SiteYou Ask, We Answer: More short stuff
Elizabeth asks, “Should you query for a FOB piece, or just write it in its entirety? If you’re submitting a fully-written piece, would it be better to preface it with an explanatory note (where you see it fitting into the magazine and so forth), or just let your (hopefully) witty lead pull the editor in?”
I could have sworn we answered this here before, but a quick search of the archives shows that no, we haven’t. Old age ….
I’ve never just gone ahead and written a short piece and sent it in, but that’s just my personal preference. (Linda has, though, so maybe she can chime in.) But come to think of it, I pretty much write the short in the body of the query, excepting a few additional details I plan to get during reporting.
Bottom line? Whatever feels comfortable to you. If you write amazing, witty leads, I’d go with the actual short. If you’re not coming up with anything amazing, then pitch the short stuff in a well-written letter. Either way is fine.
Got a question for the Renegades? Send it to questions [at] therenegadewriter [dot] com. [db]
7 Responses to “You Ask, We Answer: More short stuff”
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Elizabeth Worthing
Said this on February 1st, 2007 at 10:19pm:Thanks for the speedy answer! Glad to hear that either way is fine.
LindaFormichelli
Said this on February 1st, 2007 at 10:32pm:I agree with Diana: Do whatever you feel is best. I broke into Details and Psychology Today with fully-written shorts (sent by fax!), but I’ve also pitched shorts with a brief paragraph or two.
lori
Said this on February 1st, 2007 at 11:50pm:I think you answered it in Query Letters That Rock because I remember reading an answer to that question recently, and my book arrived about a week ago.
DianaBurrell
Said this on February 2nd, 2007 at 12:06am:Whew! I’m not completely batty … now I’ll have to go back and see if I contradicted myself.
Elizabeth Worthing
Said this on February 2nd, 2007 at 10:10am:Ah! Mystery solved. I’d checked my Renegade Writer book, but I don’t yet have a copy of Query Letters That Rock. Sorry to duplicate!
Linda: thanks for weighing in as well. Glad to hear that it can be done either way, even with the “biggies.”
Rachel
Said this on February 2nd, 2007 at 6:27pm:Okay, just for clarification to those of us with a case of the “fridays”…what exactly is FOB?
Father of baby?
Front of book?
Friend of Barney?
Karen M. Lynch
Said this on February 12th, 2007 at 8:10pm:Rachel, I just revisited this topic. FOB means “front of book” in this context.