query letters

Fix These Application Letter Mistakes to Hear Back From More Prospects

August 11, 2017 by FWJ 1 Comment

If you’ve been responding to ad postings like the ones on the FWJ writing job boards for any length of time, you’re bound to have noticed something by now.

Applying for freelance writing work is hard work.

Well, nobody said it would be easy being your own boss. Not to mention the fact that there are many, many other people out there competing for the very same gigs you’re applying to. So the fact is, if you’re going to use freelance job boards as an integral part of your freelance prospecting, you’re going to need to come up with a plan for standing out. [Read more…]

Time Management Tip #3 Give the Query a Rest

February 15, 2011 by david 7 Comments

I get a lot of emails from people seeking freelance writing advice. One letter last week got me thinking about how much time writers waste on queries.

In the email, a new writer asked if I could read his query and tell him why it was rejected and point out any obvious problems. He went on to say he knew he didn’t miss anything because he had worked on nothing else but the query for two weeks.

Two weeks is a long time.

Queries are an important part of writing, especially for writers trying to establish themselves in the field. They should be given care and dilligence, but micromanaging a query is not the best use of your time. Queries are an introduction of yourself and/or your idea to a publication or client. The best ones are those that feel organic, are succinct and specific. When writers over-edit, the result is often long-winded letters that feel rehearsed. Here are three easy ways to get the query letter you want and the productivity you need: [Read more…]

Query Letter Writing: World’s Worst Query Letter

April 1, 2010 by david 4 Comments

Since I got the pleasure of writing for April Fool’s Day here at Freelance Writing Jobs, I’d like to flex my creative muscles and write what has to be the world’s worst query letter. Query letter writing is half skill and half art, but some writers are just lazy. I can only laugh at some of the things I’ve seen. Hopefully you’ll smile with this one too.

query letter writing

Note: This letter is replying to a hypothetical query posted by “Janice” on Craigslist wanting a new blogger to write once a week on her hair salon’s blog, Smarter Clips at $30/post.

Hey Janet,

It’s Alexis here, the guy with the short hair. Well, maybe a little too short – I haven’t had my hair cut by you! My current hairdresser sucks.

Your craigslist post was very interesting indeed. I love the name of your blog, Smart Clips, but does a hair salon really need a blog? I’ve never written about hair; in fact, I use the cheap stuf whenever I can.

But I blog a lot, and all of my curretn customers really appreciate my blogging efforts. I’m reliable and dependent and will work with you to make the most of your salon’s blogging presence.

My rates are $37/hour and of course you’ll be invoiced monthly with clear information on the work that’s been done. I’m happy to do revisions whenever necessary, of course billable under the same rate.

I’m really excited to be part of the Smarter Clips team and can’t wait to get started.

Keep it Real,

Alexis

PS – I’ll check back with you in a week if I haven’t heard from you.

OK, folks, once you’ve picked yourselves up off the floor….

What was wrong here? This is query letter writing gone very very bad.

Relaxed is good, but that was a little TOO relaxed. “Hey Janet”? Sounds more like “Hey Janet, want a beer” instead of “Hey Janet, can I have a job?” And it’s a bit rambling with details that aren’t at all relevant.
He got her name wrong. Schoolboy mistake. It does happen in the most innocent of circumstances, but proofread!
He made it very clear that he wasn’t the right person for the job. If that’s the case, either highlight the reasons that you are still quite suitable, or don’t apply. That’s a waste of your time that you could use searching for gigs that you’re perfect for.
He mentions clips and specific experience but provided no documentation to back it up.
He talked about money without any clarity as to what was posted in the advert. That’s fine if that’s his rate, but can he do the job for the amount posted?
There are typos. I am the worst typist, believe me, I’ve been lambasted more than Deb when it comes to proofreading. (In fact there is probably a typo elsewhere in this article. Feel free to not mention it, thanks.) Proofread, folks, proofread. Especially double-check your templates – has happened to me more than once.
His PS could almost be called aggressive! You should follow-up with people, but there is no need to tell them you’ll come knocking at a specific date/time.

Happy April Fool’s Everyone. 🙂 What else would you NOT do in a query letter?

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