Editors are people too

Last post I whined a bit about having too much on my plate. And now I find myself with three brand new assignments. Suck it up two-weeks-ago Greg. It’s time to take out the trash (is that a real idiom?).

Of course I’m really thrilled to have the assignments. And after talking with my editor (they’re all for the same magazine), I’ve got the timing worked out to avoid unneeded stress (and working too much while my family comes for a visit). There’s a lesson here. TALK TO YOUR EDITOR.

I’d written one article for this editor previously, but to date we’d only communicated by email (strange as it seems, these editor-writer relationships, for all the emotion and anxiety they sometimes entail, often develop exclusively online). These three new story ideas developed quickly over a week-and-a-half long email exchange between the two of us. And all of a sudden my editor was offering me big assignments. Not only that, but big assignments that would  require heavy duty international travel (Paraguay and Brazil, both of which, for reasons I’ll go into next post, are not easy places to get to).

So … assuming the editor wanted to save money by sending me on one trip to the FAR south to cover all three stories, I started to do some calendar math, started compressing my schedule and trimming bits and pieces off my research plan to save time. And then I got really stressed (read: started drinking beer). I wanted all three stories, felt, maybe invented, pressure to cram my research into one quick trip, and didn’t think it would be possible or particularly fun with such a tight schedule. And then, at the behest of my wife, I did the smartest thing I’ve done in a long time. I asked the editor if we could have a quick phone (er, Skype) conversation before committing to the assignments.

I know how obvious that may seem. It’s a business relationship, you should be clear and open and up front. That’s perfectly true. But in the middle of the stress and elation that came with three new stories, calling the guy who’d just (in a moment of temporary insanity, for all I knew) assigned me the stories seemed like a risky endeavor. Especially since I was calling to say I’d need to break the very expensive trip into two even more expensive trips (next post: travel).

I’ve noticed a trend, something I attribute 100% to my being new at this freelance gig. When an editor waves a story (or three) in front of me, I become transfixed, drugged by excitement. And like any addict, I’ll do anything to keep the fix. Even if that means over-promising or committing to unrealistic schedules, which is really the last thing a professional writer should EVER do. A great magazine man named David Hochman has a personal saying: Under promise, over deliver. Smart guy. But that feels contrary to the new freelancer’s instinctual grab for the perfect assignment, no matter the cost. When you’re discussing a story idea with an editor, it feels very easy to fumble the ball. And to avoid this, it’s very easy to offer up unrealistic promises. My editor waved three story ideas at me and my instincts told me to say YES YES YES and figure out the logistics afterward. That would have been a bad move and I’m glad I avoided it. Maybe that’s a sign of growth. Or maybe I have a very intelligent wife.

To cut to the chase, the phone conversation was hugely constructive. It gave me a chance to talk to the editor in a collaborative way and resulted in a very manageable delivery schedule that wouldn’t require a single logistically hellish trip. On top of that, I really enjoyed getting to know my editor. He was kind and personable and intelligent. He was open to my ideas and seemed genuinely interested in hearing about my life outside the immediacy of looming deadlines. I can’t tell you how great that is. It feels like I have a partner while researching and writing these stories, and not just a judge at the end of the process. This first story (I’m on the road now) already feels less like a performance and more an opportunity to do great work.

Editors are busy people and it’s a good idea not to waste their time. But take it from me: if you’re between a rock and a hard place, pulling out your hair and worried to death about fumbling the ball, talk to your editor. She/he has your back.

(Note: the picture that corresponds to this blog was taken in the barrio of Bañado, Tacumbú on the outskirts of Asuncion, Paraguay. Camera: Lumix GH-1)