Article Queries That Sell

Queries are not written like business letters or emails; they are specifically designed to sell your articles.

Every query should be:

  • Written for the appropriate market
  • A fresh idea
  • Skilfully presented
  • Written in a competent style, and
  • A good example of the writer's research skills.
If your query starts with: ...Please find enclosed an idea that I hope you'll consider is suitable for your magazine...

What reaction do you think this will generate? Yes, a rejection slip. Why? Your letter was boring and didn't grab the editor's attention.

What I usually suggest to new writers is to write the article and then write the query. This has a twofold effect. First, you will know you can write the article, and second you can take information from the article to compile the query. When you become more experienced you can simply write the query and when it is accepted, write the whole article.

Here is a simple formula:

Dear (get the person's name right)

Great Headline (Title)

First paragraph is the hook to get the editor interested. There is no "warm-up" paragraph. In fact, this first paragraph could be the lead of your article. For example: When Adam White bought his first block of land in (name of town) almost ten years ago, he had no idea his investment portfolio would reach nearly $2 million.

The second paragraph should include some good facts and figures.

Third paragraph confirm that the person is willing to share his strategies for wealth.

Fourth paragraph lets the editor know you can provide some excellent photographs.

Fifth paragraph state when you can have the article ready and the word count plus number of images. If you have special qualifications in the subject/topic, let the editor know plus your experience.

Please don't finish your query with... Thank you for your consideration. Just get in and give the editor a great idea and then get out.

Make sure all your contact details are on the top of the letter. If you are sending the query by email you can still use this formula, but your details could appear at the bottom of your email.

Sell the editor with the first paragraph of the query and he/she will commission you and offer a good rate of pay.

barb clews is an award winning journalist with nearly 1,000 published articles to her credit. She has been a writer and editor for 15 years and is the author of "Article Writing for Freelancers" and "20 Tips to Increase Writing Skills" Visit barb clews to subscribe to "Words that Work", Barb's monthly ezine packed with tips for writers.

disinfecting cleaning services Arlington Heights ..
In The News:

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.
Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.
Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.
Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.
Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.
Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.
Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.
Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.
New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.
A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.
AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.
A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.
New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.
The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.
Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.
Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.
Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.
Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.
Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.
Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.
Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.
iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.
Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.
FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.
Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Seecrets on Writing: Free Requotable Quotes for Internet Writers

Original quotes, when used at the beginning or at the... Read More

10 Tips For Getting More Traffic From Your Articles

Here's a depressing fact if you sell anything on the... Read More

Should You Hire a Famous Writer or Write Your Own Articles?

Proven and Exceptional Click-Through ResultsTesting has proven again and again... Read More

Recycle Your Work

Recycling your work is a lot like doing your part... Read More

SEO Article Writing 101

SEO writing is very different from content writing, article writing,... Read More

Top Ten Reasons to Write Articles for Free Publication Online

Many writers struggle with the decision of whether or not... Read More

Powerful Article Marketing Tips

If you have submitted your articles to EzineArticles.com you have... Read More

Increase Site Page Rank By Writing Free Articles

Are you looking for a better way to promote your... Read More

Where to Get Great Ideas For Your Next Article

There are times when I want to write an article... Read More

How To Rank Your Articles Higher in Search Engines

All of us, the authors, know that to enhance our... Read More

Article Marketing & Copywriting Secret: How To Make Your Article TITLE Sell

Most authors are wasting their time producing dozens to hundreds... Read More

Writing Articles that Get Read

Writing articles is one of the best and most effective... Read More

You Should Seriously Consider Making Money With Your Words

Sometimes when I am communicating with other webmasters and I... Read More

Direct Sales Reps CAN Write Articles - Heres How!

We all know that article writing is a great way... Read More

Article Writing: 10 Easy Ways To Generate Highly Read Article Ideas

If you're writer, I am sure sometimes you may have... Read More

4 Ways to Outsource Your Article Writing Needs

Not every web designer has the time ? or skills... Read More

Jump From Unknown to Widely Quoted in One Week

Start by Being QuotableIt's tough to stand out online. With... Read More

You Can Also Write

I am sure that there would have been a moment... Read More

4 Major Mistakes to Avoid when Writing an Article

By avoiding these common mistakes, you will greatly improve your... Read More

Do You Have the Characteristics of an Article Writer?

In order to answer the question I've just asked in... Read More

You Really Can Make Money With Your Words

Sometimes when I am communicating with other webmasters and I... Read More

Ten Top Tips for Writing Articles on the Internet

Online readers love information, but be sure your information is... Read More

Every Writers Dilemma: How Do You Decide What to Write About?

The sources of inspiration are all around us, in the... Read More

Promote Your Home Business with Keyword Rich Articles

Do you wonder what easy, cheap, and fast way you... Read More

10 Profitable Tips For Article Writers

1. Write to one person.When you're writing your article picture... Read More

bathroom cleaning service Mundelein ..