Wise Advice
Veteran authors share their experience

by Andrea King Collier, Sam Greengard, Florence Isaacs & Minda Zetlin

Q: An ASJA member asks, "I write for a magazine where you keep the first editor you wrote for there, forever. She 'owns' you. Trouble is, I like the magazine, but my particular editor is annoying. She is slow to answer e-mails. She loses things I've sent her. Sometimes she doesn't get back to me at all, or else takes forever to decide whether she wants a story. (When it comes to the actual editing—she's good. But getting there is not half the fun.) I don't want to write for her anymore. But if I approach another editor, I'm afraid it will be bad news for that editor—that the first editor will jump on that person. At the moment, I'm not writing for that magazine at all. What should I do?"

Andrea King Collier

My first question is how do you know she "owns you"? If she is truly your editor and you can't pitch other editors (which does happen), then you have to decide what being in that pub is worth to you. I have that kind of relationship with a publication, but it is important for me to be in there, so I do what I need to do. And no, I don't go around her. Never. Some things you live with. Or as marriage counselors say, it is sometimes better to work out the kinks in the marriage than to get caught cheating, if it isn't an open marriage.

Sam Greengard

If you truly dislike working with the editor, perhaps you could have a friendly conversation and provide some subtle hints about how the two of you might improve your working relationship. It might be good to do this over lunch or a drink.

However, it might also be wise to ask a couple of questions: First, who says she "owns" you? Did she tell you that or is it simply the "word" in the writing community or your own impression? She could have a possessive streak, but it could also be urban legend. Second, how big of a deal is it if she loses something occasionally and she's a bit slow to get back to you? On the surface, these don't sound like major issues. Perhaps you need a bit of an attitude adjustment. Since when is getting there supposed to be only about fun? Of course, if the situation is too troublesome, then perhaps it is time to make a change. If so, why not approach a different editor with some ideas and see what happens? If the editors chastise you, then you know you must either accept the situation or stop working with the publication. However, if Editor #2 is receptive, then perhaps you've solved your problem (or you may wind up with an entirely different set of problems).

Florence Isaacs

Human relationships can be very dicey. It is highly unlikely that another editor will take you on and run the risk of alienating the first editor—especially if the latter is senior. Life is complicated enough without possible hassles involving a writer the new editor has never worked with before.

What's in it for him/her? And when the first editor finds out about it, the chances are good you could wind up without any editor at all at the magazine. I wouldn't advise approaching another editor, unless you're truly at peace with the possibility of losing this gig entirely if things don't work out. In the current climate, you're very fortunate to work for the same editor for a long time. That's a good place to be in the era of musical chairs on magazine staffs. And you did say the person was very good at editing. Count your blessings.

Minda Zetlin

Oh, I hate publications like this! Why don't they just brand us like cattle, while they're at it? But that doesn't help answer your question.

This is a tricky situation, but here are a couple of things you can try:

1. Most magazines have editors who focus on specific subject areas (like health) or specific types of writing (like essays). Can you propose a piece that would go to such an editor? That might offer a reprieve from your current bondage, and would give you another point of contact at the publication.

2. I think you should try approaching a different editor, in confidence if possible. It's up to that editor to decide whether to work with you and evaluate any negative consequences—protecting him or her is not your responsibility. Inevitably, there will be factors that you as an outsider don't know about. Perhaps the editor you don't like is on her way out and the second editor would welcome your advances.

Obviously, you run the risk of souring your own relationship with the first editor. But since you'd rather skip writing for the magazine altogether than work with her again, that doesn't seem much of a loss.

---

Send your questions for Wise Advice to newsletter --@-- asja.org. Your name will not be used (unless you'd like it to be). Andrea King Collier, Sam Greengard, Florence Isaacs and Minda Zetlin are long-time ASJA members. Find out more about them by accessing the directory at http://www.asja.org/memdb/search.php.