A number of writers hope to land a regular column, or pitch several topics to an editor at once, but they don’t know how to do it and do it in less than a page. This is a successful query I sent by e-mail to an online market in a response to a job ad I read about seeking someone to write a regular column.
In her response, the editor mentioned that many of my ideas for the section echoed her own. I went on to land the columnist position, and I did write two of these four suggestions for the teens and money area.
From: Sherwood
To: AMOMSha
Subject: Writer for Teens and Money Center
Date: Monday, October 11, 1999 4:44 PM
October 11, 1999
Momsonline
Sharon Thompson
Dear Ms. Thompson,
I would like to apply for the opening you have for the upcoming Teens and Money Center at Moms Online. The teenage years are the perfect time to start teaching teens the importance of handling money in a responsible manner. A noble idea, but the reality of dealing with teens eager to prove their independence is another matter.
I have several article ideas on the topic already including:
– A Teen And His Money Are Soon Parted – A look at ways parents can limit a teen’s spending their part time job income. This would include solid financial options such as direct deposit as well as “from the trenches” advice from parents who have dealt with this issue.
– Junior’s Savings Can Limit Financial Aid – A look into the best ways to set up your teen’s finances to offer the maximum benefits when it comes to applying for college. For instance, a savings account in your teen’s name for college will be required to contribute a higher percentage to the cost of college if that same amount was in a saving’s account in your name.
– Preventing a Credit Crash Course – Ways to ensure your teen will be credit savvy when alone at college and faced with numerous offers for credit cards. For many credit card companies, the only requirement for credit is a copy of your college registration. The thrill of a credit card issued in their name can be a temptation to hard to resist. With the number of credit offers, incoming college freshman can receive four or more credit cards before Christmas break. This is despite the fact they don’t have a job to pay the minimum payments. This article will explore ways to teach your teen credit card smarts with your supervision. This can prevent serious damage to the teen’s credit report that could haunt them for years.
– Spending Smarts – This article would explore new ways for parents and teens to look at spending. The teen wants to buy a $80 pair of sneakers with their own hard-earned money? Can a parent say no? Rather than drawing a line in the sand, this article would think of creative alternatives. Buying a pair of $80 sneakers while making $5.35 an hour means the teen had to work 15 hours to pay for them. Are the sneakers worth 15 hours of their life?
I am a full time writer who works from my home in northern Michigan. I have a bachelors degree in journalism and over five years experience as a reporter and editor for weekly and daily newspapers. In addition, I have written newsletters, and designed and written special promotional materials for several businesses. Clips are available upon request. You can view an article I’ve written online at The Writing Corner at http://www.writingcorner.com.
Thank your for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Linda Sherwood
Contact Info Here
