Can Freelance Writers Miss a Deadline?
Q: Dear Anne, I have an assignment that requires interviews with several people. Two of them are on vacation and I won’t be able to talk with them in time to make the deadline. Should I wait to interview them and submit the article late? - Emily
A: Hi Emily - congratulations on the assignment!
No, don’t miss the deadline, at least not without permission from your editor. Call the editor right away and explain the situation. It would also be a good idea if you had a couple of other people you know you could interview instead. Then the editor can decide if you should wait or go ahead.
Editors are real people and they know that deadlines can’t always be met. Communication is the key here is it is any time something goes wrong in a writing assignment. Giving your editor a heads up ASAP lets her know you’re a professional, and that you honor your commitments. It also let’s her figure out what’s best for her publication. Waiting may be the answer. On the other hand, it may be more important to her that the article get done on time, even with different interviewees.
Don’t ever hesitate to communicate with an editor about problems like this. Believe me, they welcome that sort of information.
Write well and often,
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POSTED IN: Ask Anne, the Pro Writer
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