Readers!
I spent my first day of vacation driving 5.5 hours through not great traffic, and when I got to my destination for the night, expected to check in, put up my feet and veg. But I’m a dummy and checked my email, only to find out a story I worked really hard on had been killed.
This is not the first time it has happened, though I was much madder about this than I had about other kills. Bah. But it is an opportunity to write about what to do if this happens to you. My writing life, for you, is content.
- Take a beat. Don’t reply in anger. When I got the email, I took a short walk around the hotel, texted with some writer friends and called my mom. Then I re-read the email and made a plan of action. That doesn’t mean you’re going to always be nice when a story is killed (I wasn’t). But you don’t want to act rashly because, well, we’re not perfect, and sometimes a kill is our fault and/or there’s something to be salvaged there.
- If it’s not your fault, fight for a full fee. I’ve had stories killed for reasons clearly beyond my control, like an editor sat on my copy for too long and the piece went stale; or they assigned too much and don’t have space for it all. If the story is killed because editorial screwed up, you deserve a full fee. I often get it, but I had to go to bat for myself a few times because the editors didn’t see why I deserved my money even though I completed the assignment. This usually happens when an editor hasn’t been a freelancer before or they’re just jerks (or both). My fight didn’t win me any favors with those editors, but why would I write for them after being treated like that? This is also a good reminder to read your contracts, and pay attention to the kill fee clause. Knowing those helped me prove that I deserved to be paid in full.
- If it’s not your fault, but you’re being told it is, you might want to let it go. Because sometimes an editor decides it’s just easier to blame the writer. That is, I believe, what happened with this story — that someone higher up read the piece the editor shaped into life through multiple rounds of edits, the higher up didn’t like it, so my editor decided to throw me under the bus. Which yes is a really shitty thing to do. I could have fought for a full fee, but the email killing it was both mildly insulting and not an accurate representation of what happened. Arguing over a difference of $XXX isn’t worth my time or energy, especially with an editor who shades the truth to cover their own ass. How you respond is up to you. I won’t ever write for this person again (so no I also don’t care if they read this), so I was mildly insulting back. There had been talk of me writing on a specific topic for this publication in the future, and my response telegraphed that’s dead now. I probably wouldn’t have done that if I was new to freelancing, but I’m comfortable enough with my career, and my skills and ability as a writer, that I’m OK letting them go. Also, you can’t treat me like shit and expect to get first dibs on whatever is next. Please.
- If it is your fault, own up to it. It happens, for a lot of reasons. If that’s the case, I apologize and accept the kill fee. You’ll be surprised how often an editor will still want to work with you, even if the story doesn’t pan out. But yes in these cases I’ll accept the blame and then let the editor decide if there’s a future working relationship there.
- Tell your sources. You have to. How much detail you give them is your call. But you can’t just leave them hanging. Because maybe their is a future for the piece, and you want to make sure they’re willing to come along with you. But also: they spent time speaking to you, and you should tell them the status. I got a lot of “oh no I’m so sorry!” responses. No one was mad at me!
- Decide if you want to find it a new home. Again, it’s up to you. Sometimes I let it go, especially if it’s for a very specific, niche audience. But I have found new homes for killed stories. I sent this one to an editor I worked with before, and was fully transparent: this story was killed at X, but I still think it’s pretty good, do you want to take a look? Maybe it’ll work, maybe not, but it was at least sending the email. That’s what happened with this story. I told them it had been killed, but they were eager to buy it anyway. This is also a story where the first editor argued I didn’t deserve a full fee, even though it was her fault the story never ran (she knew that but she didn’t get why I deserved any money since it never made it into print). Jokes on her because I got paid twice. And, as often happens, that publication folded, I don’t remember her name, and I can’t be bothered to look it up.
It’s important to keep in mind that an occasional kill, even if you’re (rightly or wrongly) blamed for it, is not the be all and end all of you as a writer. I’ve only had a story killed like this twice in more than 21 years of freelancing. The other time happened seven years ago. If the past is any indication, it’s very likely this editor won’t even be in the business in seven years, but I will. Spite — it’s a hell of a thing!
Anyway, I did not let this incident ruin my vacation. I had a lovely time hiking at spots along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the point I stayed an extra day so I could finish driving the full length for the third? fourth? time. I also took a day out of my vacation to visit three South Carolina Revolutionary War battlefields: Ninety Six National Historic Site, Kings Mountain National Military Park, and Cowpens National Battlefield (I also saw the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in North Carolina on the drive down). Yes the reason I did that brief refresh on the was was because I planned to go here. Because when I found out there was a gap in my knowledge about history, I went and filled it in. Lifelong learning. Amazing!
Recent Bylines
“Volunteer both gives and gets,” AARP Bulletin
“What happens when candidates overuse AI,” HR Dive
“Got lungs?” Chest Advocate
“Globally, youth are not getting enough plant-based foods,” Tufts Now
“Lifesaving advances in global screening for cervical cancer,” Clinical Laboratory News
“Outsourcing clinical labs: A growing trend, but at what cost?” Clinical Laboratory News
What I’m Reading
- A Star is Scorned by Maureen Lee Lenker. Another entry into Lee Lenker’s Golden Age of Hollywood romance series. This time, we have a swash buckling film star who falls for his leading lady, who has moved to Hollywood because her younger sister wants to be a star, but she got the big role. I appreciate that the author tells us at the end who everyone is based on – the hero Flynn Banks was inspired by Errol Flynn, and heroine Liv De Lesseps by Olivia de Havilland (saying outright that Errol Flynn was an alcoholic and a predator, so no glorifying him here), and that the relationship between the sisters was sparked by Betty and Judy in White Christmas). A fun summer read.
What I’m Watching
- You, Me & Tuscany. This rom com is about Anna (Halle Bailey), who is down in her luck after her mother died, and after meeting an Italian man in New York City, decides to finally fly over and through a series of silly mishaps, pretends to be said man’s fiancee. But who is she falling for? His cousin (Rege-Jean Page) who he almost runs over in his three wheel-truck. It’s a silly bit of fluff, but well made and acted and funny at times. So not bad! And they make a nod as to how a man with a British accent lives in Italy, which I appreciate since so many of these stories skip over the reality of Italy’s citizenship process (COUGH COUGH).
- Six Schizophrenic Brothers. This is a documentary version of Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker, which is the true story about a family of 12 children, where six of the sons had schizophrenia. This is about the family, and how researchers are studying their DNA to try to figure out a genetic factor in the disease. If I had to pick one, I think the book is better, but the docuseries is pretty good too, especially since some of the children, including a few of those sons, are interviewed.
Nail Polish of the Week
Silicon Valley Girl by OPI. This is like a very strong orange creamsicle. When I bought it, the cashier said “oh this is perfect for your skin tone,” so I guess I chose wisely. And for those who look forward to this segment (and many of you have said you do!) last week’s polish was Bee Unapologetic by OPI, a slightly green tinged yellow that is always a PIA to put on because it requires three coats. Why I picked it when I had to do the manicure in a hotel room while traveling, I don’t know. But! Once it was on and dried, it looked great.
Until next time!
Jen A. Miller (she/her)
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Well, reading your once-killed story made me realize that I do need a much better final resting place for my beloved cat who died in April, and I’m going to get one. Thank you!