From: FundsforWriters

Last week I sent a two-sentence query to the travel editor at the San Jose Mercury News about visiting specific spots in Southern California—would she be interested in an article? Her answer: “Sure. Sounds fun!”

It can’t be that easy, right? Yes, it was—but only because I’d written many travel pieces for this editor over a number of years. Better yet, because my writing style and process clicked well with her needs, she’d actually created a loose category of articles (called “Trail Mix”) for me to conceive and write, of which the above was one. There will be many mixings of trails to come.

Keeping in this vein, I once wrote a magazine piece about my girlfriend buying an old Airstream trailer sight unseen on eBay. The editor of a new Airstream magazine read it and contacted me about writing an article for his magazine. Yesterday I turned in what might be my 40th (if not more) article for the magazine.

Don’t get me wrong: I’ve sent hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pitches that have died an un-replied death, and hundreds more that got me the one-sentence “not for us” reply. But occasionally, writers can connect with editors so that mutual trust, confidence, and suggested future work define the relationship.



And don’t forget another component: getting paid regularly.

Read more at FundsforWriters.