How to be Your Editor’s Favorite Writer

I just read an email from a freelance writer — a very talented one. She said the company she writes for has decided to take its work in-house. She's got options, but she's nervous and scrambling.

I'm in a unique position — I'm both an editor for a couple trade magazines, as well as a writer for other publications. As communication budgets are hacked and tossed away like bad meat, the writer side if frantically asking the editor side, "How am I going to stay on the good side of my editors? Tell me!! You're an editor!"

The conversation gets a little schizophrenic, but my editor side has had to take this question seriously. What is it that makes me hold on tight to certain writers? And why, at the same time, am I relieved I have the excuse of "tight budgets" to wean out other writers?

The list of reasons is short, but powerful. The writers I cling to, fight for, and assign articles to, through good and bad, have the following in common:

• They understand the publication. They know what kind of articles we run as well as the magazine's style. They work hard to make sure each article hits the mark. They don't pitch stories that are only mildly related, or write them in their own style, arguing that what I'm asking for isn't right for the subject matter.

• They pitch great story idea. Editors must continually come up with editorial month after month, and writers that can come up with fresh, timely ideas that resonate with readers are coveted. Every time a writer pitches me that great idea, it's like I fall in love all over again. My heart pounds harder, I'm on the brink of breaking into song, and I have the urge to send flowers and chocolate to this wonderful person. (More often though, I just say, "Great idea. Go for it!")

• They can write. When I get the story, it's written well. It's tight, needs little editing and is exactly what they promised. (I know stories evolve and change. But there is nothing more frightening to an editor than an email with an article that reads, "Things didn't come together like I thought they would. Not even close. So here's something a little different — OK, way different. Hope you like it.")

• They meet their deadlines. Sometimes the good writers even get their articles in early. And if they run into problems — sometimes they are unavoidable — they let me know in advance so we can work something out.

That's my list. Seems simple, but my writer side is groaning. It's a hard list to live up to.

Di