🗞️How I Got My NA Drink in Men's Health (Behind the Pitch)

*annotated screenshots included!*

Welcome to the second issue of Behind the Pitch, where I take you through my pitching process—from concept to publishing—so you can learn how to pitch, too.

February’s column took you behind the scenes as I turned a viral Substack post into an essay for Business Insider. March’s column is all about getting press for your product or services.

In this issue, you’ll see:

• How to be your own publicist by pitching media about your book or product

• Screenshot of the media pitch I sent to Men’s Health with annotations breaking down each section

• How to write a subject line that editors will actually open

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The Pitch

Let’s start by saying that pitching is fucking hard. It’s exhausting. It’s emotional. It’s hella confusing.

One way to ease some of those overwhelming feelings is to pitch something timely. This month’s example highlights how I mentioned Sober October and Dry January in my pitch.

Editors want to publish interesting pieces that generate clicks, contributing to the site's ad dollars. Keeping holidays and editorial calendars in mind can help you find a placement for your pitch.

The Screenshot

Below you’ll find:

• Screenshot of the media pitch I sent to Men’s Health with annotations breaking down each section

• The importance of including a call to action in your media pitch

• Why product photography is so important

• Tips for writing a winning subject line