Weekly Writing Challenge: Build a Query List
October 22, 2007 – 9:43 am
Querying publications and websites for freelance writing jobs is a good way to get writing gigs to help pay the bills. Sometimes you’ll find writing jobs that need to be filled right away through job boards, freelance sites, or classified ads. What do you do when there aren’t any immediate-need writing jobs being advertised though? You should pull out your trusty query list and send a few queries out to publications and sites that are always open to considering new writers.
A few examples of the types of publications you may be able to query would be magazines, webzines, email newsletters, or niche content websites.
Don’t have a query list yet? Build one this week! By putting together a simple spreadsheet or database with publications you’re interested in writing for (along with their rate and contact information, story ideas you’d like to pitch to them, etc.), you don’t have to search for writers’ markets over and over again. You’ll always have them at your finger tips, in a collection that you can always expand upon.
Here’s a simple query list template you can use in Excel. I have it set up to be used mostly as a contact sheet, and not a query tracking sheet. You can certainly combine the two concepts by adding extra columns to track if and when queries are submitted to a publication.
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5 Responses to “Weekly Writing Challenge: Build a Query List”
Thanks for adding the query list here. I usually keep mine in a notebook that later becomes soaked with pop or coffee from me knocking it over. It would make more since for me to do it this way.
By Rosa on Oct 22, 2007
Hi Jenn - that’s a great idea. I have a query list on a beat up piece of paper but I never get around to doing something smart with it because [insert whiny voice] “It’s too ha-ard.” Now I’ve seen your sample I have absolutely no excuse.
Thanks, as always, for the great tips.
By Naomi Dunford on Oct 22, 2007
lol But procrastination does make things “fun.”
I’m glad you both found the template useful. I really had no idea what to post about for a challenge this week, and just whipped up the template quickly this morning. lol 
I keep my query list in a basic Word list, and any ideas for stories in notebooks. But a spreadsheet seemed neater, and it’s something I’ll need to transfer my own notes into as well. 
By Jennifer Mattern on Oct 22, 2007
Your site is so informative. I’m hooked! I wonder if there is a similar template for MAC? I use MAC so I couldnt open the excel file.
: )
By Chelene on Oct 24, 2007
It’s only available in .xls format. You’ll need to download an xls converter (which would change it to a different file type) or a program that will allow you to view it (I’m pretty sure that openoffice.org is compatible with Macs, and that opens Office files like the .xls).
Or, you can use a free service online like Zamzar to convert the xls file to either pdf (you won’t be able to edit it on-screen though) or to .ods (OpenOffice spreadsheet filetype, which then might be usable with your Mac software as long as you have spreadsheet software installed).
By Jennifer Mattern on Oct 24, 2007