I reached either the highest or the lowest point of my career this week.
A journalist has been wanting to write about my client Gabriel Kahane for some time now, and e mailed asking for assistance crafting a specific story about him. I responded with a paragraph or so about a piece I thought would fit nicely both with the publication he was pitching and with what was going on in a sliver of the industry, focused on Gabriel. The journalist wrote back and said thanks so much for your help, but unfortunately my idea was just “too interesting” for his editors. I like this writer very much, and in his defense he did put “too interesting” in quotes, signaling that he understood how ridiculous that response sounded. But…really? Is this where we are?
Let’s make a list: what are the best responses from journalists about why they can’t write the story you’ve pitched? I’ll start –
1. Your pitch was too interesting.
2. “Sadly, next month’s will be the last issue of our magazine.”
3. I wouldn’t go near that with a ten-foot pole.
4. An interview with that person won’t spark enough controversy/commentary on our online version.
“Your pitch was too intelligent.”
ACD
The last time that artist did an interview with a writer from our publication he only gave “yes” and “no” answers.