Failing

Rennet · Apr 1, 2013

I landed a feature a couple of weeks ago with a tight deadline. It was a big break for me in a magazine I really want to get published in.

Anyway the piece requires on the ground reporting, interviewing people where I'm at currently was a key component.

I'm in a foreign country in the middle of nowhere and I've ended up wasting time on leads that didn't go anywhere. Now the deadline is in 2 days and if I was a betting man I'd say I won't be able to write the piece as queried.

How to best approach this with the editor? I want to balance between letting her know ASAP and giving myself enough time to try to succeed.

My best idea was to write something based on what I'd discovered in my reporting, even if it ended up not being what I'd queried, so she at least has something

gettingby · Apr 1, 2013

Tell the editor the story has taken you in a new direction and ask him what he thinks of it. If he still wants you to produce the first story idea, see if you can get a little more time. But you still have two days. That could be enough. I suggest talking to him soon. Good luck.

Rennet · Apr 1, 2013

Thanks. The thing is I'm in a very remote part of the world. I misjudged the location I should cover. The location I should cover is actually a network of villages and road access is terrible. To get there would take another day and then I'd be hoping I could line up the sources and write the story the day after that.

Even with an extension this story requires a fixer that I do not have at the moment. I would not want to request an extension and then not be able to find the fixer. I'm leaning towards thinking covering this story is not possible without a good month of on-the-ground reporting, and given other commitments I can't do that.

My idea right now is to tell the editor ASAP, be honest without a lot of excuses, and then pitch an alternative from what I've gathered so far.

Funny business this is... in a couple of weeks I'm getting paid twice as much for a story that requires me to go to a party for one night and write 300 words about it

Careful what ideas you query, folks

gettingby · Apr 1, 2013

I sent you a pm.

Rennet · Apr 1, 2013

Thanks, responded.

I sent an email to the editor taking responsibility, apologizing, and offering an alternative. Even with an extension I am unsure if I could deliver, and want to avoid missing an extended deadline. I also have other obligations in a week

yendor1152 · Jun 26, 2013

Rennet said:
Thanks. The thing is I'm in a very remote part of the world. I misjudged the location I should cover. The location I should cover is actually a network of villages and road access is terrible. To get there would take another day and then I'd be hoping I could line up the sources and write the story the day after that.

Even with an extension this story requires a fixer that I do not have at the moment. I would not want to request an extension and then not be able to find the fixer. I'm leaning towards thinking covering this story is not possible without a good month of on-the-ground reporting, and given other commitments I can't do that.

My idea right now is to tell the editor ASAP, be honest without a lot of excuses, and then pitch an alternative from what I've gathered so far.

Funny business this is... in a couple of weeks I'm getting paid twice as much for a story that requires me to go to a party for one night and write 300 words about it Careful what ideas you query, folks

This is what happens when you don't do your homework. Before pitching any idea to an editor, you should have all aspects of the project covered--so there won't be any surprises. Hopefully, you'll see this as a learning experience.

Rennet · Jun 26, 2013

Sorry for not updating--this actually all ended up coming together really well, and I'm now a regular contributor for the magazine. thanks for all of your help!

Failing

Rennet

gettingby

Rennet

gettingby

Rennet

yendor1152

Rennet