What’s Considered a “Clip”?
Q: Many times publishers indicate they want “published clips” along with a query letter. What exactly are they? —Diane H. A: Published clips are any articles or stories that have…
Q: Many times publishers indicate they want “published clips” along with a query letter. What exactly are they? —Diane H.
A: Published clips are any articles or stories that have been printed
in magazines or newspapers. So, if you wrote “How to Train Your
Husband-To-Be” and it was printed in the latest issue of Crazy Brides
magazine, you have a published clip.
As for how to send it, it depends on the publisher’s guidelines. If the
publisher wants your query via snail mail, make photocopies of the
printed work and paperclip it to your query. If the publisher prefers
e-mail queries (like Writer's Digest), scan your articles and attach
them in an e-mail. Better yet, if your article is posted on the
magazine or newspaper’s website, just link to it in your e-mail query.
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Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).
