Magazine Query Expertise

Question of the day: Most magazine articles include quotes from experts, usually more than one expert. Does the writer have to get these people lined up before querying the magazine? And do the experts expect to be paid, or do they volunteer their time for the free publicity the article will give them (if published)? 

This can go either way, but I always liked to include one or two sources to demonstrate to the editor that I'd already done my initial research and that there was a certain relevance to the story idea. I don't think, however, that you need to "line them up" beforehand. What I usually did was mentions something like, "The piece would cite sources such as Dr. XYZ," so that you're not firmly locked in. If, of course, you have easy access to said source, and you know said source wouldn't mind giving you a quote - with the understanding that the piece may not sell - then sure, include it. But I wouldn't take up an expert's time (or yours), doing preliminary interviews. 

One way around this is to really stay on top of breaking research and studies. If you dig around, you can pull quotes and cite information from the studies directly, and then, once you've been assigned the piece, get a fresh quote and new info from the expert. I'm very hard-pressed to think of a time in my many years of freelancing when I haven't been able to land an M.D. or Ph.D or whatnot for an article citing their research. This is important stuff to them, so they're almost always happy to talk about it. Ditto non-fiction book authors. 

And finally, yes, there is no exchange of money, no outright promise of a great quote, but sure, there's the understanding that by speaking with you, hopefully, they'll get their name in the press and/or more coverage for their research. Do be sure not to commit to any specific quote or whatnot, as editors may change your piece in the final stages, and there are few things more uncomfortable than promising a source something, not coming through, and having to tell him or her the bad news.

Mag writers: what say you? What comes first? The query or the expert interview?

Comments

[Susannah]

Allison this advice is so practical and necessary to point out: the murky waters of writers 'block' or whatever you want to call it can cloud this basic, fundamental element of what drives a story forwards. Thank you for the reminder! I don't thnk I have seen this question answered before with such clear-cut advice, minus any drivel. A writer should know their characters and so plot is usually what deters us to continue past that dreaded barrier... Like you said, something has to HAPPEN :-)