The WMF Archives: Why Editors Don't Respond to Your Query

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Why Editors Don't Respond to Your Query

8:00 AM

Has this happened to you? You write a query letter to a new publication you haven't worked for before, you send it off...and then nothing.

I've seen a lot of discussion about this issue around this and other forums, mostly along the lines that editors who don't respond with at least a 'no thank you' are thoughtless and rude. I find for the most part the writers making these comments don't know a lot of editors.

Since I do, I thought I'd ask an editor or two about the volume of queries they get and the reasons they don't respond to all their queries. I got feedback from several of my national-magazine editors about why this is--I'm not naming names here to prevent them from being inundated with even more queries!

Here are a few possible reasons editors haven't responded to your query letter.

1) They get too many queries to respond to them all. One editor of a niche online vertical site for a national business magazine, for instance, let me know she gets 100 queries daily weekdays, and more come in on weekends. So think 600 or so queries a week. And she's editing a niche online site for this publication, not even working for the print magazine! Imagine how many queries editors at big print publications are getting.

2) They haven't looked at your query. Sometimes, editors fall behind--on long weekends, after vacations, on production day. They really may just not have read it yet, even though it's been weeks.

3) They're too busy with other tasks. Editors have a lot of responsibilities writers may not know about. They are not simply sitting at their desks editing copy and reading queries all day. They go on retreats, plan future issues, take meetings, work on budgets, work on layout redesigns, plan layoffs, take trainings to learn new technologies, interview prospective full-time hires, and brainstorm with their established writers. They are some of the busiest people I know. For instance, my BNET editor signed on to work at 3:40 a.m. one morning this week while also "upchucking" from a flu, and I routinely see him on at 11 pm as well.

4) They looked at your query, and it was lame. When editors get really bad queries--ones that aren't remotely appropriate for their publication--they often just move on. I think they don't quite know what to say. And they get so many queries that fall into this category--most editors I've ever worked with expressed disbelief at how many utterly amateurish, poorly crafted queries they receive.

Writers like to gripe about how editors can't do them the courtesy of answering their query. Well, are you doing the editor the courtesy of sending them a stellar pitch?

Instead of focusing energy on perceived editor shortcomings, you'll be better served by focusing on improving what you send them. If you're not getting any bites, assume your queries could use improvement. Study your target publication carefully before writing. Read some of the great books out there on how to write query letters and ratchet up your skills. Query Letters That Rock is one good recent book on the topic. Also, send more queries to more publications and up your odds of success.

I've never met an editor who doesn't live for the moment they find that rare query in their pile that knocks them out. It's a fresh idea, sharply written, and they know right away this is a new writer they've just got to call. It just doesn't happen that often. Good queries are like tiny masterpieces--they should be so great you almost want to frame them and put them on your wall instead of sending them in.

If your query is really strong but the idea isn't a perfect fit, you can often still get a gig. This happened in the past week to one of my mentees--after we buffed up her query, a national magazine passed on her original idea but assigned her four marketing pieces instead. Invest some time and energy in mastering the art of querying and it'll open a lot of doors for you.

For an editor's translation of what it means if they do send you a rejection letter, see this blog from editor Jeremiah Tolbert - An Editor's Perspective on Rejection.

Photo from Flickr user TheCreativePenn

Labels: Carol Tice, dealing with editors

10 comments:

Anonymous said...: Thanks for the advice. I can understand the massive pile of queries means you can't respond to every one, especially the ones with bad ideas...but I feel like if I've taken the time to send an SASE (and the guidelines say I will get a response if I send an SASE) and I don't get my stamp back, well, that seems kind of rude. That stamp costs money, and you've kept it! It makes me sad.; March 4, 2010 8:23 AM
Alyssa Ast said...: Great information Carol. I think the key is to create a letter that stands out from the others. This will at least increase your chances of a response. If not, at least you learned how to write a killer letter.; March 4, 2010 8:26 AM
Rebecca said...: Great post! Thanks for sharing the link for Query letters that rock because the book and website will help writers.

I submitted two query letters last year, and I understand why the editors didn't respond. I went to the Renegade Writer website and reviewed the sample query letters that are posted. I followed the advice and...wait for it...I received a "personal email" thanking me for my well thought out and personalized letter (I treated the first part like a cover letter -- I included the date, name of publication, address, and subject line). The person who sorts through the letters was impressed with mine and told me she would make sure it went straight to the editorial team. Excellent! I saved the email and stuck it in my encouragement folder.; March 4, 2010 9:23 AM
Carol Tice said...: Right on, Rebecca -- there's never been more competition out there, but it's never been easier to stand out with a strong pitch, I believe.

Anonymous -- you're sending queries with a SASE? Nobody does that anymore. Probably why you're not getting them back. Unless a pub is specifically requiring that queries be mailed, I would email. I teach my mentees to email editors...better for sooo many reasons. I just was working on this section in my Make a Living Writing ebook...which will hopefully be out in the next month! Getting near the end.; March 4, 2010 12:22 PM
Anonymous said...: Try a trade magazine. I was a travel trade magazine editor for three years and during all that time, I think I got one query from a freelancer.; March 4, 2010 4:44 PM
Carol Tice said...: Anon has a GREAT suggestion there. I freelance a bit for Nation's Restaurant News...trade pubs are always grateful for anybody who can write about their industry in the depth their audience demands.

Carol Tice
Make a Living Writing: 9 Time Management Tips for Busy Writers; March 4, 2010 4:58 PM
Anonymous said...: Carol: no one does that anymore? You sure?

From Writer's Market online: National Geographic: Submission Method: Query (500 words with clips of published articles by MAIL to Senior Assitant Editor Oliver Payne. Do not send mss.

National Geographic Traveler, on their website:
Please include your credentials, relevant published clippings and a SASE to ensure that the requested materials are returned. Mail your proposal to Query Editor, National Geographic Traveler, 1145 17th St NW, Washington DC 20036.

Outside Magazine, from their website:
Please send queries (not manuscripts) and two or three relevant clips along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Editorial Department, Outside magazine, 400 Market St., Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501.Our response time is usually six to eight weeks.

Not to mention scores of literary agents and literary magazines who are still requesting queries by mail along with SASEs.

I'm not just sending my SASEs into the void here. I read the instructions carefully first; I'm not an idiot.; March 4, 2010 11:28 PM
Carol Tice said...: Anon--no one said you were. I said if they demand it, do it...but otherwise don't. If they're still the old-school types demanding a SASE and then not sending it back, then I'm with you --- that IS rude!

Carol; March 5, 2010 12:10 AM
Sherrie Negrea said...: Hi Carol,

Thanks for the great insight here. I had a question about querying. If you send a query letter to a magazine editor and hear nothing back, would it be appropriate to send a follow-up e-mail to remind the editor that you sent it and to see if she is interested in it? Is it reasonable to send a follow-up two weeks after the initial query?
Thanks,
Sherrie; October 1, 2010 1:37 PM
Carol said...: Hi Sherrie -- as it happens, I answered that question in the first blog post about writing I ever wrote.; October 1, 2010 1:43 PM