A frequent topic that comes up on the bulletin boards is whether a writer has had an idea ripped off from an editor. The odds are, it probably doesn't happen as much as writers think, but it probably does happen. I asked friend, guest blogger and seasoned freelancer Ann Logue how you know when it's the real deal and when you're just being paranoid:

It's hard to tell if your story has been ripped off or not. It's not
happened to me - but I have been working on queries and then picked up the latest issue of the magazine and found that the story is in the current issue. Someone else had the idea first.

But I don't doubt it does happen. I think that if you have a relationship with the editor, you start off cordially, just in case she had three queries about the same idea. Say something like, "Gosh, the XYZ story in the last issue was great, you must have received many queries other than mine, I'm glad to know that I'm on the right track". If the editor did steal your idea, she may feel guilty and send an assignment your way. If she didn't, you won't look like an hysterical idiot.

Oh, and all tough conversations with editors should take place by phone, not email.