PROMOTION
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Query Strategies: Query Many Publications At The Same Time
Some writers like to play the numbers game at its most literal. They seek to ensure they remain constantly busy by always having as many as 50 queries out at any one time.
They do this by submitting a range of queries on different subjects as well as submitting the same queries to several publications. If it makes you feel happier to know you have so many lines out in the water, you might choose to do things this way.
It clearly makes sense to propose as many different story ideas as possible. It is also logical to query several publications at the same time with the same story idea.
Let's say you have identified six publications, which carry stories similar to the one you are proposing. After researching the publications thoroughly, you still believe all six to be possible buyers of your story. It makes good sense to query all six editors.
While all six publications might be suitable carriers of the story, you have no way of knowing whether one or other is just about to publish a story similar to yours, and would therefore have no interest in a second piece on the subject. If you spend too much time trying to identify just one or two publications that would be the most suitable for a specific story, there is a risk you might end up only querying the very publication that is just about to bring out a similar story.
However, sending out a huge volume of queries doesn't give you much time to ensure you fully understand publications' specific requirements. There has to be a risk that you send a query to a totally inappropriate publication. This might not reflect well on you when you, at a later date, have a query, which fits that publication perfectly.
By all means submit queries to several publications at the same time. However, ensure all queries are carefully targeted. Also, be careful not to play off one publication against another and only sell the first rights to a piece once in a particular market. Two publications coming out at the same time with almost identical stories by the same writer will seriously annoy the respective editors.
John Langford is a freelance travel writer and has produced a course on how to break into the profession: http://www.FreelanceTravelWriter.com.
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