Last week, I attended a MediaBistro seminar on working with editors. It was easily the best course I’ve taken in a long time and one that every writer and editor should be required to attend. The instructor is an editor at Body + Soul, so she brought along extra copies of the October issue to hand out (gotta love instructors who bring samples!). After each student took one, there were still extras, so I brought home two copies: one for me and one for a lucky blog reader. First person to email me gets the extra copy (and yes, I’ll mail internationally if needed). UPDATE: Steph Auteri has claimed the mag with her lightning fast response. Sorry!
Now, I won’t spill all her secrets (you’ll have to take the seminar for the complete version), but here are a few of the most interesting points raised during the seminar.
Not having to query is the ultimate goal. A couple of students lamented that they don’t have much experience writing queries, because editors usually come to them with assignments. What a conundrum, right? Now, you can’t always wait for editors to seek you out, but as the instructor pointed out, building a strong enough relationship and reputation that editors want to work with you is the key to long-term freelance success. Sometimes I get so consumed by querying that I forget this. I used to have a couple of editors who did this, but they’ve either left the publishing world or I’ve outgrown the publication. I think the best way to approach this is to seek out publications that consistently use freelancers (instead of the once-in-a-blue moon essay or feature article) and that cater to your niche.
Asking for a column right off the bat is like proposing marriage on a first date. This would seem to contradict the previous statement, because every writer wants a column so they have a consistent, guaranteed presence in a publication without querying. But the thing is, giving a writer a column (or even a plum feature assignment) requires a certain degree of trust, just like inviting someone into your home or vowing to spend the rest of your life with someone. Until the editor knows they can trust to deliver consistently and on time, you probably aren’t going to get a column or become a contributing editor. In most cases, the editor asks the writer, not the other way around.
Just because an editor heavily edits doesn’t mean she hated it. Like most writers, I can be a little possessive of my words, especially when it’s a personal essay. But I will admit that often an editor’s tweaks help make the piece even more poignant, powerful, etc. I can think of one instance where the editor rearranged a few pargraphs (without changing any words) and the finished article flowed so much better. I sometimes read the piece I submitted side-by-side with the published article so I can see exactly what was changed and make sure that next time, I nail the voice that the editor wants. Some editors, like the one who taught the course, want to see both versions so they know what level of writer they’re dealing with and whether that writer can handle heavy editing if needed.
Flickr photo by Nic’s event
In response to lesson #3, in college I used to freelance for the student paper. I turned in a few articles and noticed that the published version had all of the paragraphs rearranged but the text stayed mostly the same.
At first I was concerned that I wasn’t very good at writing (the horror!) but without any prompting the editors took time out to tell me how great I was doing and how much they liked my stuff.
Writing and editing do truly go hand in hand. The hallmark of a good editor is the ability to take what is there and mold it into the best product it can possibly be.
Being able to “format” words in an effective way is very different than being able to generate words in an interesting way (not to diminish either craft).
Wow, that class sounds amazing!
I always try to be understanding about edits. Like you said, the piece is usually so much more polished and conveys the message in a clear, concise way. Live and learn, I suppose!
And… wow, not knowing how to write queries because they don’t have to… Sign me up, please! LOL!
*smiles*
Michele
@Susan – you mention that some of the editors you didn’t have to query have moved on.
The other side of the coin is that a writer you know today may move on to become an editor at a publication you want to write for a year later.
Some of my business comes from former journalists I know(not necessarily those I worked with at the same companies), and the good news is that I don’t have to prove myself to them as I would to a complete stranger.
And those that don’t use my services have sometimes recommended me to other people. Cuts down drastically on the querying.
Susan, you rock so much it’s ridiculous. This is a great post! What a cool class you took, and how cool that you shared what you could with us.
I agree – get to know the editor to the point where they assign the ideas to you. Much less work! Though I have developed some mighty cool relationships where I present them with a brief sketch and they let me run with it. Some editors just like maintaining that small level of control.
I’d never expect to have a column right off the bat! My word – those are such coveted spots I’m surprised people actually expect to be granted them sight unseen!
You know, I forgot that I do have an editor who sends me e-mails and says something like: Would you write so many words about (insert topic here)?
But, I still do a lot of querying.
*smiles*
Michele
I just have to say as a writer living with an editor, it’s always good to improve writer-editor relations. We have been known to argue over sentence fragments, sometimes over breakfast.
I don’t work with magazine editors, but as a copywriter I’ve worked with several in-house corporate editors. They’ve been great and have really helped me to improve content.
Sounds like this was a great course.
Thanks everyone for the comments! Apparently it is a very common practice for new-to-her writers to ask for a column. Of course, I suspect that some of them don’t understand the difference between a reoccuring column and an article.
@Janet: I have a lot to say about sentence fragments, but that’s a whole other post!
Susan, I would love to read a post about sentence fragments!
Even when you’re regularly commissioned by an editor, it’s good to know how to query. Firstly you might want to do better paying or more interesting work than what you are currently being offered – it’s always a good idea to push yourself. Secondly, in times of economic crisis like now, your regular work can dry up or dwindle, forcing you to hustle a bit to find new work.
On the subject of being edited, of course, it’s going to happen from time to time and of course, I’m mature and professional about it. But I have to admit, I love it when they barely change a thing. Not because I think I’m brilliant but quite simply because it makes me feel that I’ve succeeded in giving them what they want.
Good editing can be gold but I have to admit that there are occasions when I prefer the original.
I also think the best editors give feedback and let the writers do the first rewrite themselves, or ask questions to clarify a few things, rather than rewriting wholesale.