You pitched an article to a business magazine or association publication, and you’re eager to get the piece published so you can share it with the prospective client whose question inspired your article.

But now you have to wait.

And wait.

And wait.

With each passing day, you lose a bit more confidence. You start to question whether you should even bother following up with the editor, since they clearly aren’t interested.

But following up is an essential part of the pitch process.

Unfortunately, knowing it is essential doesn’t make it any less stressful. How do you follow up? How often? When? If the editor hasn’t gotten back to you already, doesn’t that mean that they aren’t interested? Do I really need to follow up?

Why do you need to follow up on your pitch?

When you pitch your article, I recommend including a line at the bottom that says you will follow up with the editor in 10 days if you don’t hear back from them.

Now it’s time to keep that commitment.

By doing so, you demonstrate to your editor (and yourself) that you keep your word and take your commitments seriously.

But following up on your pitch isn’t just about keeping your word.

If you’ve ever had an overflowing inbox, you know how easy it is to miss or forget about an email. You get busy or bombarded with even more emails than usual, and the emails you intend to respond to today are pushed further and further down the page. It’s something all of us have experienced at one time or another. And editors? Well, they get a ton of email.

Even the most responsive editors sometimes need a reminder or two or three. Give them the benefit of the doubt that they are acting in good faith and doing their best. After all, they could be sick, on vacation, or on leave. In a situation where you can tell yourself all sorts of stories to explain their behavior, choose a kind one — and never shame an editor for not responding to you.

How do you follow up?

Following up does not make you a nuisance. When done well, following up is a way to build a relationship with your editor. Be polite, persistent, and respectful. Forward the original query to ensure the editor has all the information they need at their fingertips. Don’t make them dig through their inbox to find your pitch. Keep your follow-up succinct. You already pitched them, so you don’t have to do it again. Finally, let them know when you will follow up next — typically a week later.

Here’s a simple script for your follow-up email:

“Have you had a chance to review my pitch? I’ve included it below for your reference. Please let me know if you have any questions. I’ll check in again if I haven’t heard back by [DATE].”

Aggressive follow-ups, whether they are too frequent, across too many platforms, or with too many people (like the entire masthead) will get you blacklisted. Treat your editor the way you would want to be treated.

When do you stop following up?

How many times you follow up will depend on how important the publication is to you. For a publication you really want to write for, you may want to send the pitch and then follow up four times. For other publications, send the pitch and follow up twice. There’s no wrong answer, so use your discretion.

On the final follow-up email, include a deadline:

“If I don’t hear back from you by [DATE], I’ll assume you’re not interested and will pitch the piece elsewhere.” 

That gives you and your editor an easy out — and it keeps the door open so you can pitch the editor again at a later time.

Following up is an important part of the pitch process, and if it isn’t something you’ve had to do a lot, it can feel a bit intimidating. If you follow the steps above, you’ll be able to follow up with confidence and use the process to build a relationship with your future editor.