| Whether you're a professional magazine | | | | that's a "no." Whenever possible, |
| writer with decades of experience or a | | | | include a sentence in your query |
| not-yet-published freelancer, you are | | | | defining your focus or stating the main |
| bound to get rejection notes. Editors | | | | idea of the article. |
| don't always explain clearly why they're | | | | 5. You're trying to cover too much. |
| saying no. Some reasons have nothing to | | | | Editors know what can and can't be |
| do with you and others have everything | | | | accomplished in 700 or 1800 words or |
| to do with you, while many other reasons | | | | whatever length is usual for their |
| rank between those two extremes. | | | | publication. Beginning writers have a |
| To succeed as a freelance magazine | | | | tendency to propose something that would |
| writer, you must do your best to | | | | need a book-length treatment to |
| optimize the factors within your | | | | accomplish or that's way too broad for |
| control. Then accept the rejections that | | | | an article. To prevent this reason for |
| occur despite your efforts, as an | | | | rejection, carefully study your target |
| inevitable part of the business. Use | | | | magazine to determine what a reasonable |
| this list of 10 common reasons for | | | | scope for an article is - for instance, |
| rejection as a tool for crafting article | | | | "ways to help your child complete their |
| queries that make it hard for editors to | | | | homework," rather than "ways to help |
| respond in any other way than "yes!" | | | | your child succeed in life." |
| 1. We already did this topic. When a | | | | 6. Your focus is wrong for us. If you |
| magazine has its archives posted online, | | | | propose a profile when the magazine runs |
| you should try to make sure this | | | | how-to articles, or vice versa, the |
| objection isn't the case. However, | | | | editor will say no. The same thing would |
| sometimes you couldn't possibly know | | | | happen when you propose writing about a |
| that your topic is already assigned to | | | | tragedy or outrage when the publication |
| another writer or already set to appear | | | | prides itself on hopeful, upbeat |
| in a future issue. Your idea being "in | | | | stories. Research, research, research |
| the pipeline" is the quintessential | | | | first! |
| reason for rejection that you can't | | | | 7. Your query is okay, but not exciting |
| prevent. Oh well! Just go on to the next | | | | to us. Here the topic and focus may |
| idea. | | | | work, but the writing lacks |
| 2. We're not ready to redo the topic | | | | persuasiveness and pizzazz. Head off |
| yet. Many magazines revisit some topics | | | | this reason for rejection by writing |
| after a certain length of time has | | | | vivid, energetic queries in the style |
| passed or if there's a compelling | | | | preferred by the publication. |
| rationale for shortening their normal | | | | 8. We're not convinced you can pull it |
| repeat cycle. If your research reveals | | | | off. Certain kinds of articles require |
| that the publication has covered a topic | | | | journalistic experience, technical |
| before, explain what's changed to | | | | knowledge, contacts or unusual |
| warrant another article now. For | | | | storytelling skills. Try to anticipate |
| instance, your article would focus on | | | | the fears editors might have about your |
| post-Big Dig Boston. Or you'll cover the | | | | abilities in reference to what you're |
| fertility treatments that have been | | | | proposing and explain what in your |
| discovered since their last discussion | | | | background shows you can handle it. |
| of the topic in 2006. | | | | 9. There are factual errors in your |
| 3. It's not relevant to enough readers. | | | | presentation. Always, always look up the |
| Forestall this response by making a | | | | spelling of proper names and check any |
| strong case in your query that your | | | | facts mentioned in a query. One of my |
| topic is either relevant or interesting | | | | writing students showed me a query he |
| to their target market. For instance, | | | | was going to send off that described a |
| editors at a men's magazine would most | | | | highway as going somewhere it didn't and |
| likely reject an article on eating | | | | put a tourist spot in the wrong state. |
| disorders unless you cite statistics | | | | These would have been deadly errors. |
| showing that it's rapidly growing or an | | | | Editors hate working with writers who |
| increasingly serious problem for men in | | | | can't get details right. |
| the age group the magazine serves. | | | | 10. Your query is poorly written. |
| 4. Your idea isn't focused enough. Very | | | | Editors also hate receiving assignments |
| often queries go in five different | | | | that need a major rewrite, so they send |
| directions for a topic, so that the | | | | queries containing mangled sentences, |
| editor can't figure out what the article | | | | verbs that don't match subjects and |
| would really cover. If the editor can | | | | misused phrases to the "reject" pile. |
| tell you want to write about | | | | Learn to write correct, competent |
| volunteerism in big cities but not what | | | | English, and you'll ensure a fair |
| you want to say about the phenomenon, | | | | reception for your ideas. |