Hello,
When writing a query letter for a magazine is it a good idea to do brief interviews before you get the assignment?
Answer:
My personal preference is to not interview people in advance, but rather to LINE UP interviews. You can explain to potential interviewees that you’re pitching an idea with no guarantee that the article will be assigned, and that you’d like to list them as your “experts” in your query letter; experts you will interview if the piece is assigned.
If you do decide to interview the people in advance, make it a pre-interview scouting session (scouting for information and direction for the article, and to make sure you’re using the right experts). Otherwise, a two-hour interview that never turns into a story could leave you with a disappointed (or even mad!) expert.
Hope that helps!
Best,
Wendy
Ask Wendy-The Query Queen 
I have had many wonderful experiences and have never shared them.The other day one happened again and I want to write a short story about it.It is I believe something that would be under motavational or inspirational or just self help.I believe it would be very inspiring and I am trying to locate a venue to write this.I want this out in the world I know it will make a difference.Whether I get paid or not is not what this is about.Where can I go to tell my story.Ruth Glatt.