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Stuck in a Rut? Try Introduction Letters

You know a great way to get assignments from editors? Introduction Letters! I’ve been sending out introduction letters to editors I want to work with for the past couple of weeks, and I’ve been getting great success. So far I’ve received assignments from around seven editors and I haven’t had to think of ideas, write up queries or do anything other than send a letter saying I’m interested in writing for them.

I think part of the reason this approach is working for me is because I already have quite a bit of experience under my belt. Secondly and more importantly, I have a website where I can direct editors. With my introduction letter, I don’t include clips. I write a short bio and encourage them to check out my website. When they do, they realize I’m not a hack! I don’t have to sell myself over and over; my website’s already doing that for me. And finally, I don’t forget to mention that I specialize in catering to international clients! This used to be my biggest bottleneck when it came to getting assignments from editors. Now it’s my biggest selling point.

And since a couple of you wrote to ask me what I’m doing these days, here’s the low-down: I just finished up an assignment for Women’s Health & Fitness, am doing a nutrition piece for ePregnancy, interviewing experts for another college-oriented magazine, got a fabulous assignment for CE Lifestyles and am discussing five different ideas with the editor of a start-up for Asians in America. I also just wrapped up my second assignment for Wedding Dresses, and got the latest issue of Writer’s Digest, with what else– my article! Got six deadlines coming up in the next week and a couple more in the week after that (see why I haven’t been blogging lately?).

Oh, and my insomniac ways are back. Don’t look at me weird; I can’t help it. Really! But I’m SO not working 90-hour weeks anymore, and I’m happy that I’ve been able to make that decision guilt-free. I can safely say now that I’m a “recovered” workaholic.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 29th, 2005 at 12:06 am and is filed under Writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “Stuck in a Rut? Try Introduction Letters”

  1. MW Says:
    February 21st, 2006 at 5:38 pm

    Great idea (esp. if you’ve got it to work!!).Will try it asap :) Thanks,Mridu!

  2. Angie Pederson Says:
    February 21st, 2006 at 5:40 pm

    I just had to post back that it WORKED! I emailed out an intro last night to a brand-new mag, offering myself for any freelance needs. I got an email this morning from the editor-in-chief asking for my resume and clips, then a phone call about an hour later offering me a paid sidebar! Whohoo! Thanks again for the idea!

  3. mridu Says:
    February 21st, 2006 at 5:42 pm

    Angie– you go, girl! Send me a link (if there’s one) when it gets published.

    MW– you okay there in Mumbai?

  4. Beth Shaw Says:
    February 21st, 2006 at 5:44 pm

    Hi Mridu,
    I love the idea of the introduction letter as opposed to the query letter. The only problem is that I have only had one short story published and won a contest where the top 10 shorts formed an online anthology and will publish a hardback copy this fall. My point is, with such little experience, what will make my letter stand out as an introduction and not end up unopened in the slush pile? Should I send some writing samples (1 or 2) tailored to each specific publication even though they have not been published? Thank you in advance for your help.
    Beth