Based on the last couple weeks of e-mail, I see that a virus peculiar to magazine query-writers is still alive and well and resisting eradication. This would be the little bug that makes freelance writers decide to keep the editor in suspense and not spell out their story proposal in enough detail.

The most common symptom is when a query promises to provide "seven tips" on how to improve at something—but doesn't mention a single tip. A variation is to mention an entire section that the article will deal with—e.g., "Visualize your reader"—but to provide just the phrase, without a word of elaboration.

How are editors, toiling in some distant city, supposed to get a good fix on a vaguely described article and decide if it's right? They can't. If they're grumpy, impatient or already chock-full of good material for their publication, they're apt to toss the query without a second thought.

If they're in a more patient mood and believe the germ of the idea (however inadequately described) and the writer have some potential, they may message the writer for more of the basic information that should have been provided in the original query. It's a pain.

We've tried to address this nasty virus in our Submission Guidelines. The easiest antidote is to use some common sense and visualize the editor when writing a query. Don't go on and on and write an overly long query (another mistake), but do think hard about the information the editor needs to properly evaluate your idea.

--Ron Kovach, senior editor

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