Last week, we got a great response to my post about the hours, but one thing kept coming up: what about the query letter? It’s the main building block in a freelancer’s tool kit; it is what you will be judged on and more importantly, hired on. So, at the risk of looking absolutely ridiculous, I’m going to share and dissect my query letter with you, give you some rules, and then, at the end, make you an offer you can’t refuse (well, I hope not!).
This is not the be all and end all of query letters; it hasn’t gotten me every job I’ve wanted, but it gets a lot of responses. Look for my comments in BOLD RED!
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Hello!
My name is AC Gaughen, and I hope I am exactly what you’re looking for. [It's crucial to first state your name! A sassy statement right off the bat establishes my confidence and personal style]I’m a freelance writer and editor with a Masters degree in Creative Writing and a wide range of experience, from writing product reviews, feature articles, short-format memoir articles published in major US publications, ghost writing search engine optimized blogs for companies to maximize their web presence, and writing a massive amount of internet resource articles. [Give your credentials right off the bat, and don't exaggerate!]Recently, one of my articles written as a lead blogger for ——- launched to huge success, being featured by a major industry blog (Gizmodo.com) due to my promotional efforts and quality of work. The article garnered over 15,000 unique hits in a few hours for the small blog that I had been writing for, and creating a tidal wave of links and references across the blogosphere.
[Your second paragraph should address this job. Be specific, and make sure you READ THE AD!] As a current member of the expatriate crowd, I have personal experience in the rigours and difficulties of purchasing, viewing, and generally inquiring about property abroad, both in the locale and from another country. I have considerable experience as both a frequent blogger working to develop a readership with a more conversational and engaging tone and an authority writer of how-to articles–it would seem that combining the two would be ideal for your project.
[Your third paragraph should capture the part of you that isn't on paper--for me, a "fresh and confident voice" and a savvy internet user that can give employers an edge] Beyond that, I am a confident, educated, and enthusiastic young woman with an open mind and an adventurous spirit. Right now, a young, fresh and confident voice is what sells a product. It’s all about attitude, and I have it in spades, matched with my considerable knowledge of SEO and social networking media, and a level of professionalism that I pride myself on. I’m also a member of several social networking communities (Digg, Twitter, Hubpages, Ehow, Facebook, and Myspace).
[This was in response to a specific request in the ad, to offer ideas for articles. It is crucial that you respond to the ad TO THE LETTER!] I have a few ideas for articles–I would love to do a comparative analysis of what you get in different places (geared toward people looking for a second home) that could vary according to different criteria (what you get for your money, what you get in an urban/suburban/rural setting, what you get in a specific country, etc). It would be snappy, informative, lots of information in an “at a glance” format that maximizes the potential of the internet. I would love to do a resource article on how to handle an old home, how to fix up a fixer-upper, and how to cope with limited spaces commonly found in European cities.
I hope some of these ideas interest you. I would love to talk more about this opportunity with you.
Below are a few links to some examples of my work.
Thank you,
AC
[Your link bank should be at the end of the article, and feature the range of your work, and what you feel is your best, or most topical, pieces]
My blog
Adventures With Photos
Sex, Lies and Texting: Decoding Your Girl, a featured article on a 3.4 million unique hits/month industry blog
The Ultimate Guide to Cell Phone Etiquette
Cellular Fashion: What’s Hot
How to Make Yourself Irresistible
How to Financially Handle Freelance Writing
Ten Things I’ve Learned from My Dog
How To Pamper Yourself in 30 min or Less
Best Books to Raise Your Daughter On
Easiest Ways to Go Green
How to Conserve Gas
more available on request.
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Here are my rules for writing a query letter.
- Don’t Use A Form. This should never be a copy paste job. For the most part, my first paragraph does remain the same, but every time I send a query I tailor it for a specific client. Your job is to convince an employer that you understand their needs and to express your own skills in a way that makes those two compatible.
- Prove It. Sassy and confident? Show it to me. Fresh and young? Let me see it. Professional and authoritative? Make that very clear. If you have credentials, demonstrate them. If you have a style, show it. Don’t just say you know what you’re talking about–prove it.
- Read the Ad! Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? Every time you reply to an ad, make sure you do it to the letter; follow their guidelines and requests, so if they say no attachements, don’t attach your resume! If they want a writing sample, give it to them! If you want to answer an ad, be respectful and do it to the letter
- Show Your Personality. Online content is completely immediate; if they don’t feel a connection with you in your query letter, why would they expect you to develop a connection with their readership? Show your style and voice, because they are what makes work very popular online. I’m also a fiction writer, and the query letter for fiction is dramatically different from freelance writing; you have to understand what market you’re writing for, what sells, and what an employer is going to be looking for.
- Master the Title, and You’ll Master the Link Bank. If you have titles that grab attention, people are going to want to read the article. Personally I’m convinced that Sex Lies and Texting, one of my most popular articles, is so successful because it has a sexy title that is backed up in the article. The titles matter; like the query letter, they are a snap judgment of the whole package.
And finally, the offer: Here on Want to Freelance, we know that you have questions about query letters. So I would love to start a Query Clinic; send in your query letter to acgaughen@wanttofreelance.com . I will post it on the blog (COMPLETELY ANONYMOUSLY–obviously you will be able to recognize your own letter, but all personal information will be deleted) and review it for you. This is a great way to not only get some free advice for you, but also to see how other people do it and support your freelancing community.
See you next week!
