When the Editor is NOT the EnemyWritten by Mridu Khullar
They can be mean, unethical and downright unprofessional. But not all editors fit that bill. In fact, most editors would rather give you money that take it, make no changes than rewrite whole pieces two hours before deadline, and accept every piece of crap than start their mornings sending out rejection slips. But step into an editor’s shoes, and you’ll know why that’s not only hard, it’s just plain impossible! Here are most common complaints writers have, and why editors aren’t always guilty of them. Completely Changing your Work An editor I frequently work with was in distress. One of her regulars had just written to complain about his perfectly brilliant beginning being chopped off. “They sometimes don’t get our style,” she told me over lunch. “We need more quotes, we put them in. We need a stronger beginning; we change it. There’s nothing much I can do about it. It’s way we work.” But while this editor was very forthcoming about her reasons, and gave writer an explanation, you’ll usually get no further correspondence. That doesn’t mean that they don’t understand anguish you go through. But they’ve got word limits, voice and style limitations and a dozen other factors to keep in mind. And they simply don’t have time to offer explanations to each writer. Paying Less or not Paying at all Most writers believe (or are led to believe) that editors just don’t want to dish out cash. Sure, if they’re running a small business from home and can hardly pay their bills, they probably won’t. But editors in big offices don’t really care whether you earn $100 or $1,000. After all, they’re not ones paying from their pockets! I was in a publisher-editor meeting other day, and one common concern was raised—why weren’t suppliers (including freelancers) paid on time? A complaint unanimously raised by… editors! An important thing to remember is that while it may appear so to us, editors aren’t really ones calling shots all time. That’s publisher’s job. So hating editor’s guts won’t get you anywhere. While some editors may be creeps, most of them are on your side! So, if you want more money, just ask for it. Chances are editor is only one who can help you get it.
| | Beat the Block with a JournalWritten by Mridu Khullar
It’s nearing end of summer, and I have no credentials to my benefit these holidays. As end of holidays approach, I keep wondering what I have to show for summer other than noticeable tan, and load of incomplete articles adorning my computer. Having nothing to write about can be exasperating. But having plentiful to do, and not doing it out of sheer laziness or lack of interest is a whole other story. I have articles months old that haven’t seen light of day. Ah, if only I could complete them. But procrastination and laziness stand in way. I’ve been telling myself that it’s heat, but with temperatures going down again, I'm not even left with that excuse. I have seemingly divorced myself from half-written articles that sit there waiting on some remote folder in my computer. Somehow, I never get to completing something if I leave it midway. And this time is no different. I ended up opening files, reading their contents, closing them with a mental note that they needed to be finished and went back to my Need for Speed racing adventure. After an endless round of mindless car racing, I decided it was time to get back to work. Having nothing to write about, I thought I’d try my hand at a journal. Writers are always saying that keeping journals spark up your creativity, but somehow I never thought I’d be writing in one. I’d always wondered why a writer would waste her precious time writing in a journal, when she could be earning money, writing those words in an article or story. So, I began Mission Journal by simply opening up my word processor and writing first thing that came into my mind. Incidentally, I started rambling about how much I had wanted to achieve but with a drastic case of writer’s block having swept over me last few days, my ambitions had been reduced to dust. Before I knew it, I had written two thousand words, simply on why I couldn’t write and how it was playing havoc with my spirit. I hate to admit it, but truth is – I was wrong. A journal is not a waste of a writer’s time. It’s a learning process. When a computer professional sits down to learn a new programming language, he’s not wasting his time. He’s preparing himself for situations in which his programming skills could come in handy. Similarly, a journal can be resource a writer digs into when she’s at a loss of ideas and can’t find anything to write about. It gives writer practice she needs every single day, and enables her to create a much desired momentum in her writing.
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