Pitching to potential publishers is a competitive process.
There is a guide about preparing right query letters for writer publishing with sample letters provided - “The Writer's Digest Guide to Query Letters” by freelance writer and editor Wendy Burt Thomas.
The site of Andrea Shavick (author and poet) www.shavick.com/getpublished.htm also provides a helpful guide for pitching publishers.
First of all, make sure you are contacting a publisher who may be potentially interested in the kind of work you are promoting.
Then, in a pitch normally a work description is expected, explanation why it was written and what purposes it serves, describing the target auditorium.
For books also - competitors and marketing strategy should be outlined; it is also desirable to have influential referees from your field who could recommend your work to the public. Marcia Yudkin on her web-site www.yudkin.com - http://www.yudkin.com/ gives recommendations about how to make your work look more attractive, prove that people need this kind of work with examples of existing demand, doing research in relevant internet-resources.
She avoids obvious steps, trying to find original solutions.
Thus, for scientific articles she suggests to use the style “catching a reader's eye” and metaphors.
With magazine articles she advises to think about cover-worthy titles, which may significantly increase the chances of success, to be original and not to try writing about something already covered.
With contacting publishers maintaining accurate record of your submissions is highly recommended.
With some publishers it is said that no submissions are accepted without literary agent, therefore finding one may happen to be necessary.
Also, agents may have much experience with presentation of work to the publishers with chances of desired outcome to be achieved better with them (provided that you chose a right person to represent you).
Do you enjoy writing? Want to make money from it? Join Academic Knowledge - they are recruiting for freelance writers - or visit their writing advice section for loads of tips and advice.
