A Successful Pitch
I started sending out pitches to magazines back home two weeks ago. I have a handful of story ideas I’m ready to start right away, and another handful that — due to language proficiency (lack of it), timing, or circumstance — I’m looking forward to pitching in the near future. I’m going to try pitch enough to always have a story to work on (fingers crossed). I’d like to be busy in Colombia, which, given the nature of the work, will also mean I’m getting out and exploring the country.
After I sent off a few emails with different ideas, an editor at Flower Magazine, to whom I’d pitched the then-rapidly-approaching Feria de las Flores (Festival of Flowers), asked to see some of my work. I sent her a few clips. Then I didn’t hear anything. Uh-oh. No response to a pitch is one thing. Editors are busy and it’s easy to move unsolicited pitches to the black hole of the slush pile. No response after sending along your finest stuff, though? That starts to eat at you. After a few days of radio silence, and on the eve of the festival (note to self: pitch with A LOT more lead time), I followed up with an email. Here’s a lesson in being persistent. The editor got back to me that day, wanted the story, and wanted my photos to boot. So, here I am with my first assignment in Colombia — byline, photo credits, and all. Happy days.
Since pitching is such a huge part of writing, I thought I’d include my successful pitch below. (Rest assured, there have been and will be many many unsuccessful pitches … maybe I’ll post some of those negative examples down the road.) I don’t know if this is any kind of model, but the editors at Flower, at least, found it appealing. If you have any suggestions for future pitches, don’t hesitate to send them my way!
THE PITCH:
Hi Abby and Liz,
It will surprise many that the U.S. imports more cut flowers from Colombia than from any other country. With Colombian imports accounting for a staggering 65% of cut flowers sold in the U.S., chances are good that the flowers in the last arrangement you purchased from your florist or neighborhood grocer started life in the hills outside Medellín. The thriving flower industry has been a crucial factor in the economic and social revival of Colombia over the past decade. For Medellín, a city whose transformation in recent years has been called miraculous, flowers have taken on a mythic significance. Every year, at the end of July, citizens of the “city of eternal spring” celebrate the beauty and restorative power of flowers with an extraordinary ten-day festival: the Feria de las Flores (Festival of Flowers). Boasting more buds than the Rose Parade and inundating the city with dozens of processions, performances, and presentations, the Festival of Flowers is a one-of-a-kind ode to color, fragrance, and creativity.
I propose to write a 1500 word piece about the Feria de las Flores, which begins on July 29th. Though the subject might be slightly off the beaten path for Flower, I believe the story will be of great interest to your readers and would be a good fit for your “Flower Show” or “Artist in Bloom” sections. In researching the story, I will speak with horticulturalists, local gardeners, and flower sellers in Medellín. I will anchor the story in the fascinating history of the U.S.-Colombian flower trade and will also look at U.S. and international design trends that influence the ways that flowers are grown and arranged in Colombia. The finished piece will include lavish descriptions of the festival, of the flower arrangements, and of the Paisa culture that holds flowers so dear. High quality original photographs will also accompany the piece. I am currently working as a freelancer in Medellín and will not need reimbursement for international travel.
Thanks in advance, Abby and Liz, for your time and consideration. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or write.
Best,
Greg Nichols