A panel of editors spoke in Greenwich Village, New York City, this week to freelance writers about what they are looking for. The editors reassured the room full of eager, hungry, freelance writers that quality writing is still very much in demand. There is a growing number of online websites that pay writers—most of them don’t pay a lot but they pay, and that’s good. The consensus was that they are all most interested in stories with a surprising angle. Something with a twist. One of the editors said, “There isn’t anything left that hasn’t been done to death, so pleeeeease make it interesting!”
When the editors were asked what writers should not do they provided specific helpful (albeit obvious for a professional) tips:
- Don’t spell editors name wrong
- Don’t write a generic “Dear Editor”
- Don’t brag about your writing—show don’t tell
- Be familiar with the content and readers
- Wait at least a week before following up
- Be courteous, respectful and humble—editors are usually swamped with submissions
- If it’s for the NYTimes personal essay columns wait at least 4 weeks before following up
- Online publications need up-to-the-minute timely topics
- Print publications need more lead time—2 months ahead usually
- Don’t take rejection personally, it could just mean it wasn’t right for them at the time
- Don’t ask the editor to write to you and explain why you were rejected
- Never be rude and defensive
- Do not resubmit revised material unless requested too
- Attach a word doc and paste into the body of an email submission
- Don’t sound like an idiot
- Don’t act like an idiot
- Proofread for typos before you send email
- Know the policies about graphic language and graphic subject matter for that publication and adhere to them
I learned a ton more. Please comment if I can be of any further help. Writers benefit from networking. Hey, you never know which connection might be your next employer!