How to Pitch: Marie Claire

RELATED: How to Pitch: Elle How to Pitch: Self

Background: Under the stewardship of editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, Marie Claire gives a voice to women's passions and concerns, offering an eclectic, compelling, and unpredictable mix of articles and photography -- all underscored with wit and attitude, says deputy editor Abigail Pesta. Readers are known for being as passionate about human rights around the world as they are about the latest spring fashion trends.

What to pitch: For starters, freelance writers can propose timely stories about women around the world for the monthly "Bulletin" section -- a news section with attitude. Recent stories have focused on everything from the Army's stonewalling in the mysterious death of Private LaVena Johnson in Iraq, to the dubious marketing of Seasonique (the pill that limits a woman's period to four times a year) in men's mags like Maxim.

Writers can also pitch personal essays for the "Love/Sex" section -- a monthly section that enlightens and amuses readers (and sometimes makes them squirm) with narratives that delve into women's tangled emotional lives, says Pesta. In one recent essay, a woman explains how she became embroiled in a two-year online love affair, without ever meeting the guy face-to-face; in another first-person piece, a young woman describes how she came to grips with her boyfriend's massive tattoo of a skinless man with organs popping out of his ribcage.

Any newsy ideas for long-form features are also welcome. Examples of news features include an exclusive profile of the girlfriend of financier-turned fugitive Sam Israel III (who faked his own death to avoid a prison sentence for fraud), and a news-breaking story about women in Hong Kong who are slipping American men the date-rape drug.

Ideas on trends in beauty and health are also encouraged; recent stories have zoomed in on the growing number of women in their 20s who are undergoing fertility treatments, and also on new pills that claim to make you brainier.

If you'd like to propose a story, target the pitch to a specific section of the magazine to show that you've done your homework and understand Marie Claire's coverage. Provide a quick summary of your idea, and include a news peg and info on any media coverage the story may have received already (although ideally, you'd want to pitch an exclusive story).

What not to pitch: Often writers make the mistake of trying to pitch an idea by simply e-mailing a link to a story that has been published elsewhere, says Pesta. "This is a bad idea for two reasons: You're asking a busy editor to click on the link and figure out what the story is about -- and you're pitching a story that has already been written by someone else!" So, a thoughtful summary of your idea, along with a relevant news angle, is the way to go. "Basically, you want to make it easy for the editor to say yes," says Pesta.

Online opportunities: Most online stories are written by the Marie Claire staff.

Percentage freelance-written content: Around 10 percent
Percentage of freelance submissions accepted: Around two percent

Recent stories pitched and published: "The Paris Hilton of Russia," a day-in-the-life profile of a super-rich Moscow heiress, by writer Ilana Ozernoy. "Love in the Time of Terror," a newsy feature about a woman who fell in love with an infamous jihadist and became one herself, by writer Paul Cruickshank. "I Wasted Two Years on a Man I Never Met," a personal essay by Laurie Sandell about an all-encompassing online love affair. "The Hunger," a personal essay by Maura Kelly about a childhood eating disorder sparked by her mother's untimely death.

What publicists should pitch -- and when: Publicists should always feel free to pitch stories about fashion, beauty, politics, women in the news, and human rights around the world, says Pesta. "We work several months in advance, so when it's winter, think spring!"

Etiquette: Send a quick pitch via email targeted to a specific section of the magazine.

Lead time: Three to six months
Pay rate: $2 per word
Payment schedule: Payment is upon approval of the edited story.
Kill fee: 25 percent
Rights purchased: Varies

Contact info:
Marie Claire
300 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

www.MarieClaire.com
FirstInitialLastName@Hearst.com
Twitter handle: marieclaire

Direct pitches to the appropriate editor:

Editor-in-chief Joanna Coles: JCOLES at HEARST dot COM
Executive editor Lucy Kaylin: LKAYLIN at HEARST dot COM
Deputy editor Abigail Pesta: APESTA at HEARST dot COM
Beauty and health director Ying Chu: YCHU at HEARST dot COM
Features editor Lea Goldman: LGOLDMAN at HEARST dot COM
Articles editor Lauren Iannotti: LIANNOTTI at HEARST dot COM
Associate editor Jessica Henderson: JHENDERSON at HEARST dot COM
Associate editor Yael Kohen: YKOHEN at HEARST dot COM
Assistant editor Eileen Conlan: ECONLAN at HEARST dot COM
Assistant editor Sarah Z. Wexler: SWEXLER at HEARST dot COM
Editorial assistant Jihan Thompson: JTHOMPSON at HEARST dot COM

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Though we've updated this article recently, the speed at which things move in media means things may have already changed since then. If you notice any outdated info, email us, and we'll fix it a.s.a.p.]