11 ways editors can attract good, reliable writers.
11 Ways Editors Can Attract Good, Reliable Writers By David Geer
You frequently see articles for writers on how to be more
accommodating for editors. However, here are some hints on how
editors can attract great writers!
1. Communicate openly. You can inform, direct and invest in
writers, not by doing their work for them, but by taking away
the need to guess their way to success or to figure everything
out for themselves in some kind of hit or miss fashion. Provide
everything the writer needs up-front, in an orderly, assignment
fashion, so you and the writer won't have to waste time
re-writing the piece at a later date.
2. Don't be cold when sending rejections. When queries are
rejected, you can appreciate the effort the writer has expended
to try to work for you. You can, therefore, in the very least,
offer an explanation rather than a form rejection letter, or a
personal note penned on the form rejection letter. If the writer
is professional and a possible future contributor, why not
suggest a lead in to future work? If you think their query and
idea are good, but just not the right fit for your publication,
why not tell them this fact and encourage them to submit it
elsewhere? Writers receive so much negative correspondence
(rejections) that even one positive note can make their entire
month. Why not make a writer smile today?
3. Be approachable. You can help writers by adding notes to
rejections as to why an idea might not work, along with some
ideas they might want to try querying about in the future.
Sharing a sample of a past article you were pleased with along
with your writer's guidelines can help writers hit the mark.
4. Be professional and ethical. Professionalism is demonstrated
in many ways, through ethics, openness and honesty. You're "the
boss" and can guide the relationship so that things turn out in
a way that is best for everyone concerned...without being
terribly blunt. Remember your manners. Don't say anything by
email that you wouldn't say to the writer if he or she were
sitting in your office.
5. Say thank you! You can congratulate writers for work done
well with a thank-you by e-mail, phone or even a card by mail. I
have received all of these and find that they empower me toward
continued good work. Send seasonal cards from the whole gang in
editorial, personally signed. I received one of these from a web
hosting publication once and it really made me feel like part of
the team.
6. Don't be afraid to say "wait" instead of "no". If you're
busy, you can let writers know when you're on deadline and tell
them how much you would appreciate a query in a week or two
rather than right now.
7. Don't raise false expectations. If a writer just isn't what
you're looking for, be forthcoming with this information in a
kind and considerate manner. You don't want them to waste time
querying you in the future...and you don't want them to waste
your time doing so either. Writers prefer honesty to false
praise.
8. Have a good sense of humor!
9. Assign future and/or ongoing articles to writers who have
done a good job, and recommend them to your colleagues at other
magazines!
10. Don't nickel and dime your writers! Editors should look at
the big picture and be generous. Rather than splitting hairs
(and nickels and dimes), you should pay a writer a fair wage for
the work they do. Remember, you get what you pay for. And if you
skimp on your editorial content, you'll find that your content
is of a lower quality than your higher-paying competitors (which
then affects your circulation and your advertising income).
11. Don't be greedy with rights. Demanding rights that you don't
need or that hurt the writer unnecessarily is greedy and wrong.
You should ask writers only for those rights that you need and
plan to use immediately. Where you don't need them, the writer
certainly will for reprints and other income opportunities.
These are all things that editors can do to attract good,
reliable writers who will serve them and them publication
faithfully and consistently for years to come. In treating
writers fairly and with compassion, you not only serve writers,
but you also serve yourself.