The Renegade Writer Blog

Rachel writes, “I have a problem that I’ve been sitting on for a few weeks now. I freelance for a MAJOR pub– the type people jump through hoops to try to get in to. I worked on a story for awhile, doing the interviews and such. Then, I decided, along with the editor, that there just wasn’t enough to make it the trend piece we were hoping for and we canned it. But? I can’t figure out a way to tell my sources. It’s been very obvious they are excited at the idea of getting into the pub….what do I do?”

I sympathize with you, Rachel. I hate telling sources, after they’ve spent so much of their time answering my questions, that an assignment was killed or their quotes were cut during final edits. Luckily in the eleven years I’ve been writing for magazines, no one has ever threatened to come bust my kneecaps for not getting them in print.

My advice is to be honest with them and let your sources know where the piece stands with the magazine — but I wouldn’t go into any great detail other than due to circumstances beyond your control, the piece isn’t going to run with Magazine X. If they’re new to the whole media thing, you can explain that stuff like this happens all the time (and it does) and you hate it as much as they do. If they’re old pros, they’ll know the routine. I don’t know all the details about this project, but you could also give it a positive spin. For example, you could let them know you’re going to reslant the story for Magazine Y or that during your interview with them, they gave you an idea for another story which you’ll be pitching.

Since I hate delivering bad news, I explain to sources before I interview them that there’s a chance their story won’t appear in print or that their quotes may not appear in the final edit. I interview a lot of real people sources for my parenting articles, and I know a lot of the moms want to run out and tell everyone to look for their story in October. My warning tempers that urge for them, and they can decide whether or not they want to speak with me, given there are no guarantees.

Have a question for the Renegades? Write to us at questions @ therenegadewriter . com and we’ll put your name in blitzkrieg pop light. (I’m feeling punchy tonight.) [db]

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