Most writers either have a website, or a spot where they post blogs. I’m here to warn you that anyone can look at your website and read your blog. One thing writers should never do is post the number of publishers that have rejected your story. Why you say?
The why is because these days’ editors, who receive proposals from you will go to your website to check out your work and read your blog before they look at what you submitted. If you sent X-Story to editor at Y-Publishing and she/he reads that the story has been to three or more publishers and been rejected by all of them, the editor is going to think there’s no way I want this work.
It would be far better to say that you have done extensive rewrites based on comments given to you by an editor whom you submitted your work to. Or, if you only received a form letter, then say you have finished comprehensive edits on the story based on comments from your critique group, a published author or etc.
If you have totally rewritten the story, then say that, but don’t post all your rejections. Unfortunately, there are aspiring authors out there who have been caught doing this not realizing that they are being rejected for this reason and not for their work. Think before you blog.
See you next week.
Sandy
18 comments:
Good advice, Sandy. -Laura H.
Very good point, Sandy. Submitting writers better be aware of this fact that editors do look for them.
You might also want to include MySpace and Facebook too on that list.
Hugs
Z(Aasiyah/Nolwynn)
Thanks for stopping by, Laura.
Thanks, Z. I'll do that.
Hugs.
Great Advice Sandy. I've always looked at my website as sort of my resume/interview. I wouldn't walk into a job interview and tell the man hiring that I'd been interviewed by his competitors and not hired.
You're right, Sandy. I wouldn't post anything about a manuscript being rejected by any publisher either!
I had never thought of that. Of course, since I never thought of doing it, I never did it. I suppose that worked out well then. (o:
More and more, I am beginning to think of my author site as a resume. I definitely use it for that when I apply at a publisher to be a cover artist. Gee, I better go in and update it again soon.
*hugs* to you Sandy
Anastasia
Good post, Sandy. I've heard you shouldn't post anything on your website or blog that you wouldn't want the world to read. They are our faces to the world.
I attended an internet safety workshop last week. Scary what less than savory folks can discover just by reading MySpace, FaceBook, blogs, and websites. A special warning was for parents about their teens and children.
Our speaker said was that you wouldn't allow a 40 year old stranger go into your 12 year old daughter's (or son's) bedroom. And yet every day, in chat rooms, that's precisely what happens.
Thanks for a great blog, and a good word of caution about keeping it professional, Sandy.
Christie, you are a smart lady.
Thanks for coming by.
Thanks, Marianne, for stopping by.
Hugs,
Sandy
Ana,
Thanks for stopping by. I think everyone here has the right idea.
Hugs,
Sandy
Deb,
Thanks for the additional point about the strangers lurking on our websites.
I can vouch for that. Once I used a quote from Hemingway, and I had a professor from the University of Florida contact me wanting to know where I got that quote. He wanted to use it for a reference in a book he was writing about Hemingway.
Thanks for coming by.
Sandy
Definitely good advice, Sandy. Writers should realize that their writing on any site at all can also circle back.
Not only should you make sure that your public persona represents the You editors, publishers and agents would like (successful, positive, ambitious and dedicated) but also that Every Sentence You Write Displays Your Talent and Ability.
I've seen people slam out blogs that have typos, for example. If you're a professional, your blog should reflect your standards. Just as you would scour a query for typos and clarity, every post, every email to others in our field, even casual comments should merit some scrutiny. Writers are the only artists who have the opportunity to display their talent every day. *grin*
Dancers, singers, actors, painters, their creative work is somewhat separate from their lives. Not so with writers. Our written communication provides a glimpse into our ability AND our professionalism. I actually went to a blog of one author who pretty much made up a word. *shakes head* I was a little appalled, since a simple spell-check would have revealed that.
Simple rule: If you don't have time to proofread, if you don't have time to put your best writing forward, you're pushing for quantity over quality. All it takes is for one interested agent to pop over and see this. Maybe she'd shrug it off. Or maybe she'd wonder if such slap-dash work is an accurate representation. *gulp*
GREAT post, Sandy!
Smiles,
Chiron O'Keefe
www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com
Chiron,
I totally agree with you. Writing is our profession, and we must look our best.
Hugs,
Sandy
A good point-- if some company rejects the book, why should someone else be interested.....
Thanks for stopping by, K.T.
It's certain that an editor doesn't want to read a website where the author is whining the blues about being rejected.
I agree wholeheartedly. I am a publisher, and I do check a new author's Web sites when considering their work. Another thing to think about is if a previous editor made suggestions, and the author then decides to slam the editor and explain on her blog why this editor doesn't know what she's talking about. Whether I agree or disagree with the editor, this kind of thing tells me I do not want to work with this author no matter how great her work is.
Post a Comment