For many freelance writers, pitching editors is a big part of securing story assignments. I've never had much luck with that approach, so I thought I'd share the behind-the-scenes of a recent pitch-to-publication success.
After going full-time freelance in 2021, I set a goal to send more pitches. My bylined magazine pieces typically begin with an editor contacting me*, but relying on the same few titles is risky. The industry is more volatile than ever and editor exits are all too common.
I subscribed to Study Hall, a resource/community for media freelancers to keep tabs on opportunities. That's where I first saw the pitch call that led to my latest piece:
Even if the rate wasn't ideal, the fact that the publication is transparent and developed a pitch guide with monthly theme info was an indication they'd be freelancer-friendly. I didn't pitch anything about waterparks for that issue, but saved the information for when I had a story that might be a good fit.
A few months ago, I finally emailed the editor to propose a story about Can Play, a Des Moines-based nonprofit now licensing their adaptive sports model nationally. I've followed their program since it first launched locally and learned about the licensing through a post their founder, Melissa, made on LinkedIn. Putting together my nonprofit community knowledge and a writing assignment felt like a win-win.
Here's the pitch I sent:
Polishing a pitch takes time, and getting a blanket rejection or never hearing back can be demoralizing. Thankfully, Jefferey was responsive. (It turns out he is a former freelancer and even lived in the Des Moines suburbs not too long ago.)
I attended some of Can Play's programs where I interviewed parents, and Melissa and I connected for an in-person interview. The story is online here and appears as a six-page spread in the March print edition.
Collaborating with Jefferey on this piece was such a smooth experience that I pitched two more stories that will appear this spring and summer.
Focusing on the work in my inbox often feels like a better use of my time than pitching, but this was a great reminder of how much I enjoy expanding my network and seeing my writing reach new audiences. I am celebrating my 4th anniversary as a full-time self-employed writer this week, so I thought it would be fun to share a peek into the process!
*Living in Des Moines, where Dotdash Meredith has a hub, helped me build relationships that connected me with contributor opportunities. I'm super lucky to receive assignments and hope that by turning in clean copy, often a few days before the deadline, editors will keep me in their stable of reliable writers. My longtime collaborators at dsm let me play to my strengths writing about art and culture and almost always indulged my ideas, even if they have teased me for putting myself on a heritage crafts beat.
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