tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post8868076920109082160..comments2024-03-29T04:56:56.407-07:00Comments on Dollars and Deadlines: Ten Good Reasons the Editor Said "No"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12518158232642872324noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-30196104819277382182010-10-06T07:31:45.249-07:002010-10-06T07:31:45.249-07:00Great comments, all--thanks for chiming in!
And ...Great comments, all--thanks for chiming in! <br /><br />And reasons 11 and 12 (editor isn't looking for additional contributors/freelance budget has been slashed) are both likely, especially these days--thanks to Mel and Pat for sharing these.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12518158232642872324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-21180188732082055282010-10-06T07:26:58.924-07:002010-10-06T07:26:58.924-07:00Great post, Kelly. I particularly like #3 & #8...Great post, Kelly. I particularly like #3 & #8. In fact, I just got this response from an editor I've worked with before, but who hadn't been responsive to a recent pitch: "Thanks for following up! Always a good thing because if you don’t hear back from me, it likely means your email was buried in my box. Sorry about that."Abbyhttp://www.abigailgreen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-88308954272181826962010-10-05T21:58:28.016-07:002010-10-05T21:58:28.016-07:00I heard an editor say on a panel, "It's l...I heard an editor say on a panel, "It's like a first date. Sometimes you don't know why it won't work, but you know it won't."Joan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423337694076541862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-58390093751983714552010-10-05T12:18:27.907-07:002010-10-05T12:18:27.907-07:00Hi Kelly,
I had it 'in' with a magazine an...Hi Kelly,<br />I had it 'in' with a magazine and then the editors changed. Absolutely everything I sent the new editor, no response. Follow up, no response. Finally, last week I got a rather lengthy rejection. Evidently, I hit a nerve. My story was teaching a writing technique to middle schoolers. This technique works for me...has worked great for my kids. But it just happens to be this editor's pet peeve. I'm just glad I got a response :-)Carol J. Alexanderhttp://caroljalexander.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-1795078694177621002010-10-05T10:51:43.037-07:002010-10-05T10:51:43.037-07:00Another issue is if the article would be too "...Another issue is if the article would be too "controversial" and offend one of the magazine's key advertisers. We like to think of editorial as being wholly independent from sales/advertising, but I've been asked to tweak a story based on a negative quote about an advertiser, and I'm sure there are fascinating stories that don't get assigned because they'd rock the boat.Susan Johnston Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09225671002159447902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-12060014574198958892010-10-05T08:39:13.324-07:002010-10-05T08:39:13.324-07:0012. The magazine had to cut its freelance budget. ...12. The magazine had to cut its freelance budget. I know a lot of writers dealing with this issue these days.Pat Curryhttp://www.pat-curry.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7956176634474051220.post-63823109471164723532010-10-05T08:30:18.781-07:002010-10-05T08:30:18.781-07:00I would add...
11. The magazine has a stable of fr...I would add...<br />11. The magazine has a stable of freelancers and isn't currently looking to expand.<br /><br />Otherwise, at our magazine I know the most common reason we turn down pitches are #1 & #7. Research is a writer's most valuable skill - not just when it comes to writing articles, but also when it comes to writing pitches.Mel Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08074219871198587214noreply@blogger.com