Write a good pitch about a story.
To synthesize down to its finest essentials. And also the practice of putting together a story--the angle, the sources etc, helped give me the clarity to pitch.
So, before you actually start pitching, I thought it would help you to work backwards from actual stories.
Here are the links to 1 story from Teen Vogue, Refinery29.com and the LA Times.
Pick one outlet/link...
Read the story and then tell us what the basic pitch was to the editor of that publication. Don't worry about writing the full pitch. Just let us know what was the IDEA that you think the writer pitched. What the story was about, what is the angle. Don't get crazy about getting it right or perfect, this is discussion just to bat ideas around and to easy in to writing pitches from scratch. Give us a two or three lines as if we were talking in class.
When you post YOUR pitch (and even though there are three outlets--you only need to do ONE for this discussion) give us a little subhead that notes just what the outlet was.
Links/Stories:
Teen Vogue:
http://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/super-bowl-party/1
What to Wear to a Super Bowl Party
Refinery29.com
http://www.refinery29.com/kristen-stewart-custom-vans
Check Out Kristen Stewart & Peter Som's Customized Vans Slip Ons
guardian.com
http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2012/feb/05/summer-fashions-2012-digital-printing-bright-colours
Summer fashion 2012 will be in glorious techno colour
Remember: when you pitch the story you are not writing it for readers. Instead, you are addressing it to an editor: "here's what I think would be a terrific story and why"
What is a "pitch". "A pitch" is the vocabulary word for a story "proposal" to an editor or media outlet. When we pitch a story, we're proposing a story. Pitching to an editor requires tight, punchy, clear, writing. You have just a few seconds to catch their attention.
Joann Pailey's survey of Spring 2012 Couture week in Paris distills her top 10 picks down to their essence in one precise sentence. Between just two periods she she describes what sets the highlighted collection apart.
That's the type of short economical writing that drives the first paragraph of a pitch: where you're laying out: What's the angle, what's the story?
Your pitches are going to be longer than a sentence, but it's not bad to take a look at her work here.
All of you have different levels of experience writing--so the thing is not to be intimidated by Pailey but see how she does it.
Also--here's another big thing I keep in mind with written pitches:
Yes, I want the assignment, but there are a thousand reasons the editor might have for it not working for her publication on that particular day, that have nothing to do. whether the pitch is good or not. What I do want him or her to remember is--that I understood their publication and the type of stories they're looking for, and had a strong idea. Then, the next time I hit them up, they remember me. And know that I understand their publication.
One more thing about pitches: and this has been key to me. Editors are inundated with self-serving pitches and public relations subs. So not only do I need to RAPIDLY get their attention w. a pitch BUT it's about fulfilling what their publication needs. That is REALLY key. It's about helping them get to something NEW, either through breaking news or an interesting angle. Take care of your editor.