Comments on: Breaking up (with your editor) is hard to do

By: cal

cal — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:37:46 +0000

Wow, am going through this kind of terrible “breakup” now — after years of great relationship, I’m getting a massive cold shoulder and can’t make any sense of it. Time to move on, I guess. Part of my problem: this used to be one of my best clients and where I earned the most money, so I keep trying to make it work.
Thanks for this post, good to know it’s not just me!

By: C

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:39:47 +0000

I can relate! After multiple e-mails and two extensive phone interviews/meetings for a technical writing gig, I was told I’d been “hired” and would begin receiving assignments shortly. Weeks went by, I sent a quick e-mail to follow up, and the editor said I’d hear back promptly. A few weeks later, the editor wrote to tell me she was behind and would be in touch. Now it’s been more than a month and — nada.

Any advice on how hard to chase these potential leads? I think I was dumped before the first date even happened . . .

By: HisGirlFriday

HisGirlFriday — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:20:39 +0000

This is so funny! This exact same thing is happening to me right now – with a magazine that I’ve had at least a story a month for about a year.

All of a sudden last month – no assignment. Usually I call or drop an email – “let me know what’s up this month … ” kind of thing. Nothing last month, and nothing so far this month.

My thought of them dropping me is because in one recent month they asked me for a really quick turnaround, then the next month I called early to say “Hey, let me line up your work before I get bogged down in other assignments.” I thought I was being responsible but I got the feeling they were miffed at being bumped or told when to assign.

The thing is I’m kind of tired of the work – it is fairly technical and sometimes tediuous, so I’m not sure that I really *want* to keep doing the stories. At the same time, I hate to close a door. I absoulely don’t have a second to spare this month but I think in a week or so (when I know the book is closed for June) I’ll email to say “Hey, what’s up?”

By: Kayleen

Kayleen — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:08:06 +0000

I did have similar experiences like that in 2007 and 2008. In 2007 one magazine assigned me monthly stories. In 2008 I’ve had only 2 – no explanation except “she has so many good writers to work with.” I had sent some her way, so I could regret “sharing”, but I don’t.

Still, I had counted on this as semi-regular income so have had to compensate by scrambling to find work with other publications. It took a while to figure out what was happening so I’m a little behind financially.

Another experience with being dropped by a different magazine was my fault in billing for my work incorrectly 3x. Couldn’t blame that editor for dropping me. A Lesson learned the hard way sticks.

By: Kristen Kirk

Kristen Kirk — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:31:51 +0000

As a former editor, I had to break up with a few writers — but not because I wanted to. My boss –and once my boss’ boss — didn’t like one thing or another about the writer/his work and didn’t want me working with him again. My boss’ reasons weren’t things that could be fixed and were more along the lines of “I don’t like that person.” I hated the circumstances, but couldn’t really say something to the writer.

At other times, I was also encouraged to bring new voices into the magazines. There was only so much space so some regulars lost out.

I also wonder if, in your case, the amount you’re paid has anything to do with suddenly being ignored? Could they be getting “cheaper” writers?