I am co-Editor-in-Chief of a local DC blog. We got a few requests to increase the amount of posts that we published,  and so we decided that it was time to hire some bloggers. Everything was great for awhile, and we were really happy with the way things were going. A few investors were interested in turning our blog into a magazine. I was a bit weary due to the issues that well-established magazines and newspapers are having in this digital age, but I decided that we should at least give it a shot.

A few things we have going for us is that:

A. It is a very specific niche
B. There is no magazine in DC currently tailoring to our target market
C. It’s something that on more than one occasion we have been asked to fill

We decided to start small and publish five magazine articles. Writing for a magazine can be somewhat different than writing for a blog. In a magazine, the pieces are usually longer. Additionally, you REALLY have to ensure that you are 110% sure on everything (don’t want to get sued). Side note: I think it should be the same for blogs, but let’s face it, not ALL of them are following any guidelines.

I asked two of our writers for 500-800 word articles. When we received one of our writer’s article, it was barely 350 words! My stress level reached catastrophic levels (I’m so lucky my business partner remains calm in any situation).

I realized that any writing piece has some rules attached to it, and whatever kind of writer you are, you should be following them. Here are three quick lessons you should follow so that you don’t piss off your Editor:

1. Follow the Rules

If you are writing a proposal, you want to ensure that your proposal follows the guidelines that the organization has put out with the Statement of Work. If you are a magazine writer, then if the Editor wants more than 500 words, then you should give him/her what was asked. In college, if the professor wants a research paper with this and that, then you better do it because it will affect your grade.

2. It’s Better to Go Over than Under

I would say this rule is true 85% of the time. However, if there is a limit on how many pages there should be, then don’t go over. More than likely though, it’s better to have more than less because then the editor can edit. It’s easier to cut than to add, especially when it’s not his/her piece.

3. Accept Your Mistakes

Last year, I was in a horrible state of mind after my sister’s death. I took a blogging gig that I knew from the beginning I had no right taking. I bombed! When the Editor told me that he wasn’t happy, I didn’t respond with a rude response. I apologized profusely, and I learned never to take an assignment I wasn’t 100% comfortable undertaking.

When I wrote the writer that we couldn’t accept her article, she replied that she had sent me the article a day ago, and that if I would have responded right away, she would have fixed it. Any publication takes a lot of effort, and if you saw an Editor’s email inbox, you would understand that he/she can’t get to you right away. Humility goes a long way.

Rules can sometimes be broken, but not when you want to win the contract, be published, or get a good grade. If the person who is in charge wants this, then give him/her that. Nothing is worst than being super busy, finally looking over a writing piece, and the person didn’t adhere to the guidelines you sent out.

Writers, read and re-read what the Editor or organization wants, and follow it.

Written by: Shevonne on May 19, 2011.
Last revised by: Shevonne on June 7, 2011.

Tags: lessons writers should learn, writers dont break rules, writers dont upset editors