Several years ago, during a particularly intense December, an editor I knew pulled me aside after an event and said something I have never forgotten.
She held up her phone, opened her inbox, and showed me the number of unread messages. It was staggering. Hundreds, maybe thousands all waiting and all demanding her attention.
She laughed and said, “People think I’m ignoring them. I’m not. I’m drowning. And I only open the pitches that make my job easier.”
There it was. The entire truth about December in one clean sentence.
Media Darling Moment:Take this to heart. Make the media’s job easier and you will stand out above 95% of everyone else pitching them.
Last week we talked about message clarity. This week we’re shifting to something authors often forget: how editors experience December.
She explained that by mid-month, editors are not looking for long emotional pitches, complicated arcs, or anything that requires time they absolutely do not have. They are finishing year-end stories, juggling too many deadlines, and trying to get home before the sun sets. But a short, clear idea they can use right away? That will get opened.
That conversation has stayed with me for years because it reveals something important. Even in December, even when the inbox looks impossible, strong and simple ideas still make it through. And the authors (and publicists) who understand this are the ones who quietly rise to the top.
So let’s talk about how you can be one of them, which helps in becoming a Media Darling.
What Editors Actually Need in December
By this point in the month, most holiday pieces are long gone. End of year stories are already assigned. But here is the part many authors do not realize. Editors are thinking about January, so the question becomes, “What is happening in January?”
The answer is that it’s all about New Year Resolutions, diets, food, being productive, and developing great relationships among other things. Now is the time to think about new habits, new goals, fresh starts, clarity, energy, and small shifts that help people approach life or work in a healthier way. These are the kinds of ideas editors love in January.
Editors, journalists, writers all want stories that help people start the new year with insight and direction. If your book offers even a hint of something that applies to the new year, you have an opening. “New Year, New You,” is a line used over and over again because it works.
And this is where the work we did last week comes in: Your one message.
When you know your core message for December, you can shape a January angle in about one minute.
For example: “My book helps people create calm in chaotic moments. Here is one simple idea for starting January with a steadier mind.”
That statement is short, clean, and relevant, which is exactly what editors want.
Why Short Pitches Win Right Now
Editors do not have time for long paragraphs in mid-December. They do not want setups, long explanations, a long backstory. They want clarity. Fast.
Short pitches win because they respect time.
Short pitches win because they stand out.
Short pitches win because they make the editor’s job easier.
A one-paragraph pitch with one idea is far more powerful this month than the richest three-page pitch you could ever write. It is not about the length. It is about ease. And when you make someone’s job easier, they remember you.
How to Shape a January-Friendly Angle
Here is the simplest way to craft a pitch that editors will still open this month.
Think about what your book helps people do, and ask yourself:
“How can this help someone start the new year feeling more capable, more hopeful, or more prepared?”
And please do not overthink it. Do not make it more complicated, and don’t try to be profound. It isn’t necessary and it doesn’t work.
Here are a few examples to give you a sense of direction:
If your book is about communication: “The tiny mindset tweak that improves every conversation.”
If your book is about leadership: “What effective leaders do in January that most people skip.”
If your book is about relationships: “A simple January ritual that brings couples closer together.”
If your book is about well-being: “A small habit that makes a big difference in the new year.”
All of these work because they are timely, helpful, and clear, and they make the editor’s job easier.
The December Don’ts
This is also the month to be mindful of what not to do. As we mentioned, holiday stories are long gone, and emotional essays are not what editors want right now, unless they request them. Long pitches, attachments, “circling back” messages, and ideas that won’t be useful until spring only add to the noise. Think of December as the moment when brevity and relevance become your best allies.
Bottom Line
December is a month for clarity. It is a month for relevance. It is a month for positioning yourself so that when editors return in January, your name is already familiar.
When you stay steady, consistent, and aligned with your message, your work becomes exactly what an overwhelmed editor is relieved to find.
P.S. Remember KISS. Keep it simple, Savvy Pro.
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