The Writing Coach Blog

First Impressions: The Letter of Introduction

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by Maya Payne Smart

Although a carefully crafted query letter is often touted as the key weapon in any freelance writer's arsenal, I've found that another document — a letter of introduction — can be a more effective means of catching an editor's attention. Unlike a query letter, which pitches a specific story or idea, a letter of introduction puts you and your skills front and center. It tells a prospective editor why you should move to the top of their go-to list of contributors by quickly demonstrating how you can meet their specific needs.

Build a Template

Don't waste time by starting completely from scratch every time you approach a new editor. Your letter of introduction should be based on a template that you can keep on file for use whenever you need it. Rewriting information that could easily be stored in a master document isn't an efficient use of your time.

Instead, create a standard paragraph that tells people who you are and what you're about. Think of this as the boilerplate that you'd use when writing an article about a beat you've been covering for months, except this time the subject you're writing about is you. As an example, you might keep on file something like, "My investigative journalism experience and social media immersion help me deliver deeply-researched articles on unconventional topics. Editors say I consistently produce clever, insightful stories on deadline."

Don't get long-winded about your passions for reporting or the topic. And don't come across as being desperate for the job (even if you are). Remember: Editors want to know how you can help them, not the other way around.

Stand Out in the Crowd

Even if you have a fixed paragraph or two within your letter of introduction, you also need to personalize at least the beginning and end of every letter to forge a connection with each editor — and potential employer. Express enthusiasm for the project at hand or the opportunity to work with them. Explain what it is in your writing history that makes you the ideal fit for a particular publication or assignment.

While there's no need for you to kiss up, it is crucial that you include some language that illustrates how you're familiar with the publication and why you'd be excited to take on that challenge. A helpful exercise is to put yourself in the editor's shoes. Think about the plethora of letters the editor must receive that merely attach irrelevant clips, boast academic credentials, or name drop without providing anything to back it up. What if you were the editor that had to weed through all of those messages? What would intrigue you? What would be off-putting? Doing this boosts the odds that your e-mail gets a reply, not sent to the trash.

For more on how your letter of introduction can be a make-it or break-it opportunity, check out Writing Coach's How NOT to Win Freelance Assignments.