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Topic: How to Say Thanks but NO Thanks...
| Author | Message |
| EssayGirl | Posted – 9/25/2007 2:45:54 PM | show profile | email poster Over the weekend, I submitted a personal essay (825 words) to Diabetes Health magazine on our son's diagnosis and life with Type 1. The editor sent an email last night saying she had edited the essay and would like to publish it on their website (for no pay) and if it received alot of feedback they would put it in the magazine for 10 cents (!) a word. I spent much of August completing and polishing the piece and don't want to give it up that cheaply. Also I do not like the way the edits changed the voice---taking it from reflective to sort of pedestrian brusque reporting. I would like to say thank you but no thanks without burning bridges or sounding abrupt/rude. Any suggestions would be most welcomed. |
| ZeldaMedia | Posted – 9/25/2007 3:08:40 PM | show profile How about. . . Saying: 'Thanks for your editing efforts and interest in publishing my essay but I think I am going to pursue another venue/take it in another direction. I hope that if I have another piece that's in line with the spirit of your newsletter I can submit it for your consideration." Something like that. |
| HisGirlFriday | Posted – 9/25/2007 4:45:00 PM | show profile If the pay is the issue, you could say "Thanks for your interest in my essay but I only do business with paying publications. I was under the impression that you paid for writers _ I'm sorry for any confusion." If it's the voice, you could say something like: "While I'm excited about the idea of my essay appearing in Diabetes Health, I'm not comfortable with the changes you have made. If we can work out an agreeable edit, I'd be more than happy to talk about it. If not - thanks very much for your time anyway." |
| EssayGirl | Posted – 9/25/2007 4:56:25 PM | show profile Thanks you two. It's both--well actually three things---1) putting it on the web page and not the magazine (I have looked at the web page--even the best essays are only getting a handful of comments so I am not certain what would constitite a lot of feedback to them...) (2) the voice altering; and (3) no pay for the web publishing; 10 cents a word for the magazine. The voice altering is the worst because I might hesitate to use it as a clip and therefore what's the point taking the low pay. I will say something professional and pleasant.. Zelda you gave me some phrases.......... |
| Newzaroo | Posted – 9/25/2007 5:08:37 PM | show profile Say... lancet this! _______________ |
| JimmyG | Posted – 9/25/2007 5:53:27 PM | show profile This is why it's best not to spend a month writing even a personal essay before pitching it. Best to write a compelling lead paragraph or two and explain what will happen with the rest of it. There has to be another market for this that will at least make you feel better for the process. |
| EssayGirl | Posted – 9/25/2007 6:01:18 PM | show profile Thanks Jimmy. It's being floated in other venues. I don't "pitch" essays as I find here in DC no one wants a pitched essay; they'd rather see the final. This makes sense to me since they are often only 600-800 words. And pitches can run to 500 or more. Anyway, the thing DH wants it --I just don't want to give it to them. LOL. :) |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/25/2007 6:07:09 PM | show profile I'd tell her, "Thank you for your interest in the essay. To be candid, I am hoping to sell it for quite a bit more than 10 cents a word, so I am going to pass on your offer and shop it around a bit. Best wishes." |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/25/2007 6:12:55 PM | show profile It would be pretty rare to sell a short personal essay based on a pitch unless the editor is already familiar with and delighted with your work. I've had a few essays commissioned by editors who told me the subject they wanted covered, but most of the hundreds of essays I've sold were spec submissions. --This is why it's best not to spend a month writing even a personal essay before pitching it. Best to write a compelling lead paragraph or two and explain what will happen with the rest of it. There has to be another market for this that will at least make you feel better for the process.-- |
| EssayGirl | Posted – 9/26/2007 12:10:27 PM | show profile DD and all thank you I wrote her back last night basically writing what you suggested DD with one or two extra lines. I feel relieved besides I think I want to expand the piece anyway.,,,LOL...she just wrote me now to say Oh sorry...and I hope you know not to use my edited piece...??? I told her yes I know and will be expanding the piece as a memoir piece. I didn't want to say anything bad about the editing but please..... Also isn't it odd to edit someone's work before they even agree to you publishing it??? |
| EssayGirl | Posted – 9/26/2007 12:12:01 PM | show profile ..meaning before they even say we want it under these terms and we want to cut it or edit it...etc....obviously i was interested in them publishing but not on the web for free.,.. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 9/26/2007 2:13:45 PM | show profile It is really odd. This seems like a really ass-backward publication. --Also isn't it odd to edit someone's work before they even agree to you publishing it???-- |
