Do you lack "people skills"? Of course you don't. But just to brush up, here's an article called "Ten Tips on How to Cultivate Relationships with Editors." Some are a little basic, like "write about your passion," but there are still some good nuggets. Some tips:

Editors prefer e-mail correspondence above all else - especially when submitting query letters and final articles. If you e-mail a story, make sure to paste it into the body of the e-mail, just in case the conversion of an attached file does not go smoothly. E-mailing correspondence and articles means the editor can cut and paste it into the publication, without having to retype. Digital delivery saves the editor lots of time.

If you choose to telephone an editor to pitch them a story, remember - their time is valuable. First, ask them if it's a good time to speak for 10 minutes. If it's not, then ask them for a convenient time to call back. If they can speak, limit your pitch to 5-7 minutes. No editor wants to be on the telephone with someone for an unendurable length of time. Do not start telling them about all of your publication credits or credentials unless they ask. Stick to the pitch for your story idea, and focus your conversation accordingly. If they like it, you may continue the conversation for longer than 10 minutes. If they're not interested, politely end the call.