Pitching...? I need some tips on how to do it!

[MyRealNamesBernard]

After a two-year career break looking after three under-5s (!!) I am about to step back into the world of freelance journalism/writing. I freelanced for three years before my break, but was fortunate enough to have regular work, handed to me on a silver platter, by former colleagues. So I have never, ever, in my career had to pitch.

Recently, I was invited by a national magazine to pitch some ideas to them on the specialist area I write about. I have got a list of ideas for stories but I don't know how much information to provide in my pitch.... Should I start doing all my research now and give the editor a detailed outline of the feature, including who I will be interviewing? Or do I just send a couple of lines with a brief description? (I don't want to sound unprofessional when calling PRs and potential interviewees by saying I am only at the 'pitching' stage at the moment).

Also, do I bombard them with three or four ideas in one go? Or would it be better to send a couple of ideas, and save a few more for another time?

I realise I sound like a total amateur , I have in fact been writing for 15 years..... But selling ideas to strangers is all new to me. Any help would be gratefully received. I hope to pitch ideas to other publications too, so advice on approaching editors who have not encouraged me to pitch would also be wonderful.

In the first instance I would just send one pitch at a time, once you've got a relationship with the editor and struck up a rapport then it's fine to send a few at a time.

When I commission I like the pitches to be clear, well thought out but not too waffly.

I'd give each idea a heading: SEX AFTER MOTHERHOOD - or whatever you're pitching about.

Then a couple of pars for your idea - how you see it working, who you might interview (real life case studies or experts.)

Just sum it up in a snappy way. if they're interested they can always come back and ask you for more info.

pitches that go on forever are a real turn off - a couple of hundred words tops.

Thank you, Nancy, for you advice - just what I was after! Would you advise an emailed pitch, initially, then a follow-up call a week later, perhaps?

Should have been "your" advice! (Will obviously be proofing my pitches more carefully than I proof my MN posts).

yes, pitch by email and write something in the subject field to stop it getting sent to spam folders.

An awful lot of editors are crap at getting back to people re pitches. Generally, if they're interested you hear pretty quickly though. it's the 'thanks but no thanks' that they're bad at. I wouldn't leave it a week. I think a couple of days is fine before you chase.

I know some freelancers who (mindful of editors who are sloppy about giving an answer) email ideas and say in the email that they will leave it with them for a couple of days before offering elsewhere. You may think that's too pushy at this stage but, for future reference, I think its absolutely fine to spell out in an email that you are putting a time limit on how long you leave an idea with them.

Again, really helpful, Nancy. Thank you.

I would love to do this too. I have already had a couple of things published in popular magazines, but can never get up the courage to send off pitches. I assume they will see me as a total amateur and without any experience.

Do editors really expect and even want pitches sent directly to them? I kind of thought they had staff writers and that was it. it is such a tricky thing to break into.

Hi whatdoesittake, you sound like me! I think I lack confidence, I just assume that everything I pitch will be rejected outright because it is either a)rubbish, b)clogging up the editor's inbox or c)both of the above!

Maybe we could mentor or motivate each other? I still have not sent my pitches off as I am procrastinating trying to fine tune my approach. But actually I am just terrified of looking - as you so succinctly put it - like an amateur.

If it helps, I have been a staff writer for a magazine, and can confirm that the editor was always commissioning work from freelancers despite having a team of four reporters and a features writer. In fact, he had a very generous freelance budget with which to do this. He would normally use freelancers because they had a specialist knowledge or good contacts in on a certain topic. However, they would also be commissioned if they broke a piece of exclusive news or when advertorial copy was required for a special supplement. I don't think freelance budgets are as good as they used to be, but there ARE opportunities... the hurdle is gaining the confidence to exploit them.

hey Bernard, would love to get some tips from you (and vice versa). As a staff writer you must have great knowledge, (something I lack). My published articles were kind of accidents and I happened to have a very interesting story which was taken up by a magazine on the first pitch.

The fact was that I didn't have to supply any credentials or give them writing examples - the sub editor just walked me through the whole process and did all the necessary editing and cutting.

My main concern is sending my pitches to the right people. is it the sub editor, the features editor, the top (whole magazine) editor...I just get a bit scared by the whole thing.

Also my online presence is mostly to do with copy writing - which is my day job. Would that put them off? Should I have a profile, cuttings and should I send them.

Oh, so many questions...

Maybe we should challenge each other to send off two pitches a week - starting with small local publications (or niche publications). The pay might be smaller, but the experience would be good.

The reading I have done indicates that a few lines in an email is enough to start and then they will ask if they want more detail.

I am not sure I have got many useful tips. However, I do know that the person you need to pitch to varies - in some publications it might the features ed, in others the deputy ed, in others the editor. I have never, ever heard of a sub-editor commissioning articles as their role is to proof, re-write (if necessary), write headlines/captions etc and layout the pages. In any case, I would put in a quick call to the mag/paper/website to find out for sure. I would also ask when their deadline is, and avoid pitching around this time as emails might get forgotten or missed amid the flurry of activity.

I think having a portfolio is essential. Even if you only have copywriting work in, it will provide examples of your ability and style. I have been advised to start a website, with a blog, to showcase my work. Twitter is a good place to promote your blogs and any published work.

I love the idea of your challenge! I think I would fail in the first week, however, as I have a rather large roadblock at the moment in the shape of two children under school age... grrr. Very frustrating (for my writing). One is starting school in September, when the other will start nursery part-time so I will be able to start pitching with gusto then. For now, I am just going to send a few ideas to the editor who asked me to pitch... just to ease me in slowly. I am more than happy, however, to provide moral support to you and to get going with the challenge in September....

Thanks bernard. I do already have a website and am working on adding stuff to the portfolio section. It is more of a copywriting portfolio though - but I can't why I can't do both. maybe I just need a different website for magazine stuff.

I know the difficulty of having kids around. Thankfully those days are behind me (they are in secondary school) so I have all the time in the world - just not exactly all that motivated (just scared, really...)

Love it! I am also scared shitless and in need of a very scary sergeant major type to terrify me into doing something proactive, so totally know where you are coming from.

I am no expert, but I don't think you need a separate website. Some journo websites I have looked at have very different types of work under different headings. A lot of journalists, for example, also teach and do media training, some also do photography, others do press release writing and... copywriting! All of them displayed on one website.

Don't be scared! You have a website, and that puts you about ten very large steps ahead of me. Have you considered including a blog on your website, where you could write some pieces in a more journalistic style? It might whet the appetites of any potential clients...? Give you a bit more experience/confidence. Just an idea... as mentioned, I am no expert at this freelance malarkey.

I have a meeting next week with an ed from a magazine I am thinking of pitching to, to try out some ideas. I would love to say I am being all proactive and confident... but she's a former colleague so it wasn't exactly a great feat to organise. Still, I will see if I can get any tips for you (and me)....watch this space!

Bernard, I am similar to you. I have been writing for many many MANY years but it tends to be for ex-colleagues or people who have found me, often through ex-colleagues. As a result, I rarely pitch, which is foolish and lazy. I really want to be more proactive and in control and, inevitably, that means pitching even though the idea is very very unappealing. It's great to know that there are others in the same boat!

What is the matter with us all? We should be pushing ourselves forward because we are good - great, even...what is it about us women that makes us avoid doing those things which will advance our careers? Whereas we all know people who push themselves as experts on this and that, yet they are actually full of hot air...

A woman's magazine article in the making???

Brilliant, whatdoesittake... go and pitch that idea! You are so right, though. We should have more conviction in ourselves... focus on the positives, ignore the negatives. Many of the freelancers I have met in my career always seem to ooze confidence (or so it seems). DH, who is in sales, tells me that the key to pitching is not to be put off by knockbacks. Take them on the chin, he says, and accept it is part of the job.

I found a great article today with tips on pitching and having an online presence. Not too sure on the MN rules on linking but will stick in the link now, and apologies if I have overstepped the mark freelance journalism tips