The Freelance Writing Faux Pas
I have worked with him once before, and he and I have always had a good repoir. We've joked via email, stayed in touch, and he has always encouraged me to keep pitching. And the truth is, I haven't been writing that long. I only had my first article picked up and bought last January, and that didn't even end up getting published. I didn't seriously touch my freelance writing again until August of this past year, just for the sake of time. But I am trying to build my resume and gain a lot of experience, and stay warm with sites like Associated Content and EHow.com, in the midst of other creative writing endeavors.
But now I just feel like tattling.
So, I really got a fairly big break with an amazing article that involves the film industry. I don't want to say what it is, because I'll have quite the egg on my face if it doesn't pan out. But as writers, we know to jump on something when it comes along, right? So I started looking for interested publications. The story is in regards to a very succesful actor from Indiana, who it looks like I might be able to score an interview with. Film is my "thing" anyway, so I am really excited about this.
So I make the mistake of accidentally attaching another publication's email to my email to this prominenet Indianapolis editor. But it's not too big of a deal, because us freelance writers...well, we have to pitch to 50 people sometimes to get a bite. And as the head editor of the biggest local mag in Indy, surely he knows this, right? To top it off, the email address that was attached is a very small artsy indie paper, nothing that would threaten his giant glossy mag.
So I get this in my inbox from him this morning, "You pitch to other publications? No thanks, then." And that's all.
What. A. Jerk.
Or is it me? Did that little faux pas I made deserve the snooty indifference it was greeted with? Am I still so new that I should know better? Well, I got pretty mad. Here I am, writing whatever I can, whenever I can, in order to pay my bills and try to live doing what I love with integrity. I make one mistake with this editor I've worked with before, and this is how he responds? He turns his nose up at me because he noticed I pitched to another magazine? Is he daft? Am I daft?
Tell me, writer friends. Who made the bigger faux pas? Me for not keeping up with appearances and trying to maintain the illusion that I only pitch to this big sassy magazine above all others, because of course they are the most important, and how insulting can I be? (Which actually, I don't know where he gets the idea writers only pitch their ideas one at a time, we have to eat, Mister!) Was he in the clear, and I am the young ignorant writing ingenue?
Or...is he as big of a jerk as I think he is? Actually, I picture him as more of a white glove wearing, glove slapping, thin moustached type of guy now. He's sipping his brandy at his desk, and saying things like, "I say, did this little brat have the nerve to pitch this idea to another publication? I simply won't have it!"
At any rate, I deleted his email and assured him he'd never have to suffer my insults again. I won't pitch to a magazine like that, no matter who made the bigger faux pas. I don't have time to wrangle with pleasantries...I'm a starving artist.
Published by Audrey Brown
Magazine Writer and Journalist, NPR Correspondent, Voice Over Artist, Professional Theme Park Enthusiast, and last but not least, Lady Geek Extraordinaire. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentLOL @ the pic you posted along with this. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
The trouble with editors is...well, they're editors. Imagine how it must feel to read countless articles written by people whose writing prowess you could only dream to attain. If you can't write; edit. Remember an editor is only as good as the publication's circulation.Once that drops, they're history. A good writer is forever. Keep at it.
Hmmm.... I had no idea at all! However, I think I can definitely learn from your mistake. If I ever "pitch" an article to anyone, I'll make sure to send separate e-mails. At the same time, I can't imagine writing an article and hoping it'll get published without trying as many sources as possible. I certainly don't expect to be able to write one article and score with it right from the start.
The pic is hilarious! I don't have too much experience with editors. I was rejected about 12 times in a row last year, but once I found AC, I just stopped bothering to submit elsewhere (I suppose I really should have another go). Thanks for sharing this.
Lenora, no worries! I don't think we thought you were calling us sellouts. I'm glad we all have a forum to discuss this stuff, everyone's opinion has meant a lot to me as I've tried to figure this situation out. So thank you! Also, even after a few days of processing, I still think it's pretty silly that there's just so much pride in our industry. If the story or the pitch is a good one, an editor should snap it up and check their pride. I still have a hard time believing they don't know we pitch to multiple sources. It would be nice to cut the act, and be able to email a couple people at once every now and then, you know? There's a time to pitch specifically to one pub, and a time to shop around...
Just an update...I communicated with Jesse and did not mean to insinuate he was selling out, or that you were.....we all write the crap articles for money..that, or starve....and sure, once you are out there, I've also read that you should do single submissions...but sometimes we are all looking for the cash....I guess you just have to know where to draw the line for yourself. We're probably shooting ourselves in the foot posting this stuff publicly. LOL. It seems like the line between editors and writers is often a tightrope. Happy New Year!
A little of both. I recently read an article from a seasoned article writer which surprised me the advice only to pitch to one mag at a time. That was using the snail method of querying. A professional email can be copied and pasted rather than cc more than one company at the same time. People should be using BBC method for the privacy of their contacts anyway. It is rather a "what can you do for me" situation. Even magazines are in it to profit and it does not concern them how tough things are for freelancers, when they have thousands of queries every day. Sometimes one has to play by their rules. But yeah the reply was equally unprofessional. To the point, but rude.
Audrey don't worry about, he is just jeaulous that you might make it big one day, and he will still be behind his desk, the way I look at, one day someone will notice our writing works, and we will be known, all it takes is one little bittie article, or poem, well got to go, and good luck on your writing career, you should email me to discuss writing over the internet, so I can get more ideas to write about.laterz.
Also, as is the case so many times with writing for money, sometimes it helps to go into an interview, especially one as high profile as this one I think I'm getting, with an idea of what audience you're writing for. And also, the other editor on the email, was one that this guy (the jerk...) had told me to pitch to whenever he refused a story because this publication sounded more suited to some of the artsier stuff I write about, so it was a connection that he made himself. I would never just send out some mass email pitching an idea or an already completed story.
Well, I don't mind burning a bridge with an editor who would speak in such a rude way. I'm sick to death of getting rude emails from editors, who don't even have the common decency to put a greeting and an ending to their emails. I know their busy, but so are we. SOmeone needs to put some class back into dealings between writers and editors.