I've noticed that even in the new guidelines dragon - unlike dungeon - requires a query for EVERY article. Dungeon does not require them for Campaign workbook articles, which are two pages long. Kal Vachomer that for a one-page article such as the Class Acts articles a query should likely not be required. Why should a person need to go through a multi-month process for a one-page article? It gets more absurd with Power Plays (my congragulations, btw, on adding them), which have a maximum word-count of 150 words. The query will be as long as the article!
I strongly reccomend dragon follow dungeon's path and abolish queries for the shorter articles.
bg2soatob -
I would tend to agree with you on that. I love to work on Campaign Workbook articles, because I can really focus and have them done in a day or two. When the query would need to be almost as long as the article, I'm not sure it makes sense.
Then again, I also know they must get really backed up. Perhaps an example or two of successful queries for these short articles might help those of us who aspire to contribute...
- Ashavan
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There are two reasons why we included a request for queries of Class Acts and other short articles.
First, our previous iteration of writers guidelines did not require queries for Class Acts. They're only 650-700 words, so our theory was that people would just send them in and we'd go through them as we got them. What actually happened, though, was that our contributors sent us queries for them anyway. This actually turned out to work best for me, who under Erik's administration became the keeper of Class Acts, for reasons which are explained...
...here! Second, it helps me keep frequent contributors focused on what I need to fill out the section and it can help a new writer to know what I'm looking for. In theory a query for a Class Act could be quite lengthy, but in practice they are usually no more than a paragraph long. That paragraph allows me to approve, reject, or tweak the idea before the writer spends his or her hour writing the article. The best query letter is, of course, a whole bunch of Class Act ideas thrown into one email (a recent query email had something like 12, from which I accepted about 8 of them).
It's certainly possible to just send in a Class Act you've written. I will look at it (eventually) and either reject it, ask for a revision, or accept it based on its merit and my need for it. The query letter simply saves us (you and me) time by preventing you from writing a Class Act article that I already have or don't need.
I have an example of a really good submission query letter that I can put up here if the writer gives me permission to do so. I'll go send off an email to him right now about this...
It's certainly possible to just send in a Class Act you've written. I will look at it (eventually) and either reject it, ask for a revision, or accept it based on its merit and my need for it. The query letter simply saves us (you and me) time by preventing you from writing a Class Act article that I already have or don't need.
I have an example of a really good submission query letter that I can put up here if the writer gives me permission to do so. I'll go send off an email to him right now about this...
Mike -
That makes wonderful sense... thanks for the explanation. I would really appreciate it if you could post that example (provided of course that you can get permission to do so). I'd love to get an idea of what sorts of things you look for in queries, especially for the short articles, and an example would be a great way to get an idea of what makes the cut.
- Ashavan
here I will post an example of a querry for a short article that I sent in last year(It was for adventurer tips).
I would like to submit an article to you, and was wondering if you would be interested in seeing it. it is a short (550 word) article, called The Power of the Piton, that I think would fit well in your Adventurer Tips regular feature. it discusses some of the uses of that oft' over looked peice of equipment the Piton. If you would like to see it please let me know.
(On a related note I was asked to send the article, and did so, getting an email confirmation that it had arrived... but I never heard a yay or nay on this subject... not wanting to rush anybody but its been 7 month or so, if Mike or W.S. or Erik wanted to give me a yes/no on it on this thread I would be fine with that)
:-P
Zherog -
I guess this has more to do with my own view on a query.... I would never think to try to submit a query that was only 2 or three sentences long. It wouldn't seem substantial enough to me. I don't suppose you'd be willing to share an accepted query or two with us? Might help some of us who aspire and submit make the leap to getting our work in the magazine.
- Ashavan
I'll move this discussion here, rather than taking up the other thread with this stuff.
Mike - would it be acceptable for me to post the query for the sorcerer class act I'll have published in 330?
Nope, not at all. :)
Whether or not I remember to come back here and post it is an entirely different matter though. ;)
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(On a related note I was asked to send the article, and did so, getting an email confirmation that it had arrived... but I never heard a yay or nay on this subject... not wanting to rush anybody but its been 7 month or so, if Mike or W.S. or Erik wanted to give me a yes/no on it on this thread I would be fine with that)
Whoopsy!
Expect an email on this matter in just a few minutes. It usually doesn't take us that long to get back to someone about his or her article. Occasionally, though, one falls through the cracks. :(
Thanks Mike!
Hmmm...looking back through my notes, I notice a few articles of mine from September, August, and June (7 total) that I'm not sure if they were actually accepted or not...I sent a brief note about some of these about a month ago, but haven't had a reply yet.
Would it be best for me to send a follow-up note via e-mail? I hate to pile on even more work on someone's shoulders, or be too much a pest...
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Hmmm...looking back through my notes, I notice a few articles of mine from September, August, and June (7 total) that I'm not sure if they were actually accepted or not...I sent a brief note about some of these about a month ago, but haven't had a reply yet.
Would it be best for me to send a follow-up note via e-mail? I hate to pile on even more work on someone's shoulders, or be too much a pest...
Well that's no good. :\ Hit me with an email (I know you know the address) and let me know what articles they are. :)
As someone who has become a contributor in recent months, let me echo what Mike said. I find the query process to be productive.
One, it allows me to focus my energies and my time developing articles that, if I execute them well, have a fair shot at being published. Even rejected ideas are productive, in the sense that I should probably stay clear of similar subjects on my next query, or better refine my next query.
There is the added benefit of -- even in a short email -- to develop a working relationship with the editor. Perhaps Mike is unique -- I am too new at this to know better -- but I have found him keenly interested in helping freelancers develop their skills. I have certainly found his brief responses to query letters informative and educational. I appreciate that he is able to devote some time in helping me grow as a writer.
As to Mike's thinking it takes only about an hour or so to write a 700-word story, well, maybe there are freelancers out there capable of that kind of production. Not including any research the article demands, it takes me three to four hours over several days and several drafts before I feel an Class Acts article is a worthwhile entry.
Then again, I am still rather new at this whole thing. My last name isn't Mearls, Scott, Pocklington or Hart or about a dozen others -- all writers whose quality and quantity of output I can only hope to aspire to.
One, it allows me to focus my energies and my time developing articles that, if I execute them well, have a fair shot at being published. Even rejected ideas are productive, in the sense that I should probably stay clear of similar subjects on my next query, or better refine my next query.
As another recent contributor, I completely agree. I think all my ideas are great ( :D ), but that doesn't mean they'd make good articles. Running those ideas past the editor responsible for that section of the magazine allows me to work on the cream of the crop, so to speak.
There is the added benefit of -- even in a short email -- to develop a working relationship with the editor. Perhaps Mike is unique -- I am too new at this to know better -- but I have found him keenly interested in helping freelancers develop their skills. I have certainly found his brief responses to query letters informative and educational. I appreciate that he is able to devote some time in helping me grow as a writer.
I also agree here. The query process has allowed me to develop a good working relationship with Mike. Add to that Mike's willingness to help me improve my overall writing style, and I see a large benefit to the entire process.
As to Mike's thinking it takes only about an hour or so to write a 700-word story, well, maybe there are freelancers out there capable of that kind of production. Not including any research the article demands, it takes me three to four hours over several days and several drafts before I feel an Class Acts article is a worthwhile entry.
I'm finding myself agreeing with you an awful lot today, Troy. I'm slightly jealous of people who can crank out a high quality 700-word article in an hour or so. For me, the process sounds very similar to yours, Troy. One Class Act article takes me several hours, often spread over the course of a couple of days. Part of that is my education, to be honest. Through 12 years of school and 4 years of college, I never once was taught about avoiding passive voice and "to be" verbs. So while my ability to avoid or correct these is definitely improving, there's times it's still a struggle. Mike has been extremely helpful with getting me going on this. I'm also extremely lucky in that Amber Scott is one of my very best friends, and she's willing to help me out a lot as well.
Now, add onto this my perfectionist nature and any research needed, and it's probably easy to see how it can sometimes take me as long as 10 hours to write one class act article.
Given all this, I really prefer the query format since it allows me to focus my time and effort on the articles that have the best chance to be accepted.
And I'll toss one more reason to do a query as opposed to just writing the article. I sent Mike a query yesterday for an idea that I've been kicking around in my head for a while (off and on). Mike liked the idea - so much so, that another writer is already working on almost the exact same thing right now. If not for the query process, I would have spent somewhere around 3 hours or so writing an article, only to have it rejected - not because of a lack of quality, but because another writer is already working on it. Instead, I can now devote my efforts to getting other articles done for Mike and the rest of the staff.
I can easily WRITE a 700-2000 word article in an hour to an hour and a half... however there is invariably several more hours to days of planing... thinking... taking random notes down... sitting and staring at the monitor... drinking coffee... checking around to see that the idea hasn't already been done... hanging out on various boards trying to get a feel for whether people are interested in the subject... etc... :)
on the other hand I prefer to have that process at least partialy done before I even send the querry.
Since we were discussing my "Tokens of Faith" article in the other thread, I'll reproduce the initial query I sent to Dragon here.
"-an article on alternative holy symbols other than the standard wood/silver picture of your god's symbol. A few alternatives for a half-dozen Domains and maybe a tiny mechanical effect tied to each domain for using one of the special symbols."
That was it. My reply was basically, "That's cool, do it and make sure to include a mix of Domains." After the original ToF had been accepted, Mike McArtor requested I do the rest of the Domains. So that was fun. :-)
In general I pitch 4-10 ideas per query. Here is a mock-up of what a typical Class Acts query email I send to Mike would look like.
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"Dear Mike,
I have a few ideas on Class Acts that I'd like to run by you. Please tell me if you find any of them interesting.
-an alternate monk class based on Jackie Chan movies. I call the class "Cinemonk." They advance as regular monks but gain a few special abilities (like "Improvise Weapon") and can convert lethal damage to subdual once a day.
-an article detailing new familiars for wizards and/or sorcerers, including the wildebeest, the chinchilla, and the Canada goose (the goose is especially fun, it grants a +2 bonus to Perform (honking imitations) rolls.)
-an article called "Prancing Queen" that showcases new uses of the Perform skill for bards. Categories include "foxtrot," "rumba," and "Electric Slide."
-an alternate class based on the character of Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean." It could work as either a bard, rogue, or fighter Class Act, depending on what you need most. Right now I see it as a rogue with a lot of Charisma skills that manifest as unnatural charm despite the rogue's physical appearance. If you don't want this as a class act, may I resubmit the idea for "Divine Inspiration"?
-new equipment for the Fighter including armor polish, custom stirrups (+1 to Ride checks!) and rust-resistant swords.
Please let me know if you'd like to see any of these. Thanks very much for your time and attention!
Yours,
Amber Scott"
---
If at all possible I include a working title for the article, but titles are the bane of my existence so they generally come later. But that's the gist of what my query emails look like. :-) Only, you know, with good ideas.
-Amber
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Thanks Amber! Amber does a really good job with queries. :)
Speaking of query emails, I mentioned in an earlier post that I had received a query email that I thought was particularly good and that represented essentially what I want to see in such emails. I contacted Richard Farrese, the composer of said email, and got permission from him to post the email here. For privacy reasons, I removed his email address.
In his email (which follows shortly), Richard does two things that I appreciate.
1. He groups his proposals by character class.
2. He sends me lots of ideas all at once.
The second point is the most important. It's much easier for me to go through a single long email like this than a dozen shorter ones. Wes and Jason might have different preferences, but that's mine. :)
The email follows in entirety (no, I'm not going to tell you which ones I asked him to write). ;D
...
Dear Mike,
Following your latest email, here are a few suggestions for the Class Act
columns. As per your request, each of the following CA article will include
both flavor text and new/optional rules:
Barbarian Class Acts:
1. The Mercurial Barbarian. This CA presents a type of barbarian that relies
on speed, agility, and mobility rather than brute force. This barbarian's
most important traits are shrewdness and swiftness. Includes new class
options to replace typical class abilities (such as the ability to rage).
2. The Council of Elder. This barbaric organization is a very exclusive
group that supports and gives counsel to the tribe's leader. While most
tribe has its own Council of Elders, only those who follow ancient tradition
reap the full benefits bestowed by the members of this group. Only
barbarians of certain levels (and/or abilities) can join the Council, and
thus gain access to both a prestigious and important position within the
tribe as well as a new feat or two (which gives them authority over the
tribe's members).
Bard Class Acts:
1. The Beastly Bard: This CA presents a type of bard who shares close ties
with the animal kingdom. This character's bardic music songs allow him to
befriend and control animals, fey, and magical beasts, as well as to gain
beastly traits (such as scent). Includes new class options to replace
typical bardic music songs.
2. The Brotherhood of Blood: This strange theatrical troupe is almost
exclusively composed of bards, but some devious rogues and deadly assassins
with acting talent are sometimes admitted to join. The members of this dark
Brotherhood use their acting skills to hide their more deadly nature. While
officially performing experimental theatre that includes macabre themes and
techniques, the Brothers of Blood are assassins who use their victim's
bloody deaths as part of their act (they slaughter their victims on stage,
but their audience does not realize they actually kill for real). Includes a
brief history, hierarchy, and rules of the organization.
3. The Coruscating Bard: Presenting a type of bard specializing in the
generation and control of light. This bard's music creates flashes of light
that can dazzle his foes and songs that modify the ambient illumination.
Includes new class options to replace typical bardic music songs.
4. The Dire Bard: This type of bard is more focused on instilling fear and
doubt in his enemies than inspiring his own allies. While he still shares
many of the typical bard's abilities, some of his bardic music songs are
especially designed to dishearten and shake his foes. Includes new class
options to replace typical bardic music songs.
5. The Frost Bard: With his bardic music, this bard can create patches of
ice to unbalance his foes or touch them with icy hands delivering frostbite
to the toughest of enemies. Includes new class options to replace typical
bardic music songs.
6. The Order of the White Mask: This secretive bards' organization is among
the strangest and least understood theatrical troupes. Members of the White
Mask never reveal their identities, but instead hide their features behind
the plain (but somewhat eerie) white mask they wear. While sworn to oppose
the law and organizations that promote or defend it, the members of this
guild are loosely organized and not terribly loyal to one another, but they
do hold monthly competitions to determine who among them has best promoted
their ideals. Includes a brief history, hierarchy, and rules of the
organization.
7. The Rejuvenating Bard: Specializing in healing others and curing them of
all sorts of ailments, this bard's supernatural songs affect his allies'
health and Constitution. Includes new class options to replace typical
bardic music songs.
8. The Sinuous Sinners' Club. Officially, this exclusive organization is
nothing more than a theatrical troupe that moves from place to place to
present a number of original acts. Unofficially, the Sinuous Sinners
specialize in information gathering and infiltration. They can get their
hands on almost any kind of information - for a price. Includes a brief
history, hierarchy, and rules of the organization.
Fighter Class Acts:
1. The Company of the Black Hand: This group of elite warriors is dedicated
to the protection of those who hire them. While the members of this
mercenary company enjoys many freedoms, they are bound to promote and serve
the will of its leaders - who actually decide who is worthy of their
protection and who is not. Includes a brief history, hierarchy, and rules of
the organization.
2. The Tattoo Warrior: Endowed with magical tattoos that cover parts of his
body, this alternate fighter uses a variety of methods to enhance his
physical prowess and capabilities in combat. Includes a brief history of the
ancient techniques used by the tattoo warrior and new rules that slightly
modify the progression table of the typical fighter.
Paladin Class Acts:
1. The Brotherhood of the Sacred Light: This paladin's order is composed of
men who seek to bring justice and uphold the law where such things do not
exist. The Brothers of the Sacred Light are especially active in lands where
civilization is scarce, where they protect the few remote settlements
surrounded by barbaric tribes of savage species. Traditionally, only male
paladins where admitted into this order, but in recent years a number of
capable women paladins have joined the brotherhood. Includes a brief
history, hierarchy, and rules of the organization.
2. The Holy Crusaders of the Silver Axe: This order is almost exclusively
composed of dwarf paladins who are devoted followers of the dwarven god of
war, but some dwarven fighters and a few gnomish paladins who pay homage to
this deity are sometimes ordained into its ranks. The Holy Crusaders are
especially dedicated to oppose orcish and goblinoid kinds. They ceaselessly
work to push the borders of their territory in order to protect the lands of
their people. Includes a brief history, hierarchy, and rules of the
organization.
3. The Sisterhood of the Flaming Fist: This fighting company is made up
exclusively of women warriors. While fighters and rangers of good alignment
can sometime join, most members of the Sisterhood are paladins. A Sister of
the Flaming Fist is free to worship any deity she wishes, but she must
uphold the principles of paladinhood at all times. The Sisters are
especially active in cities where they seek to oppose slavers and those who
support slavery in general. Includes a brief history, hierarchy, and rules
of the organization.
4. The Knightly Order of Righteous Retribution: Elves and half-elves who
worship the elven god of righteous retribution make up the ranks of this
exclusive order. While clerics and fighters are occasionally admitted, the
bulk of the order is made up of highly devoted paladins who have vowed to
pursue the edicts of their deity. Includes a brief history, hierarchy, and
rules of the organization.
5. The Sacred Order of the Black Templars: The Black Templars are paladins
who use unconventional methods to infiltrate unlawful organizations in order
to uncover and thwart their plans. Trained in spying, the members of this
Order sometimes disguise themselves as people of other guilds to gain access
to their most intimate secrets. Includes a brief history, hierarchy, and
rules of the organization.
Rogue Class Acts:
1. The Unseen Sisterhood: Composed exclusively of women, this guild trains
its members in a number of different tactics to fool those who meet them
into believing they are simple commoners serving others. Dedicated to the
protection of important people - mostly noblewomen -, the Unseen Sisters
often pose as chambermaids, companions, or servants while acting as personal
bodyguards to those they are sworn to protect. Includes a brief history,
hierarchy, and rules of the organization.
[ That's probably enough for now! ;-) ]
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Sincerely yours,
Richard Farrese
Since I was right smack in the middle of writing a query email when I saw this thread, it has been *enormously* helpful. I've found that different editors can have vastly different expectations when it comes to queries, so this has made it feel much less like trying to hit the pinata while blindfolded. Thank, editors and freelancers alike!
First off, thanks enormously for these examples and info! In the future I’ll remember to send many queries all at once. I mistakenly thought that sending an email with fewer queries would be easier on an editor. I also tend to think that I need to submit my proposed articles within a week or so. Which brings me to ask, how long do you usually expect an author to take on an article? That is, if I query several articles when do you expect them to be submitted? I ask because if I query about a dozen articles and you accept eight of them (as you [Mike] said you did with one author on a previous post), should I have them all written within a week or two, or when?
Second, although I have not yet sold an article to Dragon, I have corresponded with Mike a couple of times, and can say that I too have found his comments helpful and insightful. Many editors (particularly those of fiction publications) rely heavily on form letters for rejected pieces, and when they do offer personalized responses, they are usually brief, and along the lines of “this is good, but we can’t use it right now." It’s really sad, because I don’t understand how one can expect to get the type of work that one wishes to see without giving a little bit of feedback to the writers. I suspect that the willingness of the editor’s at Dragon to do so is what makes it such a quality publication.
Third, Amber, I loved the “Tokens of Faith” article! It was a really cool idea.
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Which brings me to ask, how long do you usually expect an author to take on an article? That is, if I query several articles when do you expect them to be submitted? I ask because if I query about a dozen articles and you accept eight of them (as you [Mike] said you did with one author on a previous post), should I have them all written within a week or two, or when?
Unless an editor gives you a deadline, you basically have as long as you want to write an article. I almost never hand out deadlines for Class Act articles, mostly because it would be unfair of me to ask you to have an article in to me within a week when I have no chance of looking at it for a month. So take as long as you need to get me your articles.
Some authors like to turn over the Class Acts articles when they've completed all of the ones that were approved (whether that's one or a dozen), but most authors turn in the articles as they complete them. Either way is fine by me (they all end up in my "To Be Reviewed" folder anyway). :)
One last note to anyone who wants to write for <i>Dragon,</i> whether in the Class Acts section or elsewhere: <b>Don't give up.</b> You might have to propose a dozen or more articles before one gets accepted into the magazine (I think the fiction and poetry industry has an acceptance rate of about 5%. I like to think that ours is slightly better).
Director of Game Design
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Which brings me to ask, how long do you usually expect an author to take on an article? That is, if I query several articles when do you expect them to be submitted? I ask because if I query about a dozen articles and you accept eight of them (as you [Mike] said you did with one author on a previous post), should I have them all written within a week or two, or when?Unless an editor gives you a deadline, you basically have as long as you want to write an article. I almost never hand out deadlines for Class Act articles, mostly because it would be unfair of me to ask you to have an article in to me within a week when I have no chance of looking at it for a month. So take as long as you need to get me your articles.
Generally speaking, I try to give about a month for feature length articles and if an author has more than one on their plate, I like to spread out the deadlines.
Just a quick FYI
Is there a way to find out which editors review which section's query letters? It seems to me that 'Dear Mike' or 'Dear Mr. McArtor' are better salutations than 'Dear editor'.
honestly, due to a habit that I got into when submittig fiction to various magazines I almost always adress my querry to the Editor in Chief (in this case Erik). It has never seemed to hurt my chances of getting a response.
honestly, due to a habit that I got into when submittig fiction to various magazines I almost always adress my querry to the Editor in Chief (in this case Erik). It has never seemed to hurt my chances of getting a response.
Same here, although now when it comes to "Class Acts," I lump all those in one query and send them to Mike McArtor's attention, since he is the guru, lord, and grand master keeper of these. Otherwise, I send things for both DUNGEON and DRAGON to the EIC.
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Same here, although now when it comes to "Class Acts," I lump all those in one query and send them to Mike McArtor's attention, since he is the guru, lord, and grand master keeper of these. Otherwise, I send things for both DUNGEON and DRAGON to the EIC.
That's the best policy. Unless you have established a working relationship with the editors, just send everything to dragon@paizo.com and begin your emails with "Dear Editor-in-Chief," "Dear Erik," Dear Editors," or something else equally respectful.
I recommend against "Hey you," or misspelling Erik's name by using a C. ;)
so "Dear Bastards" is not a good opening line...
:::rushes to try to recall last querry sent:::
:P
And when you query, don't forget to mention how much you enjoy washing people's trucks. :-D
And when you query, don't forget to mention how much you enjoy washing people's trucks. :-D
Amber - I don't mind washing trucks... but Mike's truck is awfully far away, as I'm in Massachusetts. Also, if I admit to knowing how to wash a truck, my husband will decide I need to wash his truck too... and I don't even get an article published out of that!
I want to thank all the authors who've been, essentially, cheering those of us who are newbies on in our quest to see our work in Dragon (and Dungeon) magazines. Also thanks to the editors, whose extensive comments and encouragement are appreciated.
Mike, you should have a few ideas coming your way shortly... nothing on the scale of Richard's massive query, but at least a start.
- Ashavan
So this thread has made me decide I might throw a few class act queries at Mike myself. As I am heading over to Bellevue this weekend, do you mind if I wash the truck ahead of actually submitting? ;)
Sean Mahoney
Port Orchard, Washington
Thanks for your input, Mike and Jason, regarding article deadlines.
So this thread has made me decide I might throw a few class act queries at Mike myself. As I am heading over to Bellevue this weekend, do you mind if I wash the truck ahead of actually submitting? ;)That will be fine, thanks. ;)
Heh, he hasn't seen your truck yet. You should give him a Bazaar article too for the torment he is about to receive. ;)
/g
Heh, he hasn't seen your truck yet. You should give him a Bazaar article too for the torment he is about to receive. ;)
/g
Why do I think I'm really lucky to be in MA, where cleaning said truck is just unfeasible.
- Ashavan
Just a quick question: how long is the turn around for query into Dragon response? I'm getting antsy... :D
Just a quick question: how long is the turn around for query into Dragon response? I'm getting antsy... :D
Neeklus -
It depends on the type of article. Monthly articles like Class Acts tend to get responses more quickly in my experience than, say, a feature article.
With features, two months is long, but not unusual. Also, convention season (we're in it) tends to increase waits, as do the winter holidays.
If you are antsy, write more. Believe me, as hard as it can be to concentrate it will distract you, and having more work in front of the editors for consideration will insulate you when rejections come. It doesn't make it better, but it does help.
Just be happy you're submitting to Dragon... the wait at Dungeon has been running 4-6 months, though they are very actively working at improving that.
- Ashavan
I would like to submit an article to you, and was wondering if you would be interested in seeing it. it is a short (550 word) article, called The Power of the Piton, that I think would fit well in your Adventurer Tips regular feature. it discusses some of the uses of that oft' over looked peice of equipment the Piton. If you would like to see it please let me know.
Heh, one of my friends ALWAYS had his character carry pitons. Sometimes, he wouldn't even take the rope, but he'd take the damn piton!
I've read that queries over two pages are a bit much, but I've got a rather large list of possible class acts thats running...well much longer than that. Should I bother sending it as a whole or cut it up into smaller emails or what?
I've read that queries over two pages are a bit much, but I've got a rather large list of possible class acts thats running...well much longer than that. Should I bother sending it as a whole or cut it up into smaller emails or what?
Neeklus -
As long as it is a running list of multiple ideas, I suspect you're okay. But I'm sure Mike will respond soon with a definitive answer for you.
Your other option is to break them up by class, or by logical class groupings.
- Ashavan
Thanks for the reassurance Koldoon, I appreciate it. But could I get an official response please? All in all I'll be sending a huge query letter and it's getting to the point where its simpler for me just to refer to them by article type, such as: Class Act, Bazaar, Critical Threat, etc.
Thanks for the reassurance Koldoon, I appreciate it. But could I get an official response please? All in all I'll be sending a huge query letter and it's getting to the point where its simpler for me just to refer to them by article type, such as: Class Act, Bazaar, Critical Threat, etc.
Critical threats and the other types you mentioned should most definitely be in different queries - since they're for different magazines.
If your list is really that long, then you might have a good idea splitting them up into the various types - sending in one query for class acts, one for bazaar of the bizarre, etc. I guess it depends entirely on just how many ideas you have for each section. *sigh* Not much help, am I? ;)
Thanks for the reassurance Koldoon, I appreciate it. But could I get an official response please? All in all I'll be sending a huge query letter and it's getting to the point where its simpler for me just to refer to them by article type, such as: Class Act, Bazaar, Critical Threat, etc.
For Critical Threats, usually you actually submit the manuscript for the article, as they get grouped with Campaign Workbook articles. Certainly those would also need to be submitted separately, since they go to a different address and to different editors.
I would certainly recommend grouping TYPES of articles together in a query, since different editors are in charge of reviewing different article types (Mike for Class Acts, for instance).
With Critical Threats and Campaign Workbooks, I am reluctant to send more than two with a single email... that's two - three files for each article, since you need the manuscript, the SDF and for articles containing stat blocks a file detailing all the work. With two articles that quickly gets to be a lot of files.
Hope this helps.
- Ashavan