“AARP The Magazine rarely uses unsolicited ideas. However, you may submit your idea based on the following guidelines and your material will be reviewed.” I was way past the idea stage, having completed an article about two women who were newly widowed.
I followed their directions by drafting a query. In just one page, the writer must include: contact information; AARP address; name of editor; set the ‘hook’ to capture interest in the subject; have an attention-grabbing summary; identify the audience and why your article would appeal to them, as well as the people interviewed; information about yourself and why you’re uniquely suited to write the article. Also, send pertinent articles you’ve already published. And finish with a cheery closing. Signature space, plus three lines for ‘enclosures’ information Whew!
It took me about twenty hours (am I a slow learner?) to nail down the details of writing the query, then draft it. First draft was too long, of course. I asked a writer friend of mine to edit it; she did a super job of trimming it to the essentials. I cut and cut some more until finally it fit on one page. I think I did have to use size 11 instead of 12, however.
With a sense of relief, I mailed it to AARP about three weeks ago. No email, no phone call, no response at all yet. Articles I have read say to give the magazine six weeks before following up with them. It’s hard to wait. And you wonder why I call it a “queer” letter?
by Kathleen Vestal Logan, MS, MA August 2019