How to Follow-up on a Query Letter
Have you ever faced this situation: you send a query letter to an editor, hope to hear a reply soon, and find yourself in the same position after a couple months? This is very common among freelance writers.
While I don’t make it a habit, there are times when following up on a query letter makes good sense. Whether or not you do this with every letter is your decision. Personally, I only follow-up when I am deeply intrigued by the prospect of writing for the publication.
If you are interested in following up on a query letter, follow these tips:
1. If possible, use email. As you probably know, editors don’t have the time to field phone calls from every person who sends a query. You have a much better chance of receiving an answer when you use email. It may take some digging, but if you search online and in Writer’s Market you should be able to find an email address.
2. Get to the point. The last thing you want to do is write a page long email, hoping that the editor reads the entire thing. Instead, only include basic information such as your name, contact details, and a brief overview of your query. As long as you provide your name and the title of your proposed piece the editor usually has enough information to identify you.
3. Don’t waste too much time on the follow-up process. There are thousands of publications looking for freelance writers. The more time you spend on follow-ups the less time you are spending on sending new queries.
One follow-up note is enough. If an editor doesn’t respond it is time to move on.
There is no easy way of saying when you should follow-up on a query. Most publications state how long it takes to respond, so make sure you wait at least that long.
