(?) Question from Kelly Stilwell:

I know I need to send clips when I send query letters, but I don’t know exactly how to send them! Do I send a copy of a newspaper magazine article I had published? What about e-zines?

(!) Answer from Lynne:

For snail-mail queries, I think it’s safer to send photocopies of your published articles, instead of giving away your originals.

For e-mail queries, you can attach the body of your previously-published work as html, text, or word documents, as long as you mention where they first appeared.

Moira Allen of InkSpot also suggests building your own website as an online portfolio, so editors can just click on a link to see samples of your work.

(!) Answer from Morley Young:

I have started using 3 pages of my favorite clips, copied and reduced to fit on an 11×17 sheet. The type is small, but still legible. You get 3 articles in front of your prospect, and it only costs you a couple of cents, maybe a nickel. Good luck!