Read on Twitter
PITCHING 101: A THREAD
Is it a story or an idea?
"I want to write about Disney movies" is an idea.
"So, princess' bodily autonomy in Disney films threatens the nation state" is a story.
Editors want stories, and stories, generally, have a narrative arc and a thesis statement.
1/
"I want to write about Disney movies" is an idea.
"So, princess' bodily autonomy in Disney films threatens the nation state" is a story.
Editors want stories, and stories, generally, have a narrative arc and a thesis statement.
1/
You have your story. How do you structure your pitch in an email to an editor? Advice on this varies, but generally -
*Hook/lede
*Thesis/story summary
*Short bio/"why I'm the person to write this"
*Links to pre-existing clips
2/
*Hook/lede
*Thesis/story summary
*Short bio/"why I'm the person to write this"
*Links to pre-existing clips
2/
BUT WAIT. DID YOU PITCH THE RIGHT EDITOR.
DO NOT SEND AN OP-ED TO SOMEONE WHO COVERS BREAKING NEWS.
DO NOT SEND A SCIENCE STORY TO A FASHION PUB.
YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED HOW OFTEN THIS SHIT HAPPENS.
3/
DO NOT SEND AN OP-ED TO SOMEONE WHO COVERS BREAKING NEWS.
DO NOT SEND A SCIENCE STORY TO A FASHION PUB.
YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED HOW OFTEN THIS SHIT HAPPENS.
3/
Courtesy of mastheads, google, and Twitter bios, it is easier than ever to find which editor is the right fit for your freelance pitch.
Use your critical thinking skills and think about the kind of outlet AND and the editor *at* that outlet who would be the best fit.
4/
Use your critical thinking skills and think about the kind of outlet AND and the editor *at* that outlet who would be the best fit.
4/
Join @studyhallxyz. Google will easily turn up the email formats for editors at Hearst, Conde, and other publications. Search Twitter for editors who you might want to work with and follow them.
Cultivate your curiosity!
5/
Cultivate your curiosity!
5/
Don't answer every call for pitches.
You're building a career. If you pitch out of a scarcity mindset, odds are good you are not focusing on the best fits/audiences for your work. Consider your long-term goals. Prioritize the pubs (of all tiers) that will help you get there.
6/
You're building a career. If you pitch out of a scarcity mindset, odds are good you are not focusing on the best fits/audiences for your work. Consider your long-term goals. Prioritize the pubs (of all tiers) that will help you get there.
6/
Money, part one.
ASK FOR MORE. This is especially true when you have had a piece accepted at a legacy pub (e.g. NYT, Conde, Hearst), or one that has a reputation for paying well (e.g. Longreads).
"Can we do ____?" is usually how I frame it.
7/
ASK FOR MORE. This is especially true when you have had a piece accepted at a legacy pub (e.g. NYT, Conde, Hearst), or one that has a reputation for paying well (e.g. Longreads).
"Can we do ____?" is usually how I frame it.
7/
Money, part two.
Do your research beforehand. If you have pitched a small independent press that has to fundraise for its life every quarter, and is very transparent about what it can and cannot pay freelancers, do not try pitch a fit on social when they won't pay you $400.
8/
Do your research beforehand. If you have pitched a small independent press that has to fundraise for its life every quarter, and is very transparent about what it can and cannot pay freelancers, do not try pitch a fit on social when they won't pay you $400.
8/
tl;dr Research publications. It will save you so much time.
Basic perusal of headlines and bios will tell you which kinds of articles get assigned to staffers and which are freelance. Don't waste your time pitching content that is only covered by staff writers.
9/
Basic perusal of headlines and bios will tell you which kinds of articles get assigned to staffers and which are freelance. Don't waste your time pitching content that is only covered by staff writers.
9/
a few last basic 101 tips:
- don't pitch editors in their DMs
- don't write your best stories as a twitter thread (or, if you do, delete them and rewrite as a pitch)
- talk to editors as normal people on twitter, that's how you build friendships and first-name familiarity
10/
- don't pitch editors in their DMs
- don't write your best stories as a twitter thread (or, if you do, delete them and rewrite as a pitch)
- talk to editors as normal people on twitter, that's how you build friendships and first-name familiarity
10/
