In August, I pitched an idea to a magazine and was very excited when the editor wrote back and asked me to call him. I explained in more detail what I wanted to do and answered his questions, and he said, "Let's do it! Let's plan on the November issue." Huzzah! This magazine is one of the three top mags in a particular industry (and one of them doesn't really pay, since they're the member mag). I said, "so, is about a month to get it to you OK?"? He said that was fine.
So, I write the article. It ended up taking slightly longer than a month, but only by a few days. It took me another week or so to get the pictures, but I sent the article as soon as it was done and the pictures when I had them, apologizing profusely. There was no actual deadline discussed. He did not respond to either the email with the article or the one with the pictures, in which I asked if he got the article and was everything OK?
The November issue came out, and my article was not in it. I sent the editor an email and asked if there was a problem with the article and if so I would be happy to fix it. Nothing. I thought, well maybe I got it to him too late for November so it'll be in December? Nope, not there either. I sent him one more email asking if he was still interested and have not received a reply. I'm guessing he's not, although it sure would be nice if he would tell me so I'm not left hanging!
So...the problem is, there are very few national-level magazines in this niche. I don't know what went wrong here...the only thing I can figure is that I was a little on the slow side in getting the article to him, but as I said, the only deadline we discussed was "about a month". Should I consider this door closed forever, or should I pitch him another idea?
I'm also pissed, because I have to find another market for this piece...and I look like an idiot to my sources for telling them it would be in this magazine and now it's not. I had pitched the idea to the other (paying) big mag in the niche and they ignored it, and I don't really think it's appropriate for the other mags in the industry (does that make sense?). GAH!
So, I write the article. It ended up taking slightly longer than a month, but only by a few days. It took me another week or so to get the pictures, but I sent the article as soon as it was done and the pictures when I had them, apologizing profusely. There was no actual deadline discussed. He did not respond to either the email with the article or the one with the pictures, in which I asked if he got the article and was everything OK?
The November issue came out, and my article was not in it. I sent the editor an email and asked if there was a problem with the article and if so I would be happy to fix it. Nothing. I thought, well maybe I got it to him too late for November so it'll be in December? Nope, not there either. I sent him one more email asking if he was still interested and have not received a reply. I'm guessing he's not, although it sure would be nice if he would tell me so I'm not left hanging!
So...the problem is, there are very few national-level magazines in this niche. I don't know what went wrong here...the only thing I can figure is that I was a little on the slow side in getting the article to him, but as I said, the only deadline we discussed was "about a month". Should I consider this door closed forever, or should I pitch him another idea?
I'm also pissed, because I have to find another market for this piece...and I look like an idiot to my sources for telling them it would be in this magazine and now it's not. I had pitched the idea to the other (paying) big mag in the niche and they ignored it, and I don't really think it's appropriate for the other mags in the industry (does that make sense?). GAH!
