: Why you?
If there's a particular reason why you're the best person to write this article—perhaps you are an expert in the subject or you have a personal angle that's appropriate to explore—mention it! Keep in mind that if there's a conflict of interest (i.e. the subject/interviewee is your friend), then the editor may have a problem with that. It all depends on the outlet and the kind of article you're writing.

TIP #7: Explain why the article is important and timely
If your article is tied to an upcoming television show, a major news story, or a trendy subject, it's a good idea to tie this in to your pitch as it demonstrates to the editor that the topic is prevalent and that you're aware of its importance today.

BONUS TIP: If your pitch is timely, many writers will begin their email subject line with "PITCH: TIMELY" to grab the editor's attention.

I hope this post was helpful! If you have any questions about pitching and freelance writing, feel free to tweet me @literarylenses. If I receive some questions, I will definitely put together a follow-up post.