How to write a pitch that will land you the writing job (full guide)

Includes a list of the key mistakes people make that cause rejections

Use this template to craft your best pitch yet. /Photo: Bonnie Kittle

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So you’ve got your list of webites that will pay you for your writing.

Maybe you also have a folder full of unpublished drafts ready to wow their readers and get you the exposure you need.

But there’s a catch.

You have to wow the editors first.

And they probably get hundreds of pitches a day. So it’s like trying to break through a wall with a butter knife.

Rejection emails keep clogging your inbox. IF you even managed to catch the editor’s eye, that is. Nothing screams lounder than the no-response silence.

In this reality, there’s no other way but to make sure your first-encounter email is the best it can possibly be.

It needs to:

• Catch their eye for the right reason

• Be straightforward and on point from the start

• Sound confident (even if you are a beginner)

• Showcase your skill and capability

• Be a taste test of your writing style and voice the editor can draw from straight away

Your pitch email needs as much effort as you’ve put in writing your article, maybe more.

I’ve stripped this down to a few easy steps you can follow to maximize your chances.

Here’s the template I use to help me land the writing jobs I want:

Step 1: Cull these critical pitch mistakes

I’ve made all of these mistakes in the past. They instantly kill your chances at being taken seriously. Avoid, avoid, avoid:

Writing a loooooong email

This includes:

• Opening with your full bio

• Including details that aren’t relevant to the publication (even if they are impressive)

• Including generic phrases and fillers to ‘perk-up’ the picture (which in fact will do the exact opposite)

• Going hardcore with explaining your idea, topic, or angle

Instead keep each section condensed, tailored, and relevant. Pick the most important points. Say them in the fewest words possible.

Helpful exercise: Writing shortform

Falling for the copy & paste trap

This might save you time, but it will likely also lose you the job.

Different publications have different audiences, topic and style preferences, niches.

Read their guidelines carefully. Get a feel for the style they want. Explore the hot takes that have done well for them in the past.

You don’t need to write a brand new pitch for everyone. But always tailor it to suit them. Showcase you are a strong match.

Showing off the wrong way

Yes, you need to be confident and you also need to provide examples. How not to do it:

• Waffling on extensively about how brilliant your idea is - Make the point once. Say a short why. Then move on.

• Sending them a full finished draft - Instead, describe and outline your article as an idea first, in a short but pungent way.

• Attaching stuff to the email - People, even editors, are naturally suspicious of attachments. Plus, it’s an extra step. Friction. They won’t open it.

Instead, if you have something you can’t condense to a short but juicy paragraph, link it.

Step 2: Craft the subject line and opening hook

Bad subject lines lead to emails ignored. Bad openings lead straight to the bin folder.

Master this step and you’re ahead of 91% other pitches!

These 2 particular types of subject lines get opened the most: