I've been cranked for several days now. I'd been exchanging emails with the publisher of a daily newspaper in the next county and he seemed excited about the possibility of running my column in his paper.
He asked about the awards I recently won for articles I'd written. We even talked some about pricing.
We managed to get our calendars together and I was in his office at 2 p.m. today. When he asked what he could do for me, I told him I wanted him to publish my column in his paper.
The meeting did not go as smoothly as it had played out in my head. In fact, he gave me a half dozen reasons why he wouldn't run my column.
He said something like: "Well your writing is good, and I can see why it does well where people know you." When I told him that I wrote for newspapers and magazines all across Alabama, and that I have blog followers all across the planet, he took a different approach.
I feel like I addressed every concern he had, but when he said: "I won't spend a dime on anything
unless it adds readership to my paper," I knew I didn't have a prayer. After all, who or what can guarantee that anything will improve readership.
I told him that he could run my column for a month free of charge to see if his readers responded. But at that point, the conversation was already over. I gave him an autographed copy of my book, shook his hand and walked away.
Am I disappointed? Yes. I really thought I had a shot at that opportunity, but it looks as if that won't happen.
Disappointment is a part of life. You set your sights on a goal and sometimes you fall short, but you only fail when you quit.
Tomorrow I'll brew a pot of coffee and start over.
I feel better already.
He asked about the awards I recently won for articles I'd written. We even talked some about pricing.
We managed to get our calendars together and I was in his office at 2 p.m. today. When he asked what he could do for me, I told him I wanted him to publish my column in his paper.
The meeting did not go as smoothly as it had played out in my head. In fact, he gave me a half dozen reasons why he wouldn't run my column.
He said something like: "Well your writing is good, and I can see why it does well where people know you." When I told him that I wrote for newspapers and magazines all across Alabama, and that I have blog followers all across the planet, he took a different approach.
I feel like I addressed every concern he had, but when he said: "I won't spend a dime on anything
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| Random picture that has nothing to do with post :) |
I told him that he could run my column for a month free of charge to see if his readers responded. But at that point, the conversation was already over. I gave him an autographed copy of my book, shook his hand and walked away.
Am I disappointed? Yes. I really thought I had a shot at that opportunity, but it looks as if that won't happen.
Disappointment is a part of life. You set your sights on a goal and sometimes you fall short, but you only fail when you quit.
Tomorrow I'll brew a pot of coffee and start over.
I feel better already.
If I ran a paper, I'd publish you!!
ReplyDeleteThose small time newspapers never want to change. They go on and on doing the same thing with small budgets. Going by the way side, in time. He should have grabbed the opportunity when it was presented, someone willing to give his business a boost and for free. You don't see that anymore! Keep plugging. Don't get discouraged.
ReplyDeleteWell that stinks. Obviously he doesn't know talent when he reads it. You have wide spread writing appeal. He just lost out on great potential. Glad to hear you are feeling okay with it. You certainly have a great attitude.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear that Rick... I think better things are ahead for you :) You have a great attitude about it;)
ReplyDeleteBy the way Jilda looks fabulous... even more so now that you told me her age... I hope to look that good:)
I'm sorry but he kind of sounded like a bit of a jerk. I hope the next opportunity works out better. You never know that not happening may have been a blessing in the long run and opened up the next better opportunity! Bigger picture!
ReplyDeleteYour work is destined for a more discerning and distinguished publisher of a quality paper! So there! :-)
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
Wise words. Disappointment is a part of life. We learn to deal with it. We become experts. The important thing is not to quit.
ReplyDeleteBetter things are ahead for you indeed - I agree with Launna. Starting over today with a pot of coffee sounds like a good plan :-)
ReplyDeleteSeems like a narrow perspective on his part--because as you say, who can know what will or won't increase readership? Well, I imagine one could know ahead of time what WON'T increase it...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, glad to see you are continuing to branch out. And who knows? Maybe he'll change his mind.
tm
I think that he had already made up his mind before he even met you. It's his loss. Shake the dust off your sandals and move on. A pot of coffee sound right to me. I think that he has poor judgement. Better luck next time.
ReplyDeleteJB
What a foolish man.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
lol
ReplyDeleteNewspapers and magazines all have problems today selling their
product.
We can read everything we need for free on the net and get so many opinions and articles to talk about than we can handle.
I used to write comments into the local papers and they would publish them because they new people would get mad.
Then people wrote in saying they got tired of seeing me get bombarded for saying things that were just and true.
But this is not what sells papers.Scandals sell papers.What can you say.....
People want to know? The old generation have seen it all and don;t care anymore but now new eyes look and they are not taught the same way were were and they don't see the same dangers we did and still do.
Life is like having a baby.There are certain steps to be taken
to move forward. Not taking them could cost you plenty.
So I guess if you want to get someones' attention so they give you a column, you would have to not have the same opinion
as most people have. Get a rise and this will get the paper more readers.Either that or maybe put in an auction item or game people have to play every day for a nice gift.
Then again maybe some other magazine would love your column depending on what you specialize in writing.
My husband is into technologies so he writes about that and they publish him. People want to know.
Wow, it's his loss. I think your columns are wonderful Rick! And so do alot of other folks.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate all the words of encouragement. I'm humbled and flattered. You guys are the best.
ReplyDelete