The Inspired Query: How To Grab An Editor's Wandering Attention

Most writers submit boring queries to editors who’ve seen the same format and the same idea a thousand times that day. But there are ways to jumpstart a query, to give it a life of its own and make it grab the editor. Using imagination and creativity to attract attention to a query can result in more assignments—and more checks. This article assumes that you know the basics, and instead shows you how to: set your query apart, create a compelling opening, develop your bio, and utilize such attention-getters as bullets, stationery, and logos. I've used this strategy to land hundreds of assignments in such magazines as The Writer, Writer's Forum, Writers Connection, and The Quarter Horse Journal; and the actual query I used to contact ByLine Magazine, where it was first published, is included. Don’t miss out on another assignment. Set yourself apart from the crowd—and <b>get published</b>!