The Writing Faux Pas: Part Deux

Well, first of all just to bring you up to speed, I got yet another sassy email back from said grouchy Indianapolis editor. This one clarified to me that he was neither joking, nor grown-up. It stuns me sometimes to think that people can get to such high places with such crummy attitudes. But then, I guess that "dog eat dog" business mantality is sometimes what takes people to the top.

Upon further reflection, I feel totally in the right for the way I responded. Which was to let him know that I wouldn't be pitching to him again and that he would be deleted from my writing contacts list, so as to not be further inconvenienced. All without a single curse word, mind you. I assumed that was the end of things, until he emailed me yet again. A single word. "nice." Just like that, not capitalized but punctuated. For emphasis, I guess. Professionalism at it's finest. It's not even that his particular initial email response was that bad, either. It was just rude, and I've had it with rude in our industry. I know that's how life is these days, and I'm not surprised, and I don't expect change on the horizon. But man...it gets OLD.

I don't really feel bad about losing him as a contact either. Because I think if I can stand with integrity now...if I can say, "Hey! You aren't allowed to talk to me that way.", even when I'm not wealthy and super succesful, I think that means nobody will ever be able to push me around as a writer. And believe me, I know you have to choose your battles. And today, I didn't exactly battle. But I did draw a line in the sand. I will gladly take a "No." I will gleefully accept a "No thank you." But I will not pitch to publications or editors who think it's okay to be rude to a freelance writer simply because they can.

And also, just to clarify, he set me up with the other contact that I accidentally put on the email. So even though it was definitely not the best move professionally, it wasn't as if I had put up a rival contact on the email. In fact, the publication is an offshoot of their own and one that he has frequently referred me to in the past. So perhaps he just didn't take the time to pay attention to the name, either way...

But it has brought up an entirely different complaint. What's with all the rudeness? While 2007 was one of my best years ever, it was also riddled with extremely rude people. Especially via email.

When did we stop saying, "Hello Fill in the Blank," before our messages and, "Thanks", or even, "Bye", and then signing our names? When did we stop clarifying things, and asking instead of commanding in our emails. I know that makes me sound like...the proper term here I think is, "an old fart". And there are times when I think that there's actually an 80 year old woman running the show up there in my noggin, but I do think that people deserve respect. Even that sassy editor got my respect by me taking him off of my contact list after he expressed such discontent with my pitch. And I didn't email him back after he saw fit to get at me, with literally the last word. And if that makes me old timey, than damnit, I'm okay with that!

We've got enough to deal with working "on spec" so often ,ghost-writing for people we know we are better than, and taking non-creative assignments to keep the lights on. It's the life and career we chose, it's true. But it doesn't make us the bottom of the barrel, and it doesn't mean we should get less common courtesy than advertising people or editors or staff writers. I'll take freelance work any day over a staff writing position (that one could bite me later...) because I love to write about what I want to write about.

But it is tough. There's a lot of work that goes into trying to get paid for an assignment. Sometimes you need to get paid up front so that you can afford to report on something special or recoop travel expenses. And at this point in my life, I don't even really care about making a profit. I really don't. I just want to pay the bills, and write. I don't want a new car, or fancy clothes. I want to get my foot in the door. Weren't these editors once where we newbies are now? Don't they remember? Or do they remember, and simply not care? But when they act so snide, so elite...well, doesn't it just get to you after a while?

And really, I know it may sound like it, but I don't have a problem with criticism. I've been rejected literally hundreds of times over the past year. (Yes, I know what that says about my writing...) And every single time, I send an email back thanking whomever took the time to actually read my writing. Because that means they used their most precious resource on me, their time. And they have taken the time to help me better my writing as well, to make it more interesting. Or even to clue me in on what I can do to get published with them in the future. And for that, I am always grateful.

And if I rumpled some feathers, that's okay. Because those types of papers and magazines aren't the ones that I want to get a break in anyway. And if that sounds like sour grapes, you can bet it is just a little bit.