tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7896441382538975663..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Editors Rant: Jessica d'ArbonneDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81347489349668131612016-12-20T16:09:28.583-07:002016-12-20T16:09:28.583-07:00Good post, worth repeating.Good post, worth repeating.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25453880385346184342016-10-16T16:21:11.155-06:002016-10-16T16:21:11.155-06:00I am not an agent, editor or publisher. But I rece...I am not an agent, editor or publisher. But I receive 3-5 "submission" per month. I run a website writer's community. Why people think I can get them published is beyond me. <br /><br />I guess I can't get upset about them not following the submission guidelines...I don't have any!<br />Audrey Shafferhttp://writerschatroom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64967648057886222452016-09-15T07:51:24.631-06:002016-09-15T07:51:24.631-06:00LOLLOLHolly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83190921855748595242016-09-15T07:49:48.828-06:002016-09-15T07:49:48.828-06:00This is what I tell other writers who think gettin...This is what I tell other writers who think getting published is tantamount to winning the lottery - if you can follow simple directions and know what a SASE is, you've just beat about 90% of the competition and your odds of getting published are now way better than your odds of winning the lottery. <br /><br />I don't know why people don't understand that publishing is a business, with particular market demographics and subject matter needs - and that no one just goes around buying beautiful things that they don't need or want. It isn't a personal rejection (unless you're ANNOYING THE EDITOR), but a reflection of what the publisher is buying and not buying, and clearly they're not buying what you're selling. <br /><br />Authors always want detailed critique - they want to know what would have made the Acquisitions Editor fall in love and buy their "baby." Having worked both sides of the fence, I now understand and appreciate the terse, "This does not meet our needs at this time. Best of luck elsewhere." It's a firmly shut door that doesn't invite quibbling over writing style and whether you're a discerning reader or any good as an editor. Do you get many authors who want to ARGUE the point with you?<br /><br />Did you ever read Ms. Snark? Good Lord, that blog came to a close in 2007, but if you're not familiar with it, you'll love it: http://misssnark.blogspot.com/ Holly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75812835263889286852016-09-14T17:36:46.136-06:002016-09-14T17:36:46.136-06:00Surprisingly, there are many who are fumbling alon...Surprisingly, there are many who are fumbling along and don't know the proper procedures. Your advice should help them.Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78173372902852847672016-09-13T16:50:44.411-06:002016-09-13T16:50:44.411-06:00That is MADDENING.
And thank you. :) Proud to be ...That is MADDENING. <br />And thank you. :) Proud to be here!Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12421337721761626648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-42815530412702746062016-09-13T15:56:50.043-06:002016-09-13T15:56:50.043-06:00As a freelance editor who has a small publishing c...As a freelance editor who has a small publishing company, I relate to your frustrations. My website is very specific about what we accept and what we don't, but that rarely seems to register with those who query about submitting manuscripts. I always wonder how they manage to self-edit their entire works when they can't seem to get through one page of directions on my site. Or perhaps they do read them and decide they are the exceptions to the rule. These I definitely do not want to work with; nor do I wish to publish their books.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-69309188827144283682016-09-13T15:01:10.005-06:002016-09-13T15:01:10.005-06:00Jessica, thanks for this great reminder of what no...Jessica, thanks for this great reminder of what not to do when writing a query letter. When I was the managing editor for a suburban print magazine eons ago, there was a writer who desperately wanted to see her words in our publication. Unfortunately, she never submitted a professional query, even after I told her on the phone that that was the way to contact me regarding an idea for an article. She kept calling me, wanting to pitch over the phone. She would never listen, so even if she had finally given in and written me a query letter, I would have rejected it because she triggered my "reject reflex."<br /><br />Welcome to the BRP.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39930827432724820002016-09-13T11:18:35.803-06:002016-09-13T11:18:35.803-06:00I work exclusively with nonfiction at the press. N...I work exclusively with nonfiction at the press. Nothing gets me more excited than an innovative, well-researched work that reexamines common misperceptions about our history and culture. And I love working with young or first-time authors. <3Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12421337721761626648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59465043904027570312016-09-13T11:16:05.803-06:002016-09-13T11:16:05.803-06:00Ah yes, my favorite. The Jackson Pollock method of...Ah yes, my favorite. The Jackson Pollock method of querying. ;)Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12421337721761626648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43519168222585559082016-09-13T11:15:06.669-06:002016-09-13T11:15:06.669-06:00Exactly! You SHOULD feel hopeful. So much of your ...Exactly! You SHOULD feel hopeful. So much of your competition is being eliminated for dumb, completely avoidable mistakes. You're actually working among a much smaller pool of queries.Jesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12421337721761626648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52546218081734000942016-09-13T11:11:11.869-06:002016-09-13T11:11:11.869-06:00I had a college prof who repeatedly said this to m...I had a college prof who repeatedly said this to me. Followed closely by "answer the question". How many times did he write that on an exam? I eventually learned. :DDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-65771685917262132652016-09-13T11:09:50.375-06:002016-09-13T11:09:50.375-06:00You are a smart man, Jason!You are a smart man, Jason!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-39965841522561386442016-09-13T10:46:39.515-06:002016-09-13T10:46:39.515-06:00Excellent post for anyone querying. Follow instruc...Excellent post for anyone querying. Follow instructions.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13974046026515017882016-09-13T10:30:25.202-06:002016-09-13T10:30:25.202-06:00Sheesh, Jessica ... where were these tips when I s...Sheesh, Jessica ... where were these tips when I started the campaign to get my books published? I just figured that if I threw enough 'stuff' against the wall, something would stick somewhere. Well, it didn't, and my arm got so tired throwing it that I had to quit ... you get the picture. Annnyyywaaaaayyy ... good tips.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-71519659183801357212016-09-13T10:12:27.803-06:002016-09-13T10:12:27.803-06:00I went to an agent panel at the Gold Conference in...I went to an agent panel at the Gold Conference in Colorado in 2015. The agent said they reject 80% of submissions because they don't follow the guidelines. I was shocked! It also made me quite hopeful. I know how to follow directions!jasonhevanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03010470666133851593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-32824489212295232182016-09-13T10:03:01.826-06:002016-09-13T10:03:01.826-06:00Great questions!Great questions!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-81138407088830032492016-09-13T08:28:00.256-06:002016-09-13T08:28:00.256-06:00What genres do you represent? What type of story m...What genres do you represent? What type of story makes your toes curl with excitement?Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com