I am trying to stay true to the theme of this blog, which is to write about offbeat topics relating to human history. But occasionally I will digress. For example, today I wanted to share this email from one of my favorite editors. He has a rather deadpan sense of humor.
The back story is, this editor has a new project and needs to assign it to multiple writers. He asked me if I could refer writer-friends that I thought might be suitable. I gave him some names. Several days went by and I waited for him to email me with my assignments. When I didn’t hear from him, I sent him an email asking if he planned to give me a writing assignment or if he was just going to hire my friends. Here’s what he wrote:
Dear Miss Albee: Thank you for your interest in continuing to work with [our publishing company]. Although you have shown excellent ability in a range of styles and genres and possess an unheard of gracious good spirits in working with the demanding and cantankerous editor we stuck you with, we have decided to give all future assignments to people you recommended since they are really good, too, and will work cheaper. Best of luck in your future endeavors. [my editor’s name] Oh and in his PS he did say he’d be ready to give me an assignment soon. photo: NYT newsroom 1942, Library of Congress