How much should you say about your story when pitching to a publication?
Pitching your story idea is an essential part of writing health articles. If you are interested in this area of medical communications, you will have to take this important step and be ready to directly reach out to the right editor or contact person for a publication or organization.
Pitching a story requires boldness and professionalism, and, when you pitch your idea, you need to highlight that your story matters. The main question I had when I first started in health writing was how much I should say and reveal about my story idea.
If you have the same question, the first thing I recommend is to explain your idea in a summary that should be shorter than a scientific abstract (about 300 words) and a little longer than an elevator pitch. However, it’s important to adhere to a publication’s or organization’s guidelines to make sure you meet their pitching requirements. As you summarize your story, make to mention
- The main story topics
- The article format (eg, feature story, opinion)
- The audience this is intended for and why the topics matter to them
- The reasons why this article is important for the publication
