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A Sample Pitch to ‘Zines Paying $1 — $2 per Word
Most mainstream media magazines that publish nonfiction want writers to “pitch” them ideas, drafts, or outlines. Some will also accept completed pieces, but many prefer an idea, outline or draft because it’s easier for the magazine to stamp its brand on work that the author knows is not “finished.” So how do you pitch an unfinished piece?
To compete in these markets, you, the writer, must be willing for your work to be edited. That means, among other things, that editors will re-title your piece, ask you to take out scenes, ask you to delve more deeply into a particular issue.
If you are not comfortable with that, then literary journals might be a better place to send your work than mainstream magazines. If you have a completed piece you want to submit to a literary journal or other outlet, this post about submitting completed pieces with a cover letter may be helpful.
The pitch is different from the cover letter, though, and, of course, you should always read the magazines guidelines for how to pitch before hitting “send.”
As a general guideline, the main elements that are specific to the pitch are:
A personal greeting to the editor. Find out the name and contact info for the appropriate editor for your piece. How? First, check out the magazine’s website…
