"Girlfriend" Query

I bought every issue of Girlfriend magazine (as well as Dolly) for several of my teenage years. And now I'm published in it! My article, '#Winning', is on page 44 of the April issue. Here's the email I sent to editor, Sarah Tarca, to make it happen (PS who are those long-haired louts on the cover?)...

Dear Ms Tarca (aka editor dude!),

I'm a freelance writer who's written for magazines including Women's Health & Fitness and Cosmo Bride. Samples of my work are available on my blog, Becks and the City.

Girlfriend is famous for (among other a-MAZ-ing things) giveaways like the Rimmel Model Search and Girlfriend of the Year. I'd like to write an article, "#Winning", helping readers win competitions like these and have one of those "ERMAHGERD, I've won!" moments.

As a competition addict, I've won everything from a trip to Japan to a year's supply of toilet paper, magazine subscriptions and $1,000 Westfield shopping spree. The article would include tips on how to find Twitter, Facebook, blog and website comps, opportunities to score freebies and mystery shopping gigs and how to compose those tricky "25 words or less" entries.

Coming to 800 words, the article would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you are interested.

Yours sincerely,

Rebecca Douglas

"Dogs Life" Query

I'd already "met" Dogs Life editor, Laura Greaves, online by interviewing her on Becks and the City here, so I was able to make a more personalised approach to her in pitching my article ideas. When a previous pitch I sent failed to hit the mark, I sent her the email below and received a reply the same day. Thankfully, she liked the idea and the article was published in the July/August 2012 issue of the magazine (slotted into my portfolio here this week).

Hi Laura,

Hope you are having a good 2012 so far. I just read your blog post for this week and, if you loathe musicals, can I recommend you definitely give Miss Saigon a wide berth? I love musicals, but even I couldn't stomach the bazillion songs it contained when I saw it last year. Hopefully you enjoy West Side Story, though!

Anyway, I have a new idea for Dogs Life magazine which might interest you...

Many of us worry, "If anything happened to me, what would become of my pets?". I'd like to explain how to provide a bequest for your canine companions in an article, "Will Power", using my research skills and knowledge as a recovering lawyer (though being careful to keep the tedious jargon at bay!).

In 1,200 words it would cover leaving pets to friends or family, setting up trusts and legacy programmes through animal charities, considerations such as your pet's expected lifespan and cost of upkeep and where to go for further advice. It could also quote or contain case studies of responsible owners who've already provided for their dogs in a will.

If the idea isn't quite right, I'd love to hear the planned themes for upcoming Dogs Life issues so I can (hopefully!) pitch something more appropriate.

Kind Regards,

Rebecca Douglas

"Diabetic Living" Query

Hooray! My article, "10 Health-smart Ways to Save," has been published in the May/June issue of Diabetic Living magazine (out now). I originally emailed the idea to the magazine on 12 February and the editor responded four days later, saying she was interested, but would like it to be 600 words instead of 1,500.

The finished piece is on pages 46-47 of the issue. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. Here's what I wrote in my query email to make it all happen...

I'm a freelance writer, mediator for Consumer Affairs and qualified lawyer who's been published by magazines such as Women's Health & Fitness and Cosmo Bride. Samples of my work are available on my blog.

10 WAYS TO STAY FIT AND SAVE MONEY

Working for Consumer Affairs, I've become somewhat of a bargain shopping guru, helping customers receive better deals on, amongst other things, shoes, supermarket groceries, exercise equipment and gym memberships. I'd like to share the tips I've gathered in an article for Diabetic Living, "10 Ways to Stay Fit and Save Money". Readers would learn how to save money on food, fitness and healthcare, without compromising on quality, including:
* Attending student clinics for discounted podiatry and physiotherapy treatments and more from supervised university students (at significantly reduced fees)
* Borrowing pilates, yoga and aerobics DVDs from the library (free!)
* Visiting the gym or taking healthy cooking and fitness classes at your local community centre (generally around $6 for a casual gym visit and under $5 for classes)
* Snapping up deals on massages, gym memberships and relaxing retreats from group buying sites like Scoopon and Cudo (usually saving at least 50%)

The article would include specific examples of where readers can find these bargains and who to contact for more information. Coming to 1,500 words, it would be delivered within three weeks of hearing you're interested.

Yours sincerely,

Rebecca Douglas

"Women's Health & Fitness" Query

I wrote this query email to Women's Health & Fitness magazine on 17 February 2011 and received a reply from the editor, Angela Tufvesson, five days later.

I'd accidentally chosen the perfect editor to receive this story idea. Little did I know, Angela's a fellow lefty and replied with a "Greetings comrade"! The 1,200-word story was published in the June issue out in news agencies mid-May.

Here's the original email...

Dear Ms Tufvesson,

I'm a writer from Adelaide who's been published by Cosmo Bride and Onya Magazine. Samples of my freelance writing are available on my blog, Becks and the City.

Next time you're using a pair of scissors, computer mouse, can opener, or spiral notebook, spare a thought for left-handers (unless you are one, in which case, greetings comrade!). These and many other everyday tools are made for easy use by right-handers. Historically, lefties have faced discrimination in language, with the Latin word sinistra meaning both "left" and "unlucky" and the French word gauche meaning "left" and "clumsy". They have been beaten and victimised and reprimanded in schools.

I'd like to write an article, "Being Left-handed," discussing theories including that left-handed people are more violent, talented at art and mathematics, more likely to be born from older mothers, and able to sprout three heads (okay that last one's made up). Intriguingly, it's claimed to have health implications such as increased risk of schizophrenia, alcoholism, dyslexia, Crohn's disease, mental disabilities and early death. And apparently, left-handedness is on the rise.
Coming to 1,000 words, the article would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you are interested.

Yours sincerely,
Rebecca Douglas
Mobile: xxxx xxx xxx
Email: beckemail@gmail.com

"eBaylife" Query

In January 2011, I wrote this email to eBaylife magazine and received a response after only five days. The "Everybody Loves Lego" feature was published two months later and has led to much more work from eBaylife, including four more articles (though not the second story idea pitched below), penning other parts of the magazine, and also involvement in their new publishing project. An excellent result all from one email!

Here's what my original email said...

I'm a writer from Adelaide who's been published by Cosmo Bride and Onya Magazine and been interviewed as an expert on Internet shopping and consumer promotions by Today Tonight, Money magazine and The Morning Show. I'm also a mediator for Consumer Affairs, advising customers and businesses on refunds, warranties and scams and resolving disputes. Samples of my freelance writing are available on my blog, Becks and the City.

I'd like to suggest two article ideas that I'm eager to write for eBaylife.

1. Everybody Loves Lego

As I sit to write this, there are 112,843 Lego listings worldwide on eBay.com and 7,546 in Australia. Everyone, it seems, is trading these fun construction sets on eBay and it's not just kids who are fans. I've certainly picked up some eBay bargains to add to the miniature city on the huge display table in our house. My article, "Everybody Loves Lego," would include advice on how to find bargains and ensure pieces aren't missing, examine retro sets vs the new themes (Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, Toy Story etc), and give comparisons between RRP and eBay prices in "What We Found" breakout boxes.

2. Designer Fashion Finds

Leaving aside my nerdier (Lego) leanings, I'm also a self-confessed shoe and fashion addict. Not a week goes by when I'm not lurking on eBay checking out Marc Jacobs ballerina flats or Alannah Hill cardies and hair accessories. I'd like to write an article, "Designer Fashion Finds," helping eBaylife readers sort the fabulous from the fakes, find savings using tricks such as searching for misspelt listings and discover the hottest fashions currently available on Ebay.

Spanning 1,000 words, one (or both if you're keen!) of the above articles would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you are interested.

Yours sincerely,

Rebecca Douglas
Mobile: xxxx xxx xxx
Email: beckemail@gmail.com

Did you spot the typo?

"Cosmopolitan Bride" Query

I wrote this email to Cosmopolitan Bride in December 2009. Exactly two months later I received a reply, requesting samples of my writing. I was then asked to write the article 'on spec' (ie without a guarantee the magazine would accept it if it wasn't up to scratch). Luckily, it was accepted and I was paid $500. The article was published in the Spring edition of the magazine in August 2010 and it was eventually called "8 Negotiating Tips Every Bride Needs to Know".

Anyway, here's the original query email...

Working for Consumer Affairs, I hear countless wedding disaster stories -- vile venues, dress dry-cleaning disasters and lost engagement ring laments. Brides-to-be would acquire money- and sanity-saving tips to avoid these crappily-ever-after wedding scenarios in my article, "Bargainzilla: Negotiating Fabulous Wedding Deals".

The modern Superbride crafts 100 wedding invitations per hour, sources rare Tibetan flowers that bloom every 72 years and leaps tall buildings in a single stiletto-clad bound. Sadly, however, Superbride often doesn't read contracts carefully and negotiate a fairer deal, freebies and a cheaper price. She doesn't know suppliers will agree to these, if asked, to secure her bridal business against competitors. The article would detail real-life stories, contract pitfalls to avoid and negotiation tips I've collected through traversing law school, resolving consumer disputes and in my own bride-to-be shopping experiences.

The article, spanning 1,500 words, would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you are interested.

Kind regards,

Rebecca Doyle