HOW FREELANCERS CAN PITCH TO EDITORS

Being a freelancer in Africa often means that you’d need to solicit for jobs and other engagements. Earning a regular income from your freelance writing entails having a steady stream of tasks. However, the world of freelancing is cutthroat, and often, only the best get selected.

Freelancer Writers receive writing engagements by way of pitches. A pitch is a writer’s description of a potential story (and why it is relevant) to an editor. A pitch can be delivered verbally—face-to-face or by telephone—or sent via email(which is often the preferred method). A pitch essentially makes a case for writing a particular story at a certain point in time. And just as importantly, a pitch advances why you’re the best person to write it.

The million dollar question is how can a freelance writer pitch an editor to have a work accepted? To answer this question, we would do well to tread the path of ancient sages. They say that the best way to advance in life is to avoid the pitfalls/mistakes of others. In that light, let us look at the familiar but grievous errors that many African Freelancers often make when pitching:

Pitching to Editors without a portfolio
As an African Freelance writer, it is commendable to have lofty targets/aims. Applying to both regional and international publications should form the nucleus of your writing strategy. However, like every other endeavour in life, your writing hustle needs a solid foundation. Many of the writers you admire, started from scratch and worked their way up.

Working your way up centres on building a body of your best writing. If you do work through the door of your application, an interested editor would most often ask for samples of your work(preferably published). The point of request is not the time to whip up something at short notice.
An excellent means of building a portfolio is by starting out writing for ‘small’ publications that provide opportunities for exposure. These outlets will give you the chance to hone your writing skills and prepare you for more significant engagements in the future.

Another way of amassing a large body of content and a reputation as an authority writer is starting a blog. You should ideally write on subjects/topics that you are passionate or knowledgeable about.

Sending a Pitch that misses the mark
You should note that editors of magazines/publications are very busy individuals. Their typical day often involves sifting through tonnes of applications and pitches. You are probably an active person too, who eked out the time from your busy schedule, to pitch an editor. Therefore, do not waste an editor’s time and yours as well, by sending a wrong writing pitch. The chances of such a pitch getting accepted will range from slim to non-existent.

You would err by sending a lifestyle opinion piece to a magazine that publishes only angling adventures. It would be peeving to approach a food editor with your story about making extra cash from trading bitcoin.
Before sending a pitch, take the time to study the publication’s core interests and writing guide/specifications. So start your application process by looking for outlets that have openings for your idea or pitch.

In sending the right pitch, you could consider the following points of reference:

Geography
Is your story location based? Then it would be best to pitch magazines that want stories that happened in a particular place.

Topic
This point looks at niche writing. There are all kinds of niche publications. They include sites and magazines about classic car collecting, science, knitting, pets, home design. As an African freelancer, you should send in pitches on topics that you have a firm understanding.

Time Factor
Your pitch should consider this important factor. Many newspapers, magazines, and publications operate different timetables. Some monthly magazines plan their editorial calendar a year in advance. Besides, their production time lasts much longer than a daily or weekly publication.

Now that we have the what-not-to-do list out of the way, we should consider the elements of an effective pitch:

Choose a Compelling subject line
Your target publication receives hundreds of pitches regularly. Editors have to go through a pile of proposals. As an African freelancer, you must put up a good subject line. A rule of thumb advises that subject line comes out compact, compelling and accurate. An email with a subject title that tells what to expect and provides an idea of the article’s content is ideal.

Adopt a friendly, personal introduction
Under this point, there are specific actions that you should take. The first is addressing the editor by name. This action shows that you are diligent enough to search for correct names and titles. You can choose to get personable with questions about the editor’s day and work. Follow this greeting with a brief introduction of yourself and African freelance business.
Overall, you should aim to keep our introduction genuine and head straight to the essential points of your pitch.

Provide a summary of the Write-up
The content of your email should provide a concise summary of the article you’re pitching. In it, be sure to include the critical points and that extra that will pique the editor’s interest. This format ensures that the editor gets a sufficient overview of your pitch and whether your content will meet the needs of the publication.

Avoid using the same content for multiple pitches

Editors want only content that has not been published by competitors. They desire their readers to access only exclusive, unpublished material. An essential part of your pitch should centre on assuring the editor that your content is unique for the publication.