Instead of filling out applications, freelance writers craft query letters to get the jobs they need. Your query letter is your first impression and could very well be your last. At least 75% of the queries editors receive aren’t worth reading beyond the first few lines. What happens to them? The delete key. Editors sift through hundreds of responses for a single job opening, so if you want a shot at the spot, you have to make things easy for him/her.

Below are the most common mistakes I’ve seen writers make with their query letters. Avoid them and you’ll have a great shot at getting the editor’s attention and, hopefully, landing that gig!

Poorly written queries

Your query is sometimes the only thing you get to say to your potential employer. Make it count. By writing something clear and straightforward you can immediately impress your editor and will likely get the job. When you see the ad, write your query. Then put it aside for a few hours or even overnight. Then, look it over, edit, re-edit, edit some more, and send.

Long, drawn-out e-mails

Sometimes I’ve deleted pages long e-mails without reading past the first paragraph. We don’t need your life story, just the basics. If your query e-mail is more than two paragraphs, you need to do some serious editing. Being a good editor is part of being a good writer.

No self confidence

Many e-mails, and I’m not joking here, start off with something like “I don’t know if I’m what you’re looking for…”. When I see that, I already know they aren’t. Delete. On the flip-side, don’t come off as a Zeus-like god of freelance writing. In simple terms, tell me exactly what you’ve done. Use as few words as possible.

Query of failures

I have had multiple queries where writers cite blogging experience as references. This is fine, but what killed their query was their inclusion of why they no longer run the weblog: “I stopped doing it for lack of interest.” Wrong answer. If you lost interest in a weblog (where you dictate content, article length, etc.), what makes me think you would stay interested in writing for me? Delete.

Didn’t follow directions

If an editor asks for one sample of 400 words, give just that. If he/she wants three reasons why you like pizza, give that, too. Read the job advertisement and follow it precisely. Copy and paste it into the e-mail and delete each point after you have it written. Not following the ad guidelines is a sure-fire way to get your query deleted.

E-mail attachments

This one varies quite a bit, but I can’t stand e-mail attachments. Not for fear of viruses, but for ease of use. Keeping documents associated with e-mails quickly becomes a mess. I’ve even had cryptically named files attached with no references as to who wrote it. After a while, I just started deleting any queries with attached files.

It’s a tough and competitive writing world out there. The query letter is sometimes all you’ve got. Have the potential employer in mind when you craft an e-mail. Don’t worry about trumpeting your experiences or using flowery language. Editors know what they want and can read through romance novel language to get a feel of the person behind the words. Be short, direct and punchy. If that doesn’t get you hired, you’ll need a club so big and clunky no editor could dodge out of the way.