Comments on: Sometimes they're just not that into you

By: Editors we love to hate « WordCount – Freelancing in the Digital Age

Editors we love to hate « WordCount – Freelancing in the Digital Age — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:57:31 +0000

[...] this year, Colorado writer Dan Baum used Twitter to write about his love-hate relationship with The New Yorker and Editor David Remnick, though in all honesty, that seemed to be more of a [...]

By: Freelancedom » Blog Archive » Link Love: May 29

Freelancedom » Blog Archive » Link Love: May 29 — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:06:26 +0000

[...] WordCount’s Sometimes They’re Just Not That Into You [...]

By: Michelle Rafter

Michelle Rafter — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:48:39 +0000

I have no idea about a The New Yorker confidentiality clause, but apparently Dam Baum felt comfortable enough about the details of his situation to share with the universe. I can only speak for myself, I would love to hear what it was like to work for Dear Abby – if you ever decide to spill the beans, send me the link and I’ll post it here.

Michelle R.

By: Sister Wolf

Sister Wolf — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:41:13 +0000

I just finished reading Mr. Baum’s account of his job at the New Yorker, which led me here.

I’ve been fired from nearly every job I ever had by failing to try to understand the office culture. It has been a chronic and predictable mistake that is obviously part of my screwed-up psyche.

Once in a while, I think about writing about my experience as an assistant (ghost writer) for Dear Abby. But the confidentiality clause is a worry.

Do you think the New Yorker had such a clause for its staff?

By: Michelle Rafter

Michelle Rafter — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:28:14 +0000

Thanks for the explanation, sounds interesting.

By: Dr. Tom Bibey

Dr. Tom Bibey — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:21:45 +0000

That is correct. I am working on a novel, ‘The Mandolin Case’ due out in 2010. In the story, the medical truths are found via music and the arts more than by science.

I don’t expect it will wind up on the New York best seller list, but I think it will do O.K. with my people.

Dr. B

By: Michelle Rafter

Michelle Rafter — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:36:17 +0000

It must be easier to be philosophical when your career’s not on the line, thanks for the perspective. And I have to ask: what’s physician bluegrass fiction – books about doctors who play bluegrass music?

By: Dr. Tom Bibey

Dr. Tom Bibey — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:26:52 +0000

I’ve had some published and some rejected. With rejections I try to learn from each one, and understand why it was rejected. Often it was because I had directed the piece to the wrong audience.

I write physican bluegrass fiction. It is a narrow genre, so not everyone wants to read my work. That does not concern me. I am more interested in the tens of thousands who read my blog than the millions who don’t.

However, I do not make my living as a writer, so it is easy to be philosophical about it all.

drtombibey.wordpress.com

By: Michelle Rafter

Michelle Rafter — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:12:20 +0000

That’s a good, and probably healthy – way to look at rejection – as part of the work we do. You could also argue that if you’re not getting rejected you’re not testing the limits of the work you’re doing. If you constantly push past what you’ve done in the past to pursue different publications or genres you could eventually transform your entire writing business.

By: Sarah E. Ludwig

Sarah E. Ludwig — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:06:04 +0000

Rejection definitely stinks, but I was surprised when I started freelancing to find that rejections don’t bother me that much. Considering how much they do bother me in my personal life, it was quite a revelation to me.

The reason? If I’m getting rejections, in turn I’m reminded that I’m also getting my work out there and giving myself more chances for it to be accepted. It’s like receiving a receipt for the hard hours I’ve put in. It’s proof that I’m active and vital.

Great post!

http://ParentingByTrialandError.com