How do I best pitch to travel publications?

[Erin Leigh Dinan]

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone advise how to go about writing and sending out a pitch to a magazine or newsletter to attempt to freelance?  Do you send the pitch as an attachment? A short and sweet pitch?  Do you send a single idea with the hopes of writing monthly for a magazine or just one simple article for a publication? 

Thank you so much!

Erin

[James Craven]

Erin:

The lighter side of becoming a travel writer: "I want to be a travel writer" http://bit.ly/dDfZ0N

@CravenTravels

[Diana Lambdin Meyer]

Erin -
Never as an attachment; short and sweet; one idea at a time. And for a more extensive answer to those questions, which we freelancers get a lot, might I take this opportunity to peddle my e-book"Life As A Freelance Writer: Things You May or May Not Wish to Plagiarize" for $8 on lulu.com.

http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/life-as-a-freelance-writer/4563521

[Doug Bardwell]

Best practice is one idea per pitch - and make the pitch about three paragraphs long. First paragraph = your lead for the article. What's the fact that's going to grab the audience and make them want to read your article?
Second paragraph = what are the facts/benefits that your audience will get from the story.
Third paragraph = something about you - your experience, where you've been published before, etc. (if you have). If you haven't been published, maybe tell about your experience with the subject matter (lived there 10 years, etc.)
That's about it.
Some publications want you to send the whole story with your pitch - check their writers guidelines to find out their preferences. Many larger publications have their guidelines on-line.

[Erin Leigh Dinan]

Thanks everyone for your replies!
Do you just send the email to the editor's email address? And not as an attachment, correct?
Thank you!!

[Erin Leigh Dinan]

Thank you everyone for your replies in regards to pitches. So basically, you should never submit the actual article right? Just a short pitch ? Does this hold true in general for all magazines, even ones that are not related to travel?

Thank you!

[Simon & Baker Travel Review]

Hello Erin,

I would suggest you become familiar with the publication you want to contribute to and read their guidelines. Often, the editors share insights on how to approach them. If you follow those insights your chances of a warm reception will improve. Hope that helps!

Best of luck!

Elena

[Ed Wetschler]

Erin, you know my preferences, but I'll put them here anyway in case they prompt a comment by someone who's smarter. I believe a query should have a killer title, followed by a query that's as short as possible -- even just one sentence, if possible.
Then sentence about how, if the editor wants more details, you can easily supply them.
Next, a few sentences about yourself, plus some links to other stories you've done.
In sum: catchy and fast.

[Ed Wetschler]

In answer to your question about attachments, Erin, a lot of people just won't open them. It's not that they're terrified of viruses, but that they just don't have time.