Maybe you saw something on last night's news that got you thinking, or you read something in today's paper or on the Internet that you feel you have to respond to. Now you've got a great idea for an opinion piece or letter to the editor or even a story that relates to the item. How do you go about getting it published?

One way is to write your piece first, and then try to find somebody to publish it. The advantage of this is that you'll have a finished product to pitch, and the editor will know just what your topic and style is. The downside is that if no one is interested, you'll have spent all that effort and creativity for nothing!

If it's a story you're writing, the way which most professional freelancers use is to "pitch" (or "query") the story idea first. You write a brief outline of your topic, your proposed angle, and the people you might interview. Based on this, the editor can determine whether your idea suits the needs of the publication.

There's an art to pitching a story. Successful writers follow these steps:

1. Determine where your story belongs

Perhaps you want to write a first-person account of a community program you've started with some friends. Does this story belong in a newspaper? A magazine? A newsletter? An e-zine on the Web? Does it belong in your weekly neighbourhood paper, your city's daily paper, or one of the national newspapers? Or even in Maclean's magazine? Should it be a 2,000-word feature, or a little 500-word story?

The best way to ensure that your work will get published or posted is to target the right publications. Start with those that have already shown an interest in youth-related issues. (You probably already identified these when you researched your media outlets.) Now look at the content and style of their articles. Ask yourself:

• Do they take many submissions from non-staff writers?
  
  
• On average, how long are their articles?
  
  
• In what style are the articles written (for example, short hard-news style, or longer feature-story style)?
  
  
• Is the language formal, or conversational?
  
  
• Has this publication already covered the issue you want to write about? If so, would you be providing new information or points of view?

Once you've answered these questions, how does your story idea match up? Do you think this publication would be interested? You might want to put together a short list of several ideas, which you can pitch to several publications.

2. Contact the right person

Pitching to a magazine
If you're pitching to a magazine, check the masthead the information box, usually near the front of a magazine, that lists the editorial staff. The best person to contact is usually the managing editor. If there isn't one, try an associate editor or assistant editor. Usually, it's the managing editor who's responsible for the publication's editorial content, and who recommends stories to the editor-in-chief. If you're still unsure after reading the masthead, phone or email the magazine directly and ask who you should contact.

Pitching to a newspaper
If you're pitching to a newspaper, decide which section of the newspaper your story should appear in. City? Editorial? Lifestyles? Then contact the editor responsible for that section. At most newspapers, the editor-in-chief or executive editor - who's in charge of the whole paper - leaves decisions about section content to the section editors. Their names and phone numbers are usually listed on the front page of the section. Otherwise, call the newsroom and ask who the appropriate editor is.

Pitching to a newsletter or e-zine
Smaller, community-based publications tend to be more approachable than mainstream media (see Accessing the Media). If you're pitching to a newsletter that takes submissions, or an e-zine on the Web, check the newsletter or "Contact Us" page on the Web site to find out who to contact regarding submissions. There are a number of e-zines on the Web that look for news by, and for, youth. For more on these, see Accessing Youth Media and the Internet.

3. Write a convincing query letter

Your query letter should tell the editor three things:

1. What your story will be about
   Freelance writers often include the first line of their proposed story, plus a brief treatment of the story: what angle you plan to take, who you'll interview, how you'll write it.
   
   
2. Why this story is important or interesting to readers
   You have to convince the editor to print your story by explaining how relevant it is to the publication's readership.
   
   
3. Why you're the best person to write it
   What have you got that the editor's own staff writers haven't got? You'll have to convince him/her that you possess a unique angle, a hard-to-get contact, or some new and little-known information that makes you the best person to explore this story.

Query letters are usually read by very busy editors, who may get dozens of pitches a day. Here are some tips to make yours stand out:

• Catch the editor's attention with your first sentence.
  
  
• Keep it brief - never more than a page long.
  
  
• Include a couple of sentences on your background, experience, and why you want to write this story.
  
  
• If you have "clips" - stories you've written that have been published in your local, school or community newspaper, include them. This will give the editor an idea of your style.
  
  
• Include your contact information address, phone and fax number, email address, Web page, so the editor can get in touch with you.
  
  
• Read and edit your letter carefully before sending it. Don't rely on computer spell-checkers!

Read our example of a query letter (see right sidebar).

4. Follow up your pitch

After you've sent your query letter - either by email, fax or snail mail - wait an appropriate time, then follow up with a phone call. Ask if the editor has received the query, if s/he has any questions, and when you can expect to hear back from him/her. You don't want to be pushy, but you do want to be persistent in following up on your idea.

If you've done your homework well, the editor may give you the go-ahead for your story. Congratulations! Now you can start researching and writing. If the editor turns down your pitch, don't be discouraged - professional freelancers get turned down all the time too. Think of another story idea, and try again.

The resource Writing a News Story has some tips to offer on writing news stories and features.