The Queen Of Team
If there is one, trust me, it is not Cathy Seipp. Cathy weighs in on a recent adventure in editorial repurposing:
I'm developing the Pollyanna-ish theory that whenever a freelance writer declines insulting treatment by an editor, said writer will be offered three times more money for the same article within three days.Sometimes I sell reprint rights to my pieces, as observant readers may know. It's never for much money; but it's also not much work to copy, paste, point, click and maybe do a few minutes of respinning, so I figure it's worth it. Recently, though, an editor asked me to write a new ending for one of these things. I said sorry, I can't get into rewriting for $125, but if he can't use it as is that's OK, I'll send it elsewhere.
This brought on a miffed email scolding me for not being a "team player," expressing shock that I wasn't open to editorial "input," and complaining about some colloquial words I'd used in the piece, because they weren't "proper English" and not up to high "editorial standards." I believe these sentiments were softened by the use of smiley face emoticons, but the sight of these abominations fills me with such nausea that I will let memory draw its gentle curtain on that part.
I have to wonder what kind of slanderous person would give anyone the notion that I'm a team player? Is any writer a team player? (Sure, J.R., looking forward to brainstorming widget ideas with you at the next meeting! Yeah, that'll be the day.) Anyway, I did indeed sell the piece elsewhere, for three times the money, which is the moral to that story.
Is any writer "a team player"? Probably not any writer you'd want to read!
Heh. "Of course I'm a team player. It's just that you're on the opposing team."
Ron at May 11, 2004 6:48 AM
'Is any writer "a team player"? Probably not any writer you'd want to read!'
I guess that's why no one reads academic journals. People who publish in that area absolutely must be team players. Their work is reviewed anonymously, which means that the comments and criticism that come back can get ridiculously demanding. If the writer wants to stay in the game, he or she has to address each comment seriously, even if they're total bullshit. It sucks.
Lena at May 11, 2004 7:46 AM
If you're on staff at a publication, and you're not a team player with your editor, or the corporate higher-ups when necessary, it can make things awfully difficult.
As a freelancer, however, you gots ta fight.
LYT at May 11, 2004 12:39 PM
Oh, I wasn't even a team player when I was on staff at Buzz; see Allan's "pussycat" comment on my blog. But I was always on time, organized, and showered regularly.
Cathy Seipp at May 12, 2004 3:00 PM
"showered regularly"? What kind of writer are you?
LYT at May 13, 2004 3:52 PM