How to Deal with Editors

By: Maria Shiela C. Pacinio

“I’ve finished writing my article already and I’m pretty sure the readers will like this.” Oops! There maybe something wrong with that statement since finishing your article isn’t the end of it all. After wrapping up your story, there’s still one last step that you need to consider- dealing with your section’s editor.

Dealing with your section’s editor is the final yet most crucial step of all since this will determine whether you’ll get publish or not. Aside from writing a good story, the right attitude towards your editor will give you more chances of getting published. But is knowing your editor’s name enough?

• Be respectful.

Knowing your editor’s name and his/her contact details aren’t enough. You also have to make use of these contact information that you’ve gathered. The most common way is by sending a query to your editor through e-mail. It is important to be respectful in making your query. Do not just merely state “to the editor” but instead, specify his/her name. Go back to the basics like having respectful greetings and using appropriate words. Dealing with your editor is not just like dealing with your long-time best friend. You can’t just say whatever you want but you must also be mindful of your terms. Be courteous enough. Show respect.

• Always follow-up.

Editors usually have busy schedules and some may not even have the time to check their inbox once in a while. But do not be too excited to get an editor’s response. You just have to wait for at least three days since the time you’ve sent your article. When the third day has come, this is now the right time to be alarmed. It is then necessary to do a follow-up of your submitted story. You can call the editor through the magazine or the newspaper’s contact details. In talking to the editor for a follow-up, go back to the first reminder: be respectful.

• Be ready

In having the editor’s response, always be ready. Expect questions for clarifications and then, expect for either a positive or a not so positive outcome from the clarification part. Some editors inform you about a possible publication date for your article and some would have to ask you about supplementary data about your story. The latter maybe a not so positive response for you since this would sometimes mean going back to your sources or finding additional information. Whatever the needed things maybe and wherever you may go, the key is to be always ready. This would require more time from you but this would also help improve your article’s presentation.

• Beat deadlines

In submitting your revised article with all the additional data needed and in everything that an editor sets, a deadline is always a deadline. Unlike in presenting school projects in which the deadline can sometimes be extended by the teacher, editors are stiff in observing the scheduled deadlines since they also have deadlines to beat. Passing late could sometimes mean setting aside your article to be published for another date. But when worse comes to worst, your article may not have any other possibilities for publication. Therefore, it is advisable to pass on time, and better yet, before the deadline.

• Express gratitude.

After all the things you’ve been through, you would finally see your article being published on the newspaper or magazine you’ve contributed. You would see your name being acknowledged and you’d say to yourself, “yes, I’ve made it.” Oops! There’s something wrong with your statement again since you couldn’t have get published without your editor’s decision of accepting and improving your work. What’s the last step? You just simply express your gratitude towards the editor. A genuine “thank you” will do!