<b>When to follow up, and when to let go</b>

<b>When to follow up, and when to let go</b>

New people worry about being a pest, so they never follow up — or they follow up five times. Both hurt. There's a calm middle path. Think of it like knocking on a door: once is fine, banging is not.

The simple rule:

1. Send your pitch.
2. If the deadline hasn't passed and you've added something new (a better stat, a photo), one short follow-up is okay.
3. After the deadline passes with no reply, let it go completely.

Why let go? Reporters get buried, stories get cut, and silence almost never means they disliked you. It usually means the piece changed or they found enough sources.

Moving on isn't giving up — it's saving your energy for the next query, where a fresh, fast pitch has a real shot.

Try this today: check for any pitch past its deadline and mentally close the file. Clear inbox, clear head.