I certainly have made no secret about writing for Cracked magazine over the years. But with the announcement that Mad magazine is shutting down after a 70 year run, I figured I would mention my experiences with that magazine.
First off, Mad published one of my gags. It was drawn by Don Martin. It was the first thing I ever submitted to them. Things went quickly downhill from there.
First off, Mad published one of my gags. It was drawn by Don Martin. It was the first thing I ever submitted to them. Things went quickly downhill from there.
One Fine Morning at State Prison
It was just after my college graduation when I saw a listing in the NY Times wanted ads. MAD magazine was looking for writers. Needles to say, I was stunned by the idea that they were advertising for new writers. I thought the "usual gang of idiots" was an actual gang and people could only get in if they knew somebody. Or was an idiot. I answered the ad and they sent back instructions on how to submit. I put together a bunch of panel gags and story ideas (many of them re-worked sketches that I felt could be adapted) and mailed them in. And a few months later I got a check for the State Prison gag.
I started to learn a couple of things right away; no author credit on a Don Martin bit unless it appeared on the back cover. And the fact that I had made a sale was no guarantee for future submissions.
I started to learn a couple of things right away; no author credit on a Don Martin bit unless it appeared on the back cover. And the fact that I had made a sale was no guarantee for future submissions.
I put together another batch of gags and sent them off. None of them made the cut, but I got some very positive feedback on the gags and a note that said one gag was very closely considered and another joke too closely resembled an earlier Don Martin gag. All very encouraging. The next batch came and went without a sale but did have a hand-written note saying no. The fourth batch came back with a form rejection letter...
Not my actual letter. It's filed away in a basement somewhere. But this is it, with even the same reason checked.
When I got this, I got really ticked off. I took it as a slap in the face. A demotion. Stupidly, instead of accepting it for what it was, I wrote a letter of umbrage at this insult. I felt I had achieved some level of professionalism and thought I had a relationship with them that didn't warrant a form rejection notice that everyone else got. Hey, they were the ones advertising for new writers, right?
The editors felt differently.
I did get a personal response from the editor, a letter noting my lack of professionalism and a request that I never send them any material again. Obviously, we had conflicting concepts of "professionalism."
Yeah, so I was "banned" from submitting to MAD. It hurt. I know, I know, it was a stupid move on my part, but I was really angered by it. There are times I'm simply tired of submitting my best, making a connection and then finding out that I'm back at square one. It was just a Groundhog Day of specs and cold submissions and MAD received my wrath.
Naturally I didn't submit again...for a while...
The editors felt differently.
I did get a personal response from the editor, a letter noting my lack of professionalism and a request that I never send them any material again. Obviously, we had conflicting concepts of "professionalism."
Yeah, so I was "banned" from submitting to MAD. It hurt. I know, I know, it was a stupid move on my part, but I was really angered by it. There are times I'm simply tired of submitting my best, making a connection and then finding out that I'm back at square one. It was just a Groundhog Day of specs and cold submissions and MAD received my wrath.
Naturally I didn't submit again...for a while...
