Questions to Ask When Reframing a Pitch
Rejected? Here's how to breathe new life into a pitch
I pitched an idea to a publication that was swiftly rejected. I expected as much—it’s so hard to get a “yes” these days and my pitch was for a specific theme issue they had planned. There was no space for this story to go in the same publication outlet once the theme-centric spots were filled. When I was starting out as a writer, I took every rejection as an indication that the entire concept was trash. Now that I am more seasoned and way less dramatic, I don’t let a rejection stop me. All it means is that it wasn’t the right fit for that publication at that time. I think my pitch was strong. I like my idea and want to write about it, regardless of where it lands. My job now is to find a space that will accept it. That sometimes requires reframing the pitch. Setting it up for success, if you will.
Soooooooooooooo, how do you go about doing that? Here are some of the questions I ask myself when planning where to send my pitch next:
Q1. What is the main theme? What are some sub-themes?
When I say theme I mean big-ass, umbrella words like POLITICS, or LIFESTYLE or TRAVEL. I thought of my rejected pitch as a food story. It centered on my overwhelming desire for a soft-boiled egg during my stay in the ICU. From that one-sentence summary, though, it’s easy to pinpoint other potential beats: healthcare system, body and wellness, personal history, women’s issues. By listing all the other themes it incorporates, I can brainstorm potential outlets that aren’t necessarily food publications.
Q2. How would I shift the tone/angle to fit X publication better?
Let’s say I decide to pitch my soft-boiled egg story to a health website. Instead of highlighting the nostalgic and sensorial reasons for craving a soft-boiled egg, I focus more on its nutrition and examine what my body might have been aching for according to science. If I decide to frame it as a personal essay, the tone will be quite different depending on whether I have my sights on The New York Time’s Letter of Recommendations vs Huffpost vs The Cut.
Q3. Should this be another format or genre?
My soft-boiled egg idea might work better as a literary essay. Maybe it’s meant to be a poem. Maybe it’s a scene in an upcoming memoir. Just because I can’t sell it as a pitch doesn’t mean I can’t use it in another project.
Q4. Should this live on Substack (or insert your own blog/newsletter/Instagram account/etc)?
I don’t have any hard-and-fast rules about what idea is pitch-worthy and which one is for the trusty ol’ newsletter. Looking back, I tend to reserve for Substack either a) ideas that are obviously within my Substack’s stated goals b) pitches that never sold even though I knew in my hearts of hearts they were bangers, and c) hot takes I want to write about ASAP, without the constant back-and-forth and negotiations of working with a publication.
As for when to let a pitch idea die? I never fully give up on them. I keep a long-running list of every single story idea I have, in case something happens in the wider world to make them relevant again. Sometimes, they are reborn in such a way as being unrecognizable from their original form. Whatever kernel of genius you get is a gift; it’s just a matter of figuring out the best conditions under which it can sprout.
Homework
Unearth an old idea. It doesn’t have to be a pitch—it can be a short story, a poem, a film synopsis, a photo series, an Etsy shop. Adapt the questions above to your situation and see if it creates a new path forward for it.
State of My Wallet
June Invoiced: $2,219
June Received: $3,907.76
Life hack: spend a couple of months living somewhere rent-free, bonus points if it’s considerably cheaper than New York. I don’t love these amounts, but they are a larger reflection of my health issues/travels. I took every job that came my way but haven’t been proactive at all in finding new clients. That’s because I landed a part-time gig earlier in the month that will provide some much-needed financial stability. Finally, a respite! I’m still keeping my regular clients and pitching. I’m also always open to new clients with interesting projects (and given my looming medical debt, I can use all the work I can get). But the nonstop, panic-fueled hustle that kept me at my desk on nights and weekends, depressed and anxious over the rising cost of eggs? That is on pause, at least for a few months.
Progress Report
Aside from my rejected pitch, it’s been pretty good! I started my new gig. I landed a new client. I finished a couple of articles for another. My creative output is still pretty limited, but I’ve been pouring a lot of that energy into this here newsletter. I’m not mad about it. It’s quite satisfying to have this corner of the universe where I can share my thoughts instead of waiting for permission from traditional media and publishing channels.
Shameless Self-Promotion
Thanks to all my new minty-fresh subscribers and to everyone still here after my rebrand! Your support means a lot. As a reminder, paid subscription includes:
Samples of my pitches & rates, applications, and spreadsheets & templates
Weekly, virtual write-ins (resuming next week!)
Access to the full archive (free posts go behind a paywall after a year)
I’m still looking for house-sitting/pet-sitting opportunities in Chicago for September. A few of you have reached out with tentative dates—please let me know ASAP once those dates become a sure thing.
Half-hour, virtual Tarot readings are back on! The suggested donation is $40. Books yours here.
If you ever want to peruse all the books I recommend in the newsletter, head over to my Bookshop bookstore!
Thanks for sharing!