· That editor is crazy
· This editor made condescending remarks in her revise
· The pay is super slow there
· The editors ruined a 20-year-old magazine
· I got way more per word than that
· The revision process was a nightmare
· He told me X
· She told me Y
· If she likes the idea, she responds in an instant
· Pitching there is a black hole
· I stopped working with them because of their fill in the ________________(indemnity clause, slow pay, terrible policies, bad editing, introducing errors to my copy, unresponsiveness)
It seems once upon a time writers like us worked virtually in a vacuum where we had no earthly idea about the ins and outs of publications or companies that we produced copy for— except for our own experiences.
That’s changed over the past few decades as writers have gathered, social media has deepened our connections, and belonging to associations, writer’s groups and chat boards have changed the face of what it means to be a sole proprietor toiling alone in the writing industry.
🤫 It’s no longer a secret when an editor is difficult to work with, when a publication is notorious for pay problems or slow pay (Hello Outside Magazine?), when what you’ve been offered for an assignment is nowhere near what your writing acquaintance was offered, and when a nasty indemnification is the norm in a written contract.
Times, they are a changin’ for the better! Just this month alone I’ve talked to another writer about the pay issues at a company we’re both considering working with, another writer told me what a difficult editing experience she had at some place I’d written for too, and I told yet another writer that although the editor we were both pitching usually replies lickety-split when she’s onboard, this time she didn’t—and it was still a positive response so there might be hope for a reply that writer was waiting on, too.
Without the community of writers that we all belong to and build upon for ourselves, none of this would be possible. Nearly every week I see evidence of how this writing community we all belong to, and should make the best of, helps us.
🐌 No longer do we suffer in silence when a check has been “in the mail” for two weeks, or an editor pulls something we consider less than ethical, or we get offered a new gig and want to ask our community what their experience has been like at that outlet.
To me, this is one of the best uses of professional networking, social media and connectedness that we have.
🥣 So don’t write in isolation, don’t worry about the direct deposit by yourself, and don’t beat yourself up in solitude when you get burned by an editor’s cuckoo for Coco Puffs behavior, or hack editing job.
📧 Instead, reach out to your networks, talk to your fellow writers, post on your favorite chat boards and social media accounts and discuss with the rest of us or a writing accountability partner, even in a mastermind group of trusted colleagues.
Not only will you feel better but you’ll help others and get help for yourself, too.
☎️ That’s what happens when writers talk.
Who/What/Where to Watch?
Are you a planner? Love to use your paper planner or bullet journal? Always looking for new and improved planners? You ain’t seen nothing yet.
Looking for places for your words? B2B content marketers are having trouble filling pages.
Memoir writers: Here’s some thoughts from Jane Friedman on structure.
Words are important. As writers we know that. Here’s a good laugh about what happens when you put the wrong words in a search engine.
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Whether you’re looking to make more money, land more clients, add niches, offer a new value proposition or just go in a different direction, and want to mastermind your writing business ideas or problems, a virtual mastermind can be very valuable.
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Each week a different member of the group is in the hot seat and the power of group-think will help them with their business pain points and problems.
Plus, every week you get a chance to roundtable with other writers, and throw out your own conundrums—something sorely missing from our usual week to week.
Masterminds are a great way to scale up, reach higher and give your business a needed boost. All levels and types of writers welcome.
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The power of mastermind lies in group think when everyone comes together to make your business better. It really is like magic!
Stay healthy and safe!
See you next week,
Jennifer