Why Is The Editors “Delete” Key So Worn Down?

Despite it being their job, you wouldn’t have thought that writers of any kind would want to annoy Editors, or make them take glee in deleting all that hard work, would you. However, even with the joy that is “spellchecker”, or the plethora of books and guides to help you, too many people are making stupid errors that simply paint a bad picture.

So, are you making these errors? Well, before you all jump up to declare that you are in the minority that never gets it wrong, let’s look over the list to see the main offenders. And don’t forget the Editor is not going to call you to say what you have done wrong; they will simply delete all your hard work. So let’s see what people miss out:

Get to the point already! Editors are very busy bees. They will normally have a particular need and if your work is totally irrelevant, then it will not make it past the first sentence. Nothing is more annoying than being sent a letter or press release about a new way of processing meat when you are the editor of “The Vegetarian Society”. Don’t think it happens? Every Editor will tell you otherwise.

Sending it to the wrong person. A lot of press releases are still being sent to admin@thelocalrag.com or sales@thenichemagazine.co.uk. These departments are nothing to do with editorial, and they’re not going to send it on, yet some people still persist in confusing the sales department with news about a company expanding in the recession. Find out who the Editor is (or at least the head of the particular section you are aiming at) and send it there. Anything else is a waste of time. Additionally, don’t mess their name or title up. I still get annoyed when I get letters addressed to “Mr Coldicott/Cauldicott/Caldecote/Caldicot”. If you want to mail me something important, then it takes two seconds to refer to the business card to see that it is “Caldicott”.

Jeremy Clarkson hates Ramblers, and so do Editors. You will have between ½ a second and 5 seconds of the Editor’s time to make your point and encourage them to read on. If you waffle about something totally irrelevant in the opening sentence, then why should the Editor believe that the rest is different? They won’t, and your work will go to the big filing cabinet in the sky. Make your point clearly in the opening sentence, and then you can build up a little more afterwards.

Being sarcastic. When sending a press release, give it to someone to read back to you. If it sounds in any way big headed, sarcastic or anything along those lines, then go back and re-do it. If the Editor thinks that your work is sarcastic, then what is he going to think of you? Editors will have very little patience after years of bad work being sent their way, so don’t be surprised of sarcastic (yet relevant) work is deleted out of spite.

Dnot Froegt Yuor Splellnig. Nothing screams sloppy more than bad spelling. Some really difficult words may be excused once by a sympathetic editor, but the basics must be perfect. Most editors will be, like me, extremely picky over spelling. Even today I cringe a little over things like “would of” and “alot”. Don’t make the Editor think you are daft, as he won’t appreciate it. Use that spellchecker as well; those Microsoft Engineers didn’t stay up late making it for fun.

Is that a Press Release or a Dissertation? Keep it short, ideally 300 words but no more than 500. If you send a 5 page lecture, then the Editor will simply delete it due to the fact that he does not have time to read it. No, seriously they will have another 799 to read through. If it is too long, then it takes up advertisement space, and no Editor will sacrifice this for your essay.

Check those facts. It can be tempting to make up, or exaggerate facts to boost your argument. Want my advice? Don’t do it, simple as that! Generally, you will be sending a release to a publication that focuses on your field, so chances are they know that your claim that turnover has increased by 1266% is codswallop. Go out, research your facts and quote the source (Research by MORI suggests that.....) and you will have a reputable release.

Your work will be edited. Live with it. Ok, so you spend hours crafting a press release that is, for want of a better word, perfect. You send it to the Editor while beaming with pride. You then receive a revised edition that has butchered half your prose. Should you call the Editor and explain how much you hate him and how dare he edit such art? No, grow up and live with it. It’s his paper, his print space, and if he needs to cut it to fit it, then he will do so. By implying you know better than they will simply make them think very little of you and they will most probably overlook future work.

So there you go folks. Remember that this is a general guide, but hopefully it will stop those schoolboy errors that get your hard work deleted. Now what are you waiting for, get that new release sent out NOW!

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