The Renegade Writer Blog

This morning one of my editors let me know that a project I had pitched them had been reshaped and she invited me to work on part of it. Suffice it to say that the part she offered was the least compelling part of the project, the recipe development. I was also annoyed because she’d either forgotten or ignored that I’d told her I was no longer doing that kind of work unless it was part of a total package she assigned to me i.e. an article with three recipes. I’m not a straight recipe developer. I like creating recipes for my own stories; this skill sets me apart from food writers who can’t cook, just as a travel writer with photographic skills has the edge over a writer who doesn’t. Doing six or 12 recipes for another writer, though, brings my hourly rate down. It also makes me want to gouge my eyes out with a citrus reamer to break up the monotony. It’s. Not. Fun.

I stomped around here for a few hours, then I thought about my options. I could suck it up and accept the work. A quick kick of annoyance whomped me in the gut. Why should I do that when I brought them the package? And I didn’t leave an office job with shitty work so I could be independent — and take shitty work. I’m no prima donna artiste, but I’ve learned that I do a much better job — and I’m happier — when I’m fully engaged with a project. If it doesn’t rock my boat, I don’t stick around for long, and that’s probably a good thing for everyone involved. Another option was to remind her that I don’t do straight recipe development. This option felt better … still, I was miffed that they’d taken a good chunk of my idea, run with it, and tossed me a bone. A gnarly bone, at that.

The other option didn’t come to me until a few hours ago, and this one settled over me like the softest gossamer, as good ideas are wont to happen with me. This magazine didn’t own my idea, they couldn’t pull it off like I’d envisioned it, and there was nothing stopping me from developing it myself. In fact, I’d probably make much more money off the idea on my own than I would through the magazine. The second this option revealed itself, my brain started going in fifty directions at once. I suddenly felt powerful and energized, light-years away from the demoralized and angry freelancer I was this morning. I dashed off some e-mails, made a few calls, and researched what to do next. I’ll keep you posted what the outcome is, but for now take heed: sometimes the world will scream No at you. But keep listening and you might hear the universe whisper Yes. [dianaburrell]

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