I’ve had two inquiries of late about how to pitch a column for a newspaper. Everyone wants to know the right way to approach an editor, and I offered several suggestions.

1) Offer a piece to the paper, stroking them that you felt this piece fit them exactly, and you wanted to contribute to your community in offering its contents. The next time, however, offer something just as good if not better, commenting that you’d like to entertain payment of a given amount. Be sure to give a brief bio that strongly shows your experience or expertise.

2) Become familiar with the editor. That might entail writing frequent letters to the editor that show promise, research, and quality style, without all the ranting and rancor most letters contain. Then suggest a series of articles, promising the same professionalism you demonstrated in your letters.

3) Study that paper hard. See what they like. Understand the readership. Propose a two- to three-part story that hits the sweet spot of the community. These newspapers are the heartbeat of their areas, town, city, region. Give them something they cannot refuse. Ask for a reasonable price for it, after assuring them you are the best person to be writing it.

4) Show how active you are in the community. The editor might already know you. If you are active, the editor will be more inclined to sit up and take notice, because you come with a following. I became involved in school board elections for a while, then joined the Chamber of Commerce and attended meetings, and I also frequent town or county council meetings, just for personal interest. My books are in the coffee shop. I promote my books in community newsletters. So when I offered to write a column for a small magazine, they accepted.

Bottom line, show them one of more of the following:

1) QUALITY WRITING
2) EXPERTISE
3) EXPERIENCE
4) COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
5) RELIABILITY

Papers and magazines need content. You just have to convince them you can provide it and provide it well.