Snarky editors?

Depends on how you ask the question...

Is this something new or the old situation (with the editor we already know is snarky)?

Susie said:

Yep, always ask very politely...

Click to expand...

I can't imagine you being anything but perfectly polite, Susie. For you to think someone's snarky, they must be totally freaking snarky.

Got no suggestions, just sayin'.

Hope it gets sorted out.

Susie is always polite. If she's talking about the editor we know is snarky, yeah, she's just a snarky cow.

If it's someone else, what did you say and what did s/he say back?

Should I pop some popcorn?

If Susie-Q said she was impolite, I'd never ever believe it. Never.

Unfortunately, I have no advice, but I do have {{{HUGS}}} and chocolate!

benbradley said:

Should I pop some popcorn?

Click to expand...

Oh gawd, I totally want popcorn.

You should write back: "I apologize if I caught you at a bad time, I just wanted to follow up on our correspondence, please let me know a more preferable time/method of communication for the future" or something like that (without knowing details I'm just giving a vague idea).
Then you've politely pointed out that she was snarky, and that you are simply a professional trying to do your job. Perhaps she'll explain her strange behavior that day, and you can continue the relationship. Or perhaps she won't, and you'll know she's just difficult to deal with, and cross her off your list.
good luck, either way.

Yep, there are a few out there. But Susie, it's not you. My thinking is that they're overwhelmed with work and have less staff and have money problems. Still--no reason to respond with snarkiness to you, when you always ask politely.

Susie said:

Hey, sam,

Thanks so much. I did apologize to her and she first bit my head off and told me she wouldn't use my article and that she only used my work to encourage me! (I've been writing for 20 years). I've scratched her off my list. I can't take that kind of nonsense. There are so many eds. out there who are nice. Great advice, all.

Click to expand...

I can't tell you how angry this makes me. Some people are classless Susie. That's all there is to it.

Well that's certainly strange. You're right, don't bother with her anymore!

... for whatever reason, the editor didn't have your submission. So it was good you contacted them to ask for a status check, so you could find out this was the case and resend. Don't see why the editor would have any objections to that or be upset? I'd cross them off the list and sub to other pubs who appreciate you more.

Yeah, do cross them off your list. I think (hope) those kind of editors are few. I know the first one you dealt with, so I can totally understand what you're talking about. To have a second one act snarky is disheartening, but you know good ones too, so maybe submit to them more

I know editors are busy, but if you're going to reply, be kind about it. Don't bite people's heads off. Or wait to reply, until you're in a better mood. That goes for us all.

Of *course* we're snarky. We're editors. We're stuck at desks (well, a lot of us) working a steady 9 to 5 which sounds well and good until you realize that back in the days when you were freelancing, it didn't matter if you skipped off to the park in the afternoon.

We work for people who have no concept of the written language bcs by and large they are CEO's and other managers who *can't* edit, hence they hire us. (If you're really unlucky they're Scientologists who try and insist it's not just a religion, it's a business model. No lie.)

Either we're the crusty old school who think this computer crap makes for too many errors and the younger crowd has no appreciation for how it ought to be done.... or we're the younger crowd who can't understand why the crusty old school can't get with the times and insists on generating entire forests of paper for something that can be done digitally.

(And don't get me started on editorial vs production )

And to add insult to injury, all too often we are forced to hire a writer whom (we feel) we could clearly out-write any day of the week, who is probably home working in their slippers, while we sit stuck in a meeting.

Snarkiness isn't just an option, it's a survival tool.


.... nah, in all seriousness that was just rude of her Susie. I agree, cross her off the list. Even when dealing with writers who were, I am sure, far less professional and polite than you are, I would never have said something like that to the writer in question.

Susie said:

I bet you're never snarky!

Click to expand...

I swore you knew me better than that.



as soon as I have room this is going in my sig.

Susie said:

Thanks so much. I did apologize to her and she first bit my head off....

Click to expand...

I don't normally say this, but what a bitch!

and told me she wouldn't use my article and that she only used my work to encourage me!

Click to expand...

Thanks for the favor, right?


Pfffft.


Love ya Susie!

Wow! I have had an editor or two who tried to make me feel inexperienced or "little", but not one who actually went on the attack like that. I try to avoid working with the horrid ones.