Jake Poinier of Dear Dr. Freelance (another great blog worthy of your RSS subscription!) recently posed the question of whether editors ever steal ideas from freelance writers. I think newbie writers tend to be a little paranoid about this (you really this you're the only person on the planet who's ever thought to pitch a story on eco-gifts for the holidays?). But as I posted in the comments, it's happened to me, and I know this because the editor actually 'fessed up! As Jake points out, ideas are not copyright-able. Sorry. However, there are a couple of strategies you can use to protect yourself and your ideas. 1. Don't give away the farm. This is one of the reasons why it's a bad idea to submit something on spec or write without a contract. What's to prevent an editor from just taking your piece and plopping it into the magazine as the now infamous editor of Cook's Source did? Without a contract, it's tough to make the case that they owe you a byline or money. Querying requires a delicate balance, too. You want to give enough detail to entice the editor but not so much that they can essentially write the story themselves (as in, "here are the names and email addresses of the three foremost experts on this topic!"). If an editor keeps asking for more details or stats, at some point, it's appropriate to ask for a research fee and/or contract to ensure that you don't get screwed 2. Talk yourself up. Another way to prevent an editor from assigning your idea to someone else is to position yourself as the person to write it. Do you happen to suffer from the obscure medical condition mentioned in your pitch? Do you have access to an up-and-coming designer for an exclusive interview? Say it! (And by the way, please don't pitch a celeb profile unless you know you'll be able to land that interview.) The best ideas are ones that are so original that only you could write it, either because of insider knowledge or connections. It's harder for someone to steal your idea if they don't have your first-hand knowledge or access. At the very least, make a case for why your background and credentials are a great fit for the publication and this piece. 3. Befriend editors to build trust.
A commenter on Jake's post pointed out that building a relationship with your editor can boost your chances of getting the assignment instead of having it go to someone else. It's definitely smart to cultivate relationships by going to networking events, sending friendly check-in emails or holiday cards, and helping out your editor when she needs it (within reason). Of course, this won't help you when you're just starting the relationship with an editor so see tip #4. 4. Ask around.
Thank gawd for the internet! If news about Cook's Source incident hadn't leaked out on a blog, we would never have known about it. So, before sending a pitch to a new-to-you market, do a quick Google search and see if the editor or publication has a bad rep of ripping off ideas or not paying writers. You can also check the forums of Freelance Success, WritersWeekly.com, AbsoluteWrite, and others. What about you? Have you had this happen? What do you do to protect yourself? Or do you think it's better to just trust people and roll with the punches? Flickr photo courtesy of One lucky guy