Why Dont Magazine Editors Like My Article Ideas?
Whether youre a professional magazine writer with decades of experience or a not-yet-published freelancer, you are bound to get rejection notes. Editors dont always explain clearly why theyre saying no. Some reasons have nothing to do with you and others have everything to do with you, while many other reasons rank between those two extremes.
To succeed as a freelance magazine writer, you must do your best to optimize the factors within your control. Then accept the rej...
Whether youre a professional magazine writer with decades of experience or a not-yet-published freelancer, you are bound to get rejection notes. Editors dont always explain clearly why theyre saying no. Some reasons have nothing to do with you and others have everything to do with you, while many other reasons rank between those two extremes.
To succeed as a freelance magazine writer, you must do your best to optimize the factors within your control. Then accept the rejections that occur despite your efforts, as an inevitable part of the business. Use this list of 10 common reasons for rejection as a tool for crafting article queries that make it hard for editors to respond in any other way than yes!
1. We already did this topic. When a magazine has its archives posted online, you should try to make sure this objection isnt the case. However, sometimes you couldnt possibly know that your topic is already assigned to another writer or already set to appear in a future issue. Your idea being in the pipeline is the quintessential reason for rejection that you cant prevent. Oh well! Just go on to the next idea.
2. Were not ready to redo the topic yet. Many magazines revisit some topics after a certain length of time has passed or if theres a compelling rationale for shortening their normal repeat cycle. If your research reveals that the publication has covered a topic before, explain whats changed to warrant another article now. For instance, your article would focus on post-Big Dig Boston. Or youll cover the fertility treatments that have been discovered since their last discussion of the topic in 2006.
3. Its not relevant to enough readers. Forestall this response by making a strong case in your query that your topic is either relevant or interesting to their target market. For instance, editors at a mens magazine would most likely reject an article on eating disorders unless you cite statistics showing that its rapidly growing or an increasingly serious problem for men in the age group the magazine serves.
4. Your idea isnt focused enough. Very often queries go in five different directions for a topic, so that the editor cant figure out what the article would really cover. If the editor can tell you want to write about volunteerism in big cities but not what you want to say about the phenomenon, thats a no. Whenever possible, include a sentence in your query defining your focus or stating the main idea of the article.
5. Youre trying to cover too much. Editors know what can and cant be accomplished in 700 or 1800 words or whatever length is usual for their publication. Beginning writers have a tendency to propose something that would need a book-length treatment to accomplish or thats way too broad for an article. To prevent this reason for rejection, carefully study your target magazine to determine what a reasonable scope for an article is for instance, ways to help your child complete their homework, rather than ways to help your child succeed in life.
6. Your focus is wrong for us. If you propose a profile when the magazine runs how-to articles, or vice versa, the editor will say no. The same thing would happen when you propose writing about a tragedy or outrage when the publication prides itself on hopeful, upbeat stories. Research, research, research first!
7. Your query is okay, but not exciting to us. Here the topic and focus may work, but the writing lacks persuasiveness and pizzazz. Head off this reason for rejection by writing vivid, energetic queries in the style preferred by the publication.
8. Were not convinced you can pull it off. Certain kinds of articles require journalistic experience, technical knowledge, contacts or unusual storytelling skills. Try to anticipate the fears editors might have about your abilities in reference to what youre proposing and explain what in your background shows you can handle it.
9. There are factual errors in your presentation. Always, always look up the spelling of proper names and check any facts mentioned in a query. One of my writing students showed me a query he was going to send off that described a highway as going somewhere it didnt and put a tourist spot in the wrong state. These would have been deadly errors. Editors hate working with writers who cant get details right.
10. Your query is poorly written. Editors also hate receiving assignments that need a major rewrite, so they send queries containing mangled sentences, verbs that dont match subjects and misused phrases to the reject pile. Learn to write correct, competent English, and youll ensure a fair reception for your ideas.
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