Writing for publication: five attention getters not impressive to editors

The world of freelance writing has a very strong appeal to those of us who would love to see our writing get world-wide exposure. For many beginning writers, the thought of having something we created ourselves being read by hundreds, thousands or maybe even millions of people can become an obsession. Some writers are not content to work within the confines of the established freelance system, however, and resort to attention-grabbing tricks in order to impress an editor or exaggerate their own accomplishments. These would-be writers can actually achieve some of their goals through the use of these tricks, but ultimately a solid writing career is based on hard work and dedication, not Jedi mind games. If you are just starting out on a freelance career, you may be tempted to try some or all of these gimmicks yourself, but do fight the temptation. Freelance writing can be a tough field to break into and find success, but it is most rewarding when done honorably. Here are five things you do NOT want to do to impress editors or improve your chances of publication.

1. Exaggerate your publication history. Many editors request cover letters or brief bios that give them some idea of your previous writing credits. Some writers translate this request to mean that they won't get hired or accepted unless they can list a tremendous amount of bona fide writing credentials. They will pad out their 'curriculum vitae' with non-existent publications, false acceptance claims and exaggerated educational backgrounds. Undoubtedly, some unscrupulous writers have gotten away with this form of resume padding, but you wouldn't want to be one of them when the real truth comes out. You never know where an editor has worked before, or what schools they may have attended. Never put down a reference or a publication credit that you cannot verify. If you have limited experience, say so. List what credits you do have, even if they sound minor or amateur in nature. Editors may take a chance on a young unknown if the query letter is well-formed and the cover letter sells the sizzle. You should never resort to unprovable background information.

3. Call an editor on the phone for updates. No matter how many times the guideline books tell a writer not to call the editor directly, some writers just don't get the hint. They will call the editor's direct line within weeks of a submission and ask for feedback or decisions. Again, you may get extremely lucky and catch the editor in a good mood, but that is a rareity. Calling an editor on an unsolicited manuscript submission is considered rude and unprofessional in most publishing circles. You may believe that such phone calls imply a writer's strong interest in the magazine or his willingness to follow up on a submission, but you would be wrong in most circumstances. Editors face what is referred to as the 'slush pile' every working day. This is that ever-growing pile of unsolicited manuscripts that demand their attention. Even if they could answer the phone, they won't appreciate any writer's inquiry on a manuscript they probably haven't even seen yet, much less formed any sort of opinion on its merit. Do yourself a favor and stay off the phone unless specifically requested to do so in the course of acceptance.

4. Overstate your writing level and ability. Ambitious freelancers sometimes feel the necessity to exaggerate their level of expertise or writing level in order to land the higher-paying assignments. Their hope is that the story will write itself and their lack of native ability will not be noticed by the editorial staff. If you want to continue working for a particular magazine, never try to appear more knowledgeable on a specific subject than you are. A good freelance reporter depends heavily on interviews with bona fide experts in the field he or she is covering. The skill of writing comes into play much later, when the thoughts of the experts are blended in with the author's own observations. If you don't have the proper skills or knowledge to take on a freelance assignment, don't accept it for the sake of a publishing credit. Know your own limitations and strengths before pitching your skills to a specialized magazine.

5. Argue the merits of your rejected article. If a manuscript is rejected by an editor, there is usually a reason behind it. You may never be privileged enough as a freelancer to learn what that reason was, but you should learn to live with rejection slips in the writing business. Some beginning writers take rejection very hard, and feel obligated to fire off complaint letters that defend the merits of their rejected works. The hope is that an editor will take a second look at the piece and realize just how misguided and shortsighted he was. The reality is that the editor realizes precisely what he will be missing in his life by rejecting your article, and he will not be moved. Never waste precious time and energy arguing a rejection decision. Simply move on to the next name on your list and hope for a better result. If you argue with an editor now, he or she may remember your name for a very long time. Try to maintain a good professional relationship with the editorial staff, even if the acceptances aren't exactly flowing in yet.