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 “no response” for many years as a freelance article writer.
Actually, it wasn’t 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.
But throughout the next 30+ years, I began to see this courtesy become less and less of a priority to editors.
My friend said, “I 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.” She says that that number far outweighs those for which she does receive a response. Her message to editors is, “Be professional and be considerate. A response is part of the process, and if you cannot respond, then post ‘no unsolicited submissions.’”
It’s especially maddening when the magazine has a “no simultaneous submissions” policy. You send your query or article to them. They neglect to respond—ever—and where does that leave you? Down at the unemployment office, right?
It’s not fair! It’s not a nice way for staff to treat the people who help keep their magazine operating. If they can’t handle the work, they need to hire more people—bring in some interns. Unfortunately, business doesn’t always work in response to the needs of their contributors, contractors, even their public.
What can freelance writers do to change this downward spiraling trend of disrespect? I know what some of them are doing. They’re reacting with rudeness. They’re ignoring basic rules of professionalism. They’re stooping to the level of the editors they dislike most.
Instead, why don’t 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.
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’ll post them here at the blog and in the SPAWN Market Update.
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’ll send you the new instructions. It’s a one-time “click” and you are subscribed. Patricia@spawn.org
It’s a good time to come aboard SPAWN. Not only are we drumming up new benefits for members—things they really want, according to their responses to questions in our online survey—but 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’re taking out the many events, conferences, contests, etc. and putting them on a separate page on the website. We’ll update these listings monthly. And we’ll add more resources and articles of interest to writers, authors, publishers, artists and other creative professionals to the newsletter.
Check out SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) at:
http://www.spawn.org
Visit my website, another site brimming with information, resources, books for sale and tons of articles. http://www.matilijapress.com