This week, we’ve all dusted the last of the mince pie crumbs off ourselves and dragged ourselves back to work. Some of us are more raring to go than others, however, from the looks of things on Twitter, plenty of editors are back at their desks and ready for our pitches.
As it’s the launch of the 5x5 Pitch Challenge this week, I thought it would be a great time to share some of my best pitching advice that I've picked up since going freelance. There are also plenty of calls out from editors at the bottom if you’re looking for homes for your pitches.
Keep tabs on editors
Editors who tweet out calls for pitches aren’t only open to those pitches on the day they send that tweet. In fact, you may have more chance of your email cutting through the noise of their inbox if you pitch them at a later date. Find a way to keep track of them by either making a Twitter list of editors who’ve put calls out for pitches or note down their details in a spreadsheet. That way, when you have an idea that you’re looking for a home for, you already have a “database” of editors who you know are happy to be pitched.
Lay your dead pitches to rest, but don’t bury them
I have a pitching graveyard. It’s a place where I keep a note of all my rejected pitches in the hopes that one day I’ll resurrect them. I track all my pitches, from ideation to whatever ends up happening to them – whether they result in a commission or not. I don’t chuck out the ideas that don’t land, I keep a note of them and return to them at a later date. Once enough time has passed to dull the sting of rejection, I revisit those ideas to triage what went wrong. Sometimes, it’s just a case of timing and holding on to the idea for a bit longer.
Make “pitch time” a weekly appointment
I’ve been writing and editing stories for long enough now that ideas do pop up into my head on a semi-regular basis. What’s taken longer for me to perfect, however, is developing a good habit for turning those idea kernels into fleshed out, intelligible pitches fit to be sent to an editor. I now block out time in my diary each week specifically for pitch development where I take my fledgeling ideas, research them and write them up into pitches. Ideas might come to you at any time, but development needs a routine.
Don’t wait to pitch when you need to
This was the biggest mistake I made when I first started freelancing – I would only pitch when I didn’t have work. Developing a regular pitching routine is the entire point of my 5x5 Pitch Challenge because I’ve learned the hard way that trying to pitch in the midst of a dry patch is a recipe for disaster. Always be pitchin’.
Learn the difference between a topic and a story
Ever worried your pitches were lacking something you couldn’t quite put your finger on? You might have inadvertently pitched a topic rather a story. A topic is a universal theme, whereas the story is the vehicle for us to understand that theme. Another way to think about it is that a topic is often quite abstract and the story is a specific example of how it plays out. For example, “animal rights” is a topic. “A woman who hoards rabbits behind a tyre shop in Brooklyn,” is a story. Once you nail this difference, your pitches will start to fly.
Always follow up
I say this as someone who regularly takes a week to reply to emails because of the sheer volume I receive and who often needs nudging: always follow up! I have landed countless commissions after chasing up an initial pitch. Plus, every editor I’ve ever asked about following up says it’s totally fine and even expected.
Read, read, read
One of the biggest complaints I hear from editors is that freelancers pitch them without first reading their publications. The more you read, the better your pitches will become. Firstly, you’ll get a clear understanding of the type of story that outlet likes to run. I also find that reading good stories helps me see other stories as I move through the world – I’m able to spot a good one when I see it. Not to mention, the more good writing you read, the more inspired you become to write.
Happy freelancing professional freelancers,
–Anna
The List
How to get back into work after the holidays. On this week’s episode of Is This Working, my work culture podcast, Tiffany Philippou and I chat about getting back into the swing of work after a long break
"My envy is like herpes. When it first arrived, I thought my life was over, and now it is more or less under control as long as I manage it carefully". Daisy Buchanan on professional envy is brave, poignant and so relatable
Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about the merits of universal basic income and this primer by Lauren Razavi on it is really great
A newsletter reader sent this over to me, it’s an annotated pitch that a freelancer sent to the Guardian’s long reads editor
Not so much a problem I face as I go to the gym in the middle of the day (#freelancelife), but Jen Miller has some advice for coping with January crowds at the gym
“I am a fighter because I was looking to escape parts of my life I found more difficult than being punched in the face.” A brilliant piece by Elena Cresci on her pivot from writing to fighting
“Maybe in a different era, when everyone wasn’t so in love with being a founder — one of the #ladieswholaunch — these women might be society matrons, going to luncheons and sitting on boards and getting their hair done and making a big donation at the annual Robin Hood Foundation benefit. But now, having a business is a way for a woman of a certain class to avoid being simply ornamental and, in these times, to show that she has a conscience.” Marisa Meltzer on the rise of the resistance socialite is a sharp take on a fascinating social consciousness trend unfolding in the upper social circles of New York’s elite
And lastly, Leapers, the global online freelance community, is organising a #worktogether initiative for freelancers. Find a coworking event near you or host one in your area. All the details are here.