by Jeff Goins
If you aren’t prepared for this arduous process, you had better go find an easier way to make a buck. Otherwise, it’ll be a rude awakening when you come in contact with your first picky editor. And trust me, he’s waiting for you. Red pen in hand.
So it really doesn’t make much sense to write the article before you pitch the piece. Does it? I mean, you’re going to rewrite it anyway, right?
Might as well get a guarantee they’re going to run the piece first (if you can).
Better yet, get to know the editor’s preferences and style before beginning. It’ll save you a lot of work.
Still, you’ll be tempted to do the exact opposite. Excitement over an idea will cause you to jump the gun and start writing.
Avoid this temptation like the plague. It will steal hours, days, and months of your life — if not more.
You will save a lot of time if you focus more on pitching than writing at the initial stages of a piece.
Focus on building relationships with publishers, getting to know editors, and preparing to write the article. It will be worth the effort. Trust me.
Step 4: Be Persistent
Most publishers are bogged down by loads of submissions every day. They don’t have time to remember who I am or what I wrote three weeks ago. But that’s okay.
Because it’s not on them to remember; it’s on me. If I care about my writing, I need to be the one keeping the piece at the forefront of the publisher’s mind.
So, I do them a favor by following up regularly. I check in, ask if they need anything else, and see if they’re still interested. You should do the same.
There is a relational part of this job of being a writer that you need to embrace — even if you’re the most introverted person in the world. Make email your friend. Find ways to work up the courage to network and introduce yourself to strangers. Depending on your personality, it can be very hard. But it’s also worth the awkwardness and discomfort.
This is one of the secrets to prolific publishing: being connected with the right people at the right time.
It’s not exactly fair and may not be what you signed up for, but it’s how the world works. Learn to live with it. Or stop complaining that your work doesn’t get published.
There is no in-between.
Think of it as the process you follow after interviewing for a job. You want to stay in the mix, and you don’t want to be forgotten. So you check in just to see how things are going.
Same deal here.
How to Follow Up with a Publisher
When expecting to hear back on a submission, checking in weekly (as long as the publisher hasn’t told you not to) is a good way to stay at the forefront of the editor’s mind.
A good way to not be annoying is to ask what they thought and offer to rewrite the piece, if necessary. Be cordial and polite, but don’t apologize, either.
Let the editor know other publications may also be considering the piece (only do this if it’s true). This will put a little pressure on them to make a decision and let them know your work is in demand.
You can also ask what their typical response time is. For most magazines, the standard is four to six weeks. Websites are often faster.
If you don’t hear back in a month or so, they probably aren’t going to publish your piece. This is a general rule based on my experience. Always defer to the publisher’s submission process and guidelines. Every place is different.
This is why it’s always good to have a few submissions going (for the same article). So that the publishers feel like they’re bidding on your work. (They are.)
This is better than the alternative — waiting for them to pick you. It puts you at the helm, which is where you belong.
You are a creator of content, a wizard of words. They need you. Act like it.
If you decide to publish your piece with another publication (because you’ve waited several weeks and haven’t heard back), it’s courteous to email the publisher. Let them know you’ve decided to take the piece elsewhere.
The Unbreakable Rule
When pitching, there is one cardinal rule to never break.
I’m a little hesitant to share it, because I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I don’t want this to be an excuse to back down or sabotage yourself. But this point is too important to not share.
The thing you must absolutely not do is this: Don’t keep following up after they’ve told you no.
This is not playing hard-to-get. If they’ve told you they’re not going to use the piece, don’t try to convince them otherwise.
You are only wasting your time and living in denial. Time to move on before you burn a valuable relationship.
Which raises another point: Sometimes, “no” is really “not now.” Don’t confuse the difference. If an editor says she wants to work with you again, she means it.
Step 5: Build Long-term Relationships
Wherever possible, build relationships with publishers. A publisher is not a person, but an editor is. Get to know these people; make their jobs easy. They are your greatest allies.
Once you have your foot in the door with a publisher, it’s much easier to get a second or third piece published.
Capitalize off relationships and write multiple pieces for places that have previously published you. Why keep fighting an uphill battle? The hard work is done; now, it’s time to benefit.
Build a relationship, and maintain it.
Typically, I write a few times for each publisher I work with. Why not? Once you get to know them and what they expect, it’s pretty easy to keep writing for them. And you usually don’t have to worry as much about pitching.
The hardest part is figuring out what publishers want and getting them to notice you. Once you’re in, you’re in. Milk it for all it’s worth.
One quick note (and this is important): Make this a relational transaction, not just a business one. Under-promise and over-deliver, and you’ll never have to go looking for work again.
If you do this right, don’t be surprised if an editor comes to you on occasion, asking you to write a piece. Once your foot’s in the door, it’s there to stay (unless you really mess something up).
The Business of Relationships
Never burn an editor. Read that sentence again. It’s important.
I recently wrote a piece for a website, and they wanted to change some of my content (which is typical). However, there was one phrase I was adamant about leaving, and they wanted to cut it. I was resistant.
Pitching a fit, I emailed a writer friend, saying, “Can you believe this! The nerve. What should I do?”
She gave me some tough love: “Do what the editor says. You have a gift: someone who is willing to work with you. Trust her. There’s nothing like a good relationship with an editor.”
You never know what will happen to these people — where they will go and what they will do. Make friends, not enemies, with editors.
Yes, there will be conflict. Yes, they will frustrate you and want to change your words. But these people are a gift. Their job is to make you better.
When you find an editor you like working with, be nice to them. Build a relationship.
This is a relational business. Always be looking for networking possibilities, so you can have more opportunities to write and get published in the future.
It’s acceptable to ask editors for endorsements and referrals for other writing gigs. Realize this is a “withdrawal” from your trust bank. Make sure you’ve made enough “deposits” before making a request like this.
Review
Let’s recap.
The most important of these five tips is the first one: If you can learn to pitch well, you’ll get an article published. The rest is details.
Publishing is about more than having the right ideas; it’s about having the right connections. It’s an art, so be willing to dance a little. (Pardon the mixed metaphor.)
Keep persistently pitching and try to not get discouraged.
Learn to embrace the relational aspects of the business, and you’ll find the right outlets for your message.
Remember: This is about forming relationships as much as it is about creating content.
When the Pitching Ends
Of course, all of this might seem silly. After all, every writer’s dream is to not pitch a single piece, to never have to sell yourself. Right?
But the reality is — one way or the other — you’re going to have to do a little selling. At least, temporarily.
You’ll have to knock on doors, email bloggers, and ask for guest post opportunities.
You’ll have to introduce yourself to agents and publishers before you get a book deal.
You’ll have to befriend editors and pitch like crazy to get a piece published.
You’ll have to send a few query letters and contact people you’d prefer would just ask you.
But all of this is preparation.
The truth is you won’t always have to do this. Not if you’re good. One day, you’ll be the gatekeeper. The publishers will come to you.
The paradox, though, is if you are good — and wise — you will do this, anyway. Even when you don’t have to.
The Myth of Arriving
Every diligent writer eventually reaches a point he never thought he’d reach. This will happen to you, I’m confident of it. You may become well known in your niche or finally publish a book or end up on The Today Show or New York Times Best Sellers List.
Every writer has a moment of “arriving.” You end up on top of the world (even if it’s a small world). You do something you never imagined. This will happen if you do your work.
But what then? Well, you have a choice:
You can settle with what you’ve achieved.
You can keep reaching out, keep challenging yourself, keep growing.
(Hint: Opt for the latter.)
Every milestone affords a new vantage point. You realize how much there is left to explore.
The trick here is to learn to be content with the journey, because you never fully arrive. However, the true masters of the craft are those who never grow complacent. They’re never fully satisfied; they’re always pushing themselves a little further.
Hear me loud and clear. I’m not advocating for being a workaholic and ditching your family and friends for a writing career. What I am saying is this: You can always get better. Do yourself (and your readers) a favor and remember it.
Don’t get cocky when you see success. You’re not as big of a deal as you feel. And the feeling fades. What remains is the eternal joy of getting to do work you love.
Death of a Salesman
The fun part, of course, comes when you don’t have to pitch your work anymore. When you can finally stop selling yourself.
If you choose yourself, build a platform, and always ship your best work, this is within your reach.
It may take time, but it will happen. It all begins with having the courage to ask. To make a few phone calls, send a couple of emails, even asking someone to coffee.
If you do this, I promise you a day will come (maybe sooner than you realize) when the editors will come to you, asking you for work.
They’ll want to pull an article off your blog or have you do a feature piece for an upcoming issue. They’ll want to partner with you to reach an audience. You will publish books and share your ideas with the world. And the dream will become a reality.
Until then, keep working. Keep writing. Keep showing up.
Always do the best work you can for less than you deserve (yes, you heard me). Because freelance writing is not just fee-for-service work. It’s marketing.
Piecework is platform-building. One piece at a time, you are building a legacy. A brand. A reputation. It’s worth a little sacrifice, a little sweat. Isn’t it?
By all means, don’t go hungry. But don’t make this all about dollars and cents. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And those who win treat it as such. Drip by drip. Persevering till the end.
See you at the finish line.
Fin.
(We’re done here. Now, go do something that matters.)
What Next?
Well, that’s up to you.
I’m sure this book raised as many questions as it provided answers. That was the point. (Sneaky, huh?)
But I don’t want to leave you in the dark. This was, in many ways, an introduction to a conversation that I hope continues. Plus, I’d love to hear what you thought:
What questions do you still have?
What do you need help with?
What did I miss?
I’d love to continue helping you in your journey of picking yourself and finding your own path to spreading your ideas and seeing your words in print.
We writers have never seen a time like the day in which we now live. I hope you take advantage of it.
If you’d like to continue this journey, check out an online writing course I started at TribeWriters.com.
If you have questions, you can find how to connect with me on the next page.
By the way, thanks. You didn’t have to read this book, but you did. I appreciate your sticking with me till the end. That says something about you already.
Remember: You are a writer. You just need to write.
About the Author
Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, and communicator. He believes words can change the world and that brownies are the world’s best breakfast food.
He has contributed to various publications and blogs, including RELEVANT Magazine, Copyblogger, Problogger, and Zen Habits (voted by TIME Magazine as one of the top 50 websites of 2008.)
Jeff lives in Nashville with his wife and dog. He works out of his home and some days never gets out of his pajamas.
To connect with Jeff, visit him at any of the following:
Email: [email protected]
Blog: goinswriter.com
Facebook: facebook.com/goinswriter
Twitter: twitter.com/jeffgoins
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Time to choose yourself.
Start creating.
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