Oh, hell and damnation again...

Feeling rather vexed this evening.

Am supposed to be working on most salacious, emotional and yet still sexy copy for a book jacket, but instead find myself fuming over an email.

One of the mags I currently write for (am contributing editor) has asked me to feature a particular video game... because that particular company is advertising for the issue.

Now, I've told these people once, I've told them twice -- hell, I've told them three times -- that I will not, under any circumstances, compromise the copy for the sake of an advertiser. Paying money to the publisher (of which I will see nothing but my regular rate anyway) will not buy my fucking integrity. And nor can you purchase it from me directly... though I would certainly respect the bluntness of such a gesture.

I keep my copy clean. The magazine knows this. Hell, it's part of the reason I have a semi-decent reputation (tiny though it be). So why do they insist on asking me to feature games on an advertising basis? And worse still, what does it say about the publisher/developer who encourages this?

Sure, the managing editor has no ethical problems with this. He can do whatever he wants to his copy (and people know exactly what they're up to).

But me?
I... am... not... for... sale.
Everyone has a price. You missed it. By a long shot.

You want advertorial, you will not only have to pay for the copy, but the cost of my pride, my reputation and any sense of self-worth I have left in my body after working in the business for six years.

You may not have my soul. So fuck off already.

There. Have removed myself from the soapbox. Done.