How to Pitch a Story Idea

Have a great story idea but don't know how to pitch it? 

1) Helpful hints for getting your article published in SEVEN

Drop us an email (don’t forget to include your contact info) that tells us three things:

1. What your story will be about:
 Freelance writers often include the first line of their proposed story, plus a brief explanation of the story: what angle you plan to take, who you'll interview, how you'll write it. 

2. Why this story is important or interesting to readers:
 You have to convince the editor to print your story by explaining how relevant it is to the publication's readership.

3. Why you're the best person to write it:
 You'll have to convince SEVEN that you possess a unique angle, a hard-to-get contact, or some new and little-known information that makes you the best person to explore this story.

Other Helpful Hints: Catch the editor's attention with your first sentence. Keep it brief - never more than a page long. Include a couple of sentences on your background, experience, and why you want to write this story. If you have "clips" - stories you've written that have been published in your local, school or community newspaper, include them. This will give the editor an idea of your style. Include your contact information address, phone and fax number, email address, Web page, so the SEVEN can get in touch with you. Read and edit your letter carefully before sending it. Don't rely on computer spell-checkers! Read our example of a query letter (see right sidebar).

2) Follow up your pitch

After you've sent your query letter - either by email, fax or snail mail - wait an appropriate time, then follow up with a phone call. Ask if SEVEN has received the query, if SEVEN has any questions, and when you can expect to hear back from SEVEN. You don't want to be pushy, but you do want to be persistent in following up on your idea. If you've done your homework well, SEVEN may give you the go-ahead for your story. If SEVEN turns down your pitch, don't be discouraged - professional freelancers get turned down all the time too. Also, one of the ideas you pitch might not be appropriate at that moment, but SEVEN may assign it to you down the road. Continuously pitching ideas will also show that you're committed and determined to write for that particular magazine, and it will keep you at the top of SEVEN’s mind. This is key particularly if SEVEN suddenly needs a story written on a tight deadline and all her regular writers are busy with their previously assigned articles. By showing your interest and your wealth of ideas, you might end of being one of the writers who gets stories assigned to them - without even having to pitch!