WEEK SIX

Approaching Editors

What Editors Want

•  Knowledge of their publication. Make sure your idea is suitable before approaching them.

•  Exclusivity. Editors do not want to be offered the same story as rival publications.

•  Perfect grammar. Editors have no time to correct poor proofs.

•  Reliability. If you can't turn a piece round for deadline then forget it. There's always another time.

•  Loyalty. Don't play off different publications against each other. Aim to forge relationships.

What Writers Need to Do

•  Find out the full name of the commissioning editor. Would you take someone seriously if they spelled your name wrong?

•  Prepare lists of ideas and develop them, don't just stop at one. And remember – try to specialise.

•  E mail or write first. Once you have introduced yourself and submitted your ideas, ring them to check whether they are interested. Allow two to three days. If you think the story could be a scoop, ring the news desk.

•  Check word length, deadline and angle before going off to write the piece and discuss money/invoices/expenses once you have sent it in.

•  Read the papers and keep up with the latest news. You never know when an editor might call and ask you for a piece on….