Ten Rewards for Building Longterm Relationships with Editors and the Seven Things You Need to Do to

The Rewards 1. Trust. Trust is earned over time. A lot of mistakes or misunderstandings that might make an editor wonder about a writer they don't know will all be water under the bridge in a trusted relationship. 2. Strong Lines of Communication. Another benefit of trust is openness. You're more likely to know just what your editor needs and be better prepared to please her or him with strong, open communication between you. 3. Ongoing Work and a Regular Paycheck. An editor who has learned to count on you will do so, time and again, assignment after assignment. 4. Growing Relationships = More Work and Raises. The more an editor trusts you, the more she or he will entrust to you. Maybe twice the work each month as when you started. To keep you, as the relationship grows, your paycheck will often grow also. 5. Growing Clip Files. An editor who assigns you work every month is good for a dozen new clips a year, as opposed to the editor who only calls on you once or twice. 6. Great References. The longer and better they know you, the more likely they are to gladly recommend you, and in just the right way. 7. Word of Mouth Advertising. Those recommendations will often come without you even asking for them. 8. Consistent Style and Other Expectations = Easier, More Familiar Work. The better you know an editor and their expectations the more it will be second nature to do just what it takes to keep them happy. 9. Insights and an Inside Track on What's Happening in the Industry. Editors will not only entrust you with more work, but more information as part of those tried and true relationships. 10. Momentum. One of the best ways to build momentum in this industry is to work with people longterm. Rather than always digging up new work and building new relationships, ongoing relationships and work can carry you while you add to them. Building Editor Relationships 1. Study the Markets. Magazines with the same bylines month after month use the same writers longterm. Build relationships with these editors first. 2. Know Them so They'll Want to Know You. If you are familiar with the magazine's thrust, needs, expectations and working style and deliver that first article in a way that demonstrates that it and you are a perfect fit for the publication, it's easier for the editor to envision a longterm relationship with you. 3. Make Your Intentions Known. Let editors know you are interested in building longterm relationships that produce a win for everyone. 4. Don't Rest on Your Laurels. Though it should get easier to satisfy your editors, they will also expect growth from you. 5. Protect Growing Relationships. The longer you work for an editor, the more important it becomes to never miss a deadline, never turn in a bad piece, never let them down. The more you have invested, the more this relationship is worth. 6. Follow Editors to New Publications. If an editor goes to another magazine, try to preserve both your relationship with your editor and the current magazine if you can. If they aren't directly competing, this may be a way to double your work. To this end, build relationships with others at the magazine, as well. Become a source of articles the publication can't do without, no matter who the editor is. 7. Make Conversation. There will be moments when it is appropriate to just be human. When they come, talk, make conversation, inquire, get to know your editors as people as well as professionals.