Meet all deadlines and word counts. Check examples of related articles as you're writing, and offer to rewrite quickly, if the editor feels it necessary. Be polite and professional in all your dealings with the editor, but hold your ground. Another good idea is to establish long-term relationships with a few editors. This negates the whole query process.
Writers deserve better treatment than half promises.
Once you've established your voice and your reliability, your time and talents are valuable. As a professional writer, you should expect a written contract and a kill fee from professional markets. These are the Web sites and the magazines for whom you should be writing, and with whom you should develop long-lasting relationships. Deborah Straw's articles and essays have been published in Yankee , American Bungalow , Coffee Journal , Amicus Journal and many other magazines. You Can Protect and Treat Your Animal Companion.