Dear John: Try Again
CHRIS BIGELOW
Hartford Courant
July 24, 2008
The life of a writer is full of rejection and criticism, and right now, presidential candidate John McCain is having to deal with it. The New York Times sent back his op-ed for revisions on the grounds that it wasn't quite as interesting as one the paper recently ran by Barack Obama, which is pretty much the story of John McCain's 2008.
Still, the idea that a big shot like McCain has to go through the same gut-wrenching editorial process as any other free-lancer is heartening. I can just imagine the e-mail conversation, with the less than computer-literate McCain tapping out his replies, one keystroke at a time:
FROM: editor@nytimes.com
TO: cactusjack1936@aol.com
Hi John, got your piece. I've sent it back w/ some corrections and suggestions. Can you have this back to me by Friday? Thx!
FROM: cactusjack1936@aol.com
TO: editor@nytimes.com
HI EDITOR I AM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY. PLUS I THOUGHT THE PART WITH ME CALLING OBAMA A FRENCHIFIED SISSY GIRL WAS PURE "GOLD." I HAVE MADE ONE REVISION, AS I REALIZED I SPELLED MY NAME WITH A Q. HEY WHEN DO I GET MY "CHECK."
FROM: editor@nytimes.com
TO: cactusjack1936@aol.com
Hi again, John. Let me be a little clearer about what we expect. Much as I might want to, I can't print 2,700 words about your trip to Florida in addition to the piece about Iraq. Also, I'm not sure why the phrase "Mitt Romney is a Schmuck" keeps popping up.
As for your Iraq piece, can I suggest an approach? The piece we had from Obama talked about actual plans and had new information, and it would be a nice contrast for the page if you could do the same.
Either that or relate it to Miley Cyrus somehow. Everyone is talking about her and our readers would have an interest. Please make these changes and get back to me. As the Friday deadline has now passed, I'd ask you to get them to me by Tuesday. Thx!
P.S. You'll have to talk with Marge in accounting about payment, which could take from two to 50 weeks to get to you.
(More here.)
Hartford Courant
July 24, 2008
The life of a writer is full of rejection and criticism, and right now, presidential candidate John McCain is having to deal with it. The New York Times sent back his op-ed for revisions on the grounds that it wasn't quite as interesting as one the paper recently ran by Barack Obama, which is pretty much the story of John McCain's 2008.
Still, the idea that a big shot like McCain has to go through the same gut-wrenching editorial process as any other free-lancer is heartening. I can just imagine the e-mail conversation, with the less than computer-literate McCain tapping out his replies, one keystroke at a time:
FROM: editor@nytimes.com
TO: cactusjack1936@aol.com
Hi John, got your piece. I've sent it back w/ some corrections and suggestions. Can you have this back to me by Friday? Thx!
FROM: cactusjack1936@aol.com
TO: editor@nytimes.com
HI EDITOR I AM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY. PLUS I THOUGHT THE PART WITH ME CALLING OBAMA A FRENCHIFIED SISSY GIRL WAS PURE "GOLD." I HAVE MADE ONE REVISION, AS I REALIZED I SPELLED MY NAME WITH A Q. HEY WHEN DO I GET MY "CHECK."
FROM: editor@nytimes.com
TO: cactusjack1936@aol.com
Hi again, John. Let me be a little clearer about what we expect. Much as I might want to, I can't print 2,700 words about your trip to Florida in addition to the piece about Iraq. Also, I'm not sure why the phrase "Mitt Romney is a Schmuck" keeps popping up.
As for your Iraq piece, can I suggest an approach? The piece we had from Obama talked about actual plans and had new information, and it would be a nice contrast for the page if you could do the same.
Either that or relate it to Miley Cyrus somehow. Everyone is talking about her and our readers would have an interest. Please make these changes and get back to me. As the Friday deadline has now passed, I'd ask you to get them to me by Tuesday. Thx!
P.S. You'll have to talk with Marge in accounting about payment, which could take from two to 50 weeks to get to you.
(More here.)
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