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Topic: I've fallen down the rabbit hole and I can
| Author | Message |
| mad fingers | Posted – 11/18/2007 4:28:13 PM | show profile Due to a confluence of things beyond my control over the course of the last week--major family issues, house repair problems, dead car on the side of the road, personal relationship conflicts, plus a bad head cold--combined with my overdeveloped talent for procrastination, I am about to blow a deadline, which I can ill afford. When I was an editor, I used to hate writers who pulled this crap. Now I seem to have become my own worst nightmare. The story is due tomorrow, and I?ll be up all night working on the piece between coughing fits, so there?s a chance it may get done, but in the event it doesn?t look likely by daybreak, any advice on how to approach the assigning editor? (I already know I?m a reprobate, so those who feel the need, flame away.) |
| mad fingers | Posted – 11/18/2007 4:30:23 PM | show profile okay, that was odd... don't know what key I hit by mistake, but "instant post." Should have been "I've fallen down the rabbit hole and I can't get out" |
| scribechick | Posted – 11/18/2007 5:09:37 PM | show profile Try to get a short extension, if possible. I've done this on occasion and only once did the editor say "No." My fingers literally ached from working with another editor on edits for one of my books. I didn't want to finish the article that was due. But despite my pain--I did it. Guess what? I saved that editor-writer relationship and still hold the title Contributing Editor. If you can, just do it. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 11/18/2007 6:20:59 PM | show profile For most magazine articles, the editors have extra time built in. If I am going to be only a day late with a piece, I never tell them or ask for an extension. I just send it in a day late. On rare occasion, an editor will email, asking where the story is. In that case, I just send an email saying, "That's odd. I emailed it to you yesterday. You didn't get it? Anyway, I'll attach it again." Obivously, you can't do that all the time with the same editor, and you can't get away with that if you're going to be way, way late. But one or two days, it's usually fine. Anyway, that's the approach I take. If I am going to ask for an extension, I do it well before the fact. There really isn't a point in asking for a one-day extension on the day a piece is due. |
| bjoconnorfla | Posted – 11/19/2007 10:35:02 AM | show profile I've been on both sides of the desk and here's what editors value most in freelancers: Getting the article on time, at length, on topic and mostly in English. So, my first point is, are you trying too hard? It's better to file something that's OK on time sted of filing something better but late. That said, a couple of days usually doesn't make that much of a difference, but you should let the editor know you haven't completely forgotten about the assignment. As Drib mentions, most of the time busy editors may not even notice if you're late, since they've padded the schedule so much. However, an editor who does keep a close eye on his or her In box will appreciate not having to needlessly worry that the freelancer didn't get hit by a bus. I've asked for a one-day extension twice in the past few years, and never had a problem getting it. Assuming you've been dependable the rest of the time, you should have no problem. I just give a generic, "I ran into some problems with the research," and leave it at that. If possible, send in something. If there's a sidebar that you can finish on time, send that it, so that the editor sees you've been working and has something on hand. Most editors understand these kinds of difficulties They just want to know that the story is on the way and that they don't have to worry. Good luck. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 11/19/2007 12:26:04 PM | show profile Such s--tstorms happen, and being sick -- in my mind -- is the most essential piece of it you can't ignore. I ended up, as I've posted here, in the hospital when I kept working to meet two competing deadlines and my flu became pneumonia. So I would call your editor right away, do what you can, get a really good night's sleep and explain to your editor you will have the story in by Friday -- if s/he is even working that day. It's a short week anyway, so find out what flexibility your editor has. I highly doubt they are working Thursday and two days' solid rest and care for your exhausted body are also important to doing a good job. |
| seeattleme | Posted – 11/19/2007 4:03:27 PM | show profile I never got sick--until I had a child. And if you havea cold anything like the flu my toddler brought home from day care, you literally have a headache that splits your head open and can't lift your head from the pillow without dry heaving. So hop online or have a friend hop online--or better yet call and leave a message-- letting her know you're in the middle of a flu with nasty physical details you'd rather not detail for her and will be a few days late sending in the story. Explain that it's nasty, that you literally can't sit up in a chair. Then finish it and send it in. |
| seeattleme | Posted – 11/19/2007 4:05:16 PM | show profile and by the way I've scrambled to meet deadlines only to have editors sit on a stry for months then come back with all kinds of revision requests. So whatever you turn in, unless it's for a newspaper, will probably be revisited anyway. |
| mad fingers | Posted – 11/19/2007 5:23:10 PM | show profile just let him know I was hocking up a lung and the story would be a day late. he's fine with that. Must take more Advil now... thanks, all. |
