A reader asked me to address this topic. She had an article to query to publications and didn’t want to wait for one answer at a time. Could she pitch to several markets at once, she asked. The answer isn’t a simple Yes or No. It’s actually Yes AND No. And I have my own personal anecdote for this lesson.
Back in my earlier freelance days, I proposed articles on writers and grants to Writer’s Digest as well as The Writer. Each was a unique pitch, written differently, but on the same subject. I’d just gone full time as a freelancer and knew the odds of both nationally-recognized magazines accepting my pieces was slim to none. One of the publications accepted within a month but never stated when the story would come out. The other didn’t get in touch for almost a year but told me when the article would appear.
They both came out in the same month. I received a contributor’s copy feeling completely ecstatic. Then I opened the other envelope in the mail and saw where the other publication sent me their contributor’s copy. The thrill of opening one was replaced with dread and despair. Sure enough, one of the editors contacted me seething. The other never said a word. I was afraid to pitch either of them for years.
When is it okay to pitch the same article to different publications?
1) When the publications are not in a competing market – OR –
2) When you mention in the query that you have also pitched the piece elsewhere.
For instance, if you pitch a story on how to maintain grass in a cemetery (yes, I actually published that piece), it can be simultaneously pitched to a turfgrass magazine and a genealogy magazine since they are not competing publications. However, when one accepts, it behooves you to let the other know. Sure, they may kill your piece, but you don’t want to burn the bridge to future gigs. Even if you write completely different articles, if they are about the same topic consider them too similar to pitch to competing markets, but understand that noncompeting markets may not care, with both accepting your piece.
And while we’re talking freelancing, I want to mention a remarkable guide book on becoming a freelance writer. Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is your practical guide to selling pitches, crafting strong articles, and earning more bylines. It even tells you how to use freelance writing to further your novel career.
I stand solidly behind this book, written by Kerrie Flanagan. For those of you who remember Jenna Glatzer when she was a freelancer and the guru of that arena, and her guideline from 2004, you’ll embrace this one as its heir apparent. I cannot say enough good about the guidance in this book. It’s a keeper on my shelf, and I don’t keep many.
I disagree with this advice. A query is a sales pitch. You should only include information in it that will help you make the sale. Telling an editor that you are pitching it elsewhere at the same time won’t benefit you at all.
And editors are smart, but very busy people. If they don’t know you, and they aren’t interested in your pitch, most won’t bother to respond. Because they feel no obligation to the writers who are making the pitches, they have no expectation of exclusivity.
I’ve been freelancing for decades, and I’ve written for more than 500 magazines. I don’t write a lot of queries anymore, but I used to write a lot of essays and send them out to multiple publications. I sold most of them, but in all the years I only had one occasion where two editors wanted the same piece at the same time. I sold it to one, and told the other it wasn’t available. The second editor didn’t mind (well, she tried to talk me into pulling it from the other pub and giving it to her, but I said no); she immediately gave me an assignment.
I make my writing as a freelance writer. I have no other income. And I’ve been doing this for decade, so it’s a career for me, not a side gig. My philosophy is you should also be professional, but you don’t need to be subservient.