A colleague\/friend\/SPAWN member suggested this blog subject. It is a real irritation, frustration and insult when our professional submissions are dissed (disrespected and dismissed) by magazine editors or publishers. It really is. I lived in the world of \u201cno response\u201d for many years as a freelance article writer.<\/p>\n
Actually, it wasn\u2019t always this way. When I started my freelance article-writing career in 1973, pretty much all of my query letters and article submissions were acknowledged. There was communication. Sure, many of the letters I received (all by mail then), were rejections. But, at least I knew the status of my queries and submissions. I was free to move on to the next potential opportunity.<\/p>\n
But throughout the next 30+ years, I began to see this courtesy become less and less of a priority to editors.<\/p>\n
My friend said, \u201cI know that everyone is inundated, but even a form letter, which takes five seconds, is better than nothing. It amazes me the number of submissions from which I never hear anything.\u201d She says that that number far outweighs those for which she does receive a response. Her message to editors is, \u201cBe professional and be considerate. A response is part of the process, and if you cannot respond, then post \u2018no unsolicited submissions.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n
It\u2019s especially maddening when the magazine has a \u201cno simultaneous submissions\u201d policy. You send your query or article to them. They neglect to respond\u2014ever\u2014and where does that leave you? Down at the unemployment office, right? <\/p>\n
It\u2019s not fair! It\u2019s not a nice way for staff to treat the people who help keep their magazine operating. If they can\u2019t handle the work, they need to hire more people\u2014bring in some interns. Unfortunately, business doesn\u2019t always work in response to the needs of their contributors, contractors, even their public.<\/p>\n
What can freelance writers do to change this downward spiraling trend of disrespect? I know what some of them are doing. They\u2019re reacting with rudeness. They\u2019re ignoring basic rules of professionalism. They\u2019re stooping to the level of the editors they dislike most. <\/p>\n
Instead, why don\u2019t we maintain (and even upgrade) our level of professionalism and gravitate toward those magazines with staff who are trained to and expected to treat their contributors with the respect we deserve.<\/p>\n
How about if we compile a list of those magazines? Send me the names of the publications you have found agreeable to work with and the names of the editors you enjoy working with. I\u2019ll post them here at the blog and in the SPAWN Market Update<\/em>.<\/p>\n Speaking of SPAWN: our September newsletter finally went out yesterday. If you are a member or a subscriber and IF you clicked the message to subscribe, you received your September newsletter yesterday afternoon. If you are a subscriber or member who did NOT receive your newsletter or you would like to be a subscriber or member, let me know and I\u2019ll send you the new instructions. It\u2019s a one-time \u201cclick\u201d and you are subscribed. Patricia@spawn.org<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good time to come aboard SPAWN. Not only are we drumming up new benefits for members\u2014things they really want, according to their responses to questions in our online survey\u2014but the newsletter (which is free to anyone who subscribes) is changing before our eyes. Oh yes, it is going to become even more useful and valuable. For one thing, we\u2019re taking out the many events, conferences, contests, etc. and putting them on a separate page on the website. We\u2019ll update these listings monthly. And we\u2019ll add more resources and articles of interest to writers, authors, publishers, artists and other creative professionals to the newsletter.<\/p>\n Check out SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) at: Visit my website, another site brimming with information, resources, books for sale and tons of articles. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A colleague\/friend\/SPAWN member suggested this blog subject. It is a real irritation, frustration and insult when our professional submissions are dissed (disrespected and dismissed) by magazine editors or publishers. It really is. I lived in the world of \u201cno response\u201d for many years as a freelance article writer. Actually, it wasn\u2019t always this way. When […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a> <\/p>\n