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Topic: Appropriate Follow up Etiquette for Essay Pitches

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gemstone Posted – 3/28/2008 12:18:21 PM | show profile
Hi, can anyone provide me with their experience or suggestions for the appropriate time, manner, and even language to use in a follow up email to an editor at a magazine or newspapers when you've pitched a personal essay and want to find out if there's interest in your work. OR, should I just wait and not follow up? OR do people still admire persistence in writers?

Thanks for any light anyone can shed on this subject.
gemstone
dribbledrive1 Posted – 3/28/2008 12:46:43 PM | show profile
Usually, I make it simple.


I am following up on a proposal I sent you for an essay on DATE. Are you interested in the idea? Is it under considerations?

As I reminder, I am putting the original query at the end of this letter.

Regards and best wishes,
Village Gal Posted – 3/28/2008 1:10:45 PM | show profile
I rarely pitch essays. I send the completed piece.
In my experience, it they are interested, you hear back quickly. If I don't hear, I foward the piece again along
with a brief cover note asking if they are interested. How
soon I do that depends on whether or not it is timely.
I follow up anywhere between 48 hours ( timely op-ed )
or two weeks. I always follow up.
gemstone Posted – 3/30/2008 3:36:40 PM | show profile
Appropriate Follo up Etiquette for Essay Pitches
Thanks! great responses. However, Village Girl, like so many of us who treasure and respect "intellectual property, " even when I'm dealing with a reputatble publication I always fear that my idea will be "borrowed," if I send a piece in its entirety, and it doesn't get picked up from my pitch. How do you counter your own feelings about that in the submission process? ...Or anyone else out there who would like to chime in?

thanks again, gemstone
Village Gal Posted – 3/31/2008 9:46:23 AM | show profile
No, I don't worry about that at all. When I sell a personal essay or opinion piece, editors are buying my voice, my point of view, my unique take on a specific situation. There is no way anyone can borrow my writing style. It's original.
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