Dear Accidentally Qualified: How To Get Out Of An Assignment

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Dear Accidentally Qualified,

I recently landed an assignment through a cold pitch. How exciting! Yet, I’ve come to realize the rate is low and it requires more effort than I thought (and I’ve also realized I should have tried for a higher rate). I did try to negotiate a higher rate after the fact, though, once I realized I’d have to source photos and use their CMS system to publish the post myself, but the editor didn’t budge on the rate. 

Anyways, I WAS going to accept it, as it’s not horrifyingly low, but in all honesty, I’m weary and emotionally exhausted and don’t have the desire to complete the article anymore. I haven’t signed anything at all and I’m not under any agreement at the moment. 

Is it possible to back out of the article without burning a bridge? And if so, how?

–Song of Fire and Ice

Dear Song of Fire and Ice, 

Backing out of an assignment is a bit of a crap shoot—it might lead to you never hearing from an editor again, or it might be brushed aside because, hey, we’ve all got stuff and some editors are more compassionate than others. 

That said, you pitched the article to the publication and agreed on a rate. To put it in another context: you basically asked someone out, already decided on a place and time now want to bail. There’s nothing binding about a date offer, but canceling on an activity you planned with a person you chose, is not going to win you a second chance. 

Because you didn’t sign a contract, you technically don’t owe them anything and the idea is still yours to take elsewhere or toss in the furnace. However, the window of backing out politely closed when you accepted the original rate for both the article and the additional backend work, no matter how exploitative it was. You wouldn’t be the first person to hang your head in shame and send an “on second thought, I don’t think this is right for me” email (I’ve done it. And have never heard from those editors since.) But it won’t win you any favors.

Whatever you end up deciding, use this as a lesson for pitching in the future. Before you pitch, ask yourself:

1. Is this an idea I actually want to invest time in or am I just throwing spaghetti at a wall in hopes for a win? Sometimes, an idea is just an idea and thinking about it for a minute, maybe tweeting about it or talking about it with a friend is all you need to do to enjoy it to its fullest. 
2. Why am I pitching this publication? Fame? Money? Desperation? What do they need to offer you for you to feel like writing for them is worth your time? Not all bylines are equal and as much as it hurts to toss a story idea aside, writing for a publication that won’t meet your financial demands or garner you positive attention doesn’t sound like a worthwhile endeavor. 
3. Do I have the energy or time to do it justice right now? Even if the external conditions are perfect: they’re offering good money and you’re invested in the idea, do you have the bandwidth to do it? If you’re already slammed with work or personal responsibilities, take a step back and finish up everything that’s already on the docket before trying to add more to it. 

-Sonia