The surprising trick for getting editors to respond to you

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When I was a staff editor assigning articles at magazines from 2006 to 2017 (Prevention, Weight Watchers, Muscle & Fitness), I received a lot of pitches.

The ones that stood out tended to follow this format but there was always ONE thing that really got my attention and made me keep reading.

(And no, it wasn’t just calling me Diana instead of Kelly—my last name.)

The freelance writer mentioned something specific.

They’d mention an article of mine that they read on the website. (Yes, flattery gets you attention.)

They would call out something that took place in the news and involved the company.

They might mention that we have someone we know in common. (They could have done this via a LinkedIn review.)

Why does it work? Because it shows you put some thought and time into the message.

This is what I do when I reach out to a new potential freelance client via a cold pitch email follow up, a warm lead of someone I used to work with, or if I’m trying to get the attention of an editor who hasn’t responded.

I’ll call out something they posted on a public social media platform, like a LinkedIn announcement that they received a promotion or they/their team were nominated for an award.

Or, I’ll send a link to an article about how their company recently acquired a new business or got a new round of funding or was mentioned in an article, congratulating them on the press.

I’ll share something interesting in their industry that I thought would be relevant. (Not to give them more work to do to read it but, like, “Hey, I saw this and thought of you/your team.”)

It makes me stand out. It shows I know their brand, what they do, and I’m on top of their industry.

I’m usually sending this in the follow up email or sometimes in the first line of the body copy.

Want to see examples of 12 Email Pitches I Wrote to clients and potential clients that led to work? See the template of what works and apply it to your pitches this week so they get opened.

If you’re feeling stuck finding contacts, this blog👇 can help.

Diana

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What I’m Reading / Listening to / Doing / Publishing

• What I’m Reading: Life’s Too Short By Abby Jimenez

• What I’m Listening to: Money Isn’t Scary podcast by Meghan Dwyer

• What I’m reading online: 7 Ways to Make Money as a Writer in 2025 by Rachel Wells

• What I wrote for a client: These vegetables are surprisingly high in vitamin C (GoodHousekeeping)

Freelance / Content / Media Jobs I Found

This roundup includes freelance writing jobs, media jobs, FT jobs, creative jobs, and content writing jobs for creatives I found. Good luck!

• Freelance reporter gig in the Washington DC area for between $30-40/hour

• Senior copywriter for Chemistry in Hybrid FT in the Atlanta, GA area

• Freelance military.com writer , remote WFH position

• Function health, scriptwriter, editorial, FT remote

• Writer / editor National Guard of the U.S. newsletter FT $80-95K

Let’s Work Together!

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• Hire my freelance writing company, DKL Content Services Inc., (AKA “me”) I’m a NY State and NYC M/WBE certified business and can help with your content writing, strategy, copywriting, content strategy, and editing needs. If you have someone to refer me to, I’m happy to pay a referral fee.

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