Image: Kristian D.
A peek inside a Matador editor’s inbox…and what you can learn from it.
1. “Please hurry up reviewing my submission. I have a family emergency [or health problem or other urgent need to make some cash] and need the money, even though you pay less than other publications.”
This message—excerpted from an actual e-mail we received recently from a writer whose work we’d never published before—was problematic for a few reasons.
First, the writer was imposing his or her own sense of time and urgency upon the editor and the publication’s established process for reviewing submissions. Most publications, print and online, receive dozens, if not hundreds, of submissions every week. We actually read and respond to every one of them.
Doing so, however, takes time. It’s unfair to expect that your article will be fast-tracked for any reason, and it’s unreasonable to pressure an editor to work more quickly. If you’re looking for job stability and a regular paycheck, writing probably isn’t the best profession for you.
Second, the writer was making his problem the editor’s problem. Though it’s occasionally appropriate to disclose your personal circumstances, that’s often only the case when you have already established a close working relationship with an editor. Remember: the relationship between a writer and an editor is one of collegiality. You need to remain professional.
Third, the writer’s message assumed that we would be publishing his article. It was presumptuous.
Finally, the writer gave a passive-aggressive jab about the article pay rate. If you don’t feel comfortable with a particular publication’s rate, then don’t waste your time or the editor’s time by compromising yourself and arguing over dollars and cents. You’ll only regret your decision later.
2. “I’ve submitted this article to three other magazines.”
Not only should you not tell an editor this; you shouldn’t DO it. Multiple submissions may seem to be a time-saving device for you as a writer, but they’re a time-waster for editors.
Reviewing a writer’s submission is a time-intensive process requiring thought and attention; it often involves multiple members of an editorial team. If you’ve submitted your article simultaneously to other publications and one picks it up before the others do, you’re forced to notify the editor that the piece has been accepted elsewhere.
Writer, beware: you’ve likely burned a bridge that won’t easily be rebuilt.
3. “I submitted an article a few weeks ago. Are you going to publish it?”
We encourage writers to check on the status of their article if they haven’t heard from us within 4-6 weeks after submitting. However, including some identifying information—such as the name or topic of the article—is not only helpful; it’s essential.
Community Connection:
What are three other things you should never tell an editor? Read our first article on the subject here.
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18 Comments... join the discussion!
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That’s why you should query (depending on query policy). Don’t invest hours writing an article if you’re not certain that there’s a market for it. There are very few articles that have the thematic/formatting potential to make it into several different magazines.
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Julie, thanks for the enjoyable article. Your first example made me howl with indignation! But I’d love to respectfully offer another perspective on #2…
As a full-time freelancer, I have repurposed a destination for eight different outlets across several continents. Some colleagues rack up even more hits: otherwise it’s hard to earn a living wage, until the fairy godmother brings the four- and five-figure assignments.
Those big-money pitches are the ones I serve up on a velvet pillow, carefully tailored to the publication. They’re also the ones that require hours – if not days – of research, often including preliminary interviews. But for my travel writing students who are emerging authors, I advocate multiple submissions. Why? Because many editors don’t respond AT ALL (bravo Matador: I’ll be sending talent your way! And I will warn folks about your simultaneous-submission prefs, naturally.).
Tis better to land three assignments and spin them differently than to rot on the shelf as a story idea loses its timeliness.
I’ve worked as a staff editor and never held simul-subs against authors. Nor have I received flack as a freelancer for this practice. Quite often, outlets tweak an idea to suit their needs or style anyway. Then I mention, “hey, I’m covering the same place for X like this and Y like that. They’re non-competing markets, so I assume this is comfortable?”
(Non-competing markets would be the key there, of course. Seattle has two monthly magazines: I’d never query both with the same concept: major faux pas. Ditto “Paper Clip Digest” and “Paper Collating Review”…)
I’m sure people – writers and editors alike – have horror stories about multiple submissions. But early on, I seeded generic pitches far and wide, resulting in several columns and loads of on-going client relationships. Done with some tact (and luck and ingenuity), they can work out for everyone involved…
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But at Matador, are queries or submissions preferred? I’m under the impression that it’s submissions, but I’m not sure. There’s a form for submissions, but not queries.
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Hehe.
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It amazes me that there are “writers” who still pull these kinds of shenanigans. One one hand it’s disappointing, on the other hand if this is what I’m competing against in the writing world then the only appropriate response is, “Yee-Haw!”
Great article.
Cheers
George
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Excellent examples Julie. Multiple submissions are more the domain of fiction or poetry than travel writing, however, certain types of narrative essays could also fit at a variety of journals that accept travel writing, especially some of the journals listed here http://thetravelersnotebook.com/photography-q-a/10-online-literary-magazines-that-publish-great-travel-writing/
anytime you’re submitting a place or event-based piece though, it seems really ill-advised to send it as a multiple submission.
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Great advice, Julie, very direct and helpful!
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Wow. #1 is definitely a jaw-dropper.
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We’re starting to see this more and more too. And since two full-time travellers are currently the entire Indie Travel Podcast editorial team … let’s just say we’re being a bit more picky when choosing authors to work with.
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Thanks for this, Julie.
As somebody still getting a feel for this writing business, every bit of advice helps.
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#1 is definitely a shocker. Mind-blowing.
And everything I’ve read has indicated not to send a submission to multiple publications.
Great tips Julie!
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I have often wondered about sending in multiple submissions for the reason someone stated above that many publications don’t respond at all. It seems convenient to do so but I can’t imagine that I would broadcast that strategy as a bargaining chip; what editor would see that in a positive light? Such a query would annoy me, even if the piece was excellent. I can’t imagine editors have the time to haggle over a piece.
As for number 1 – wow.
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It’s not a bargaining chip. It’s how full-time travel freelancers survive without trust funds and wealthy partners. One article (nay, pitch) per destination would result in a tiny handful of publications per year: not enough to live on.
If an outlet pays expenses or slots me on to a press trip, I check to make sure pieces for non-competing markets are cool. Editors very rarely ask for exclusives – and then usually supply a work-for-hire contract (bigger money, but they own all your output and research).
At a certain level, carefully tailored one-off pitches are essential. But not necessarily for newbies querying short-staffed zines or outlets that admit low response-rates in “The Writers Handbook” and its ilk…
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Wait a sec…there is a difference between an article submission and a pitch, no? I could be wrong, but I believe Julie is specifically talking about a submission where it takes time to read and decide if it can be pursued. A pitch might only be a few sentences with your idea for an article, and some samples of your work if you’re new to the publication.
In this case, I wouldn’t see a problem pitching an idea to multiple publications since it wouldn’t be a time-consuming thing to go over.
Input?
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Good point, Carlo. Most writers submit a cover letter with a full story “on speculation”, though. This serves the same purpose as a query.
I’ve worked as a commissioning editor on and off for 16 years. Like many of my colleagues, I can scan a few-paragraph pitch and determine if the topic and style are suitable – and how the story might fit gaps in the editorial line-up. Only a very borderline call or, say, an essay or humor pitch would require loads more time to assess. So I’d rather see new authors exploring more options, instead of agonizing for 4-6 weeks before a response arrives. IF one even does…
Julie and the Matador team are the good guys: editors who reply. A lot don’t, especially to writers without published clips. It’s heartbreaking to watch someone put all their eggs in one basket … and then get no traction or even a rejection letter. That type of disappointment stops people from trying. I’d rather see my students negotiate different iterations – and maybe burn a bridge, worst-case scenario – than give up.
Phew! I had no idea I felt so strongly about all this … But I’m off on assignment now. Been fun chatting with y’all. AC.
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Yikes at the first example.
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I thought it was only my English students who don’t bother to identify themselves, Good to know I’m not alone on that one
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