Dear Self-Publishing Author,
Of course I can rush your book so that it is available before 2012.
Thank you for letting me know of the change of delivery address two days after I placed an expensive expedited rush on the delivery of your books.
I appreciate the fact that you let me know, unlike when you wanted your website address on your promotional materials but didn't tell me. I'm sorry my pyschic powers seem to be fading.
Sincerely,
Kreskin's daughter
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Friday, 29 July 2011
Creative Decisions
Dear Self-Publishing Author,
No, I can't decide the title of your book. No, I can't decide if the cover you will forward me is appropriate. These are creative, artistic decisions and, as this is self-publishing and as you are the author, you are responsible for those decisions.
Yes, I will leave a note for our design department that you want an 'odd' font to illustrate the title of your book.
Perhaps I should explain what self-publishing means (again).
Sincerely,
It's not my book.
No, I can't decide the title of your book. No, I can't decide if the cover you will forward me is appropriate. These are creative, artistic decisions and, as this is self-publishing and as you are the author, you are responsible for those decisions.
Yes, I will leave a note for our design department that you want an 'odd' font to illustrate the title of your book.
Perhaps I should explain what self-publishing means (again).
Sincerely,
It's not my book.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Communication
Dear Self-Publishing Author,
You do have the right to express yourself. I assume that is why you have written a book. However, telling me you're going to create a teeshirt that tells the world how displeased you are with my company is not productive communication.
There are doctors who are trained to listen to you vent. I am not.
Or maybe you could write another scintillating book on the subject as your talents have overwhelmed me.
Sincerely,
Not impressed.
You do have the right to express yourself. I assume that is why you have written a book. However, telling me you're going to create a teeshirt that tells the world how displeased you are with my company is not productive communication.
There are doctors who are trained to listen to you vent. I am not.
Or maybe you could write another scintillating book on the subject as your talents have overwhelmed me.
Sincerely,
Not impressed.
Monday, 25 July 2011
publishing packages
Dear Self-Publishing Author,
Please read your descriptions of what is included in your packages carefully.
Please do not act surprised when we have to charge you for more image insertions than your package allows. No, we can't insert 16 more images for free. You do read English, right?
You are at liberty to create a tee shirt that indicates your displeasure with us. I do not believe that "the only thing missing from this deal is the gun".
Sincerely,
Not owning any responsibility for this one
Please read your descriptions of what is included in your packages carefully.
Please do not act surprised when we have to charge you for more image insertions than your package allows. No, we can't insert 16 more images for free. You do read English, right?
You are at liberty to create a tee shirt that indicates your displeasure with us. I do not believe that "the only thing missing from this deal is the gun".
Sincerely,
Not owning any responsibility for this one
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Expectations
Dear Self-Publishing Author,
Please pay attention when we describe time frames. It is important to understand that we give you these time frames as guidance.
If you choose to have your work edited (which I encourage!), this will add time to that estimate.
If you choose to have an extra revision round, this will add time to your estimate.
If you need any additional services, this will add time to your estimate.
Please do not act surprised when the time estimate changes because of additional services. Unfortunately, these services take time. No I can't fit these into the original time estimate.
Please also understand that taking a strident tone and becoming rude and demanding will not alter the fact that extra services will take extra time.
Please further understand that while your changes might only take our designers a short time to complete, that you are not the only author with whom we work and it will take some time to get your piece in front of a designer. Please understand that we work with hundreds of authors and endeavor to give each author the same focussed attention. I know you are in a rush because 2012 is coming and everyone will need to read this book, but we have proceedures that must be followed.
Please be advised that telling me what other companies are doing does not alter our process, nor shorten the time it takes to produce a work of quality.
Please be advised that phoning me every other day will not alter our process, nor shorten the time it takes.
Please be advised that our book promotion department has specific experience in their areas, and while you might have graduated from journalism in 1862, that does not mean you know the best way to market your book.
Please be advised that if your target market is college age readers, it might serve you well to listen to our staff, who are college aged and know how that demographic communicates.
Please be advised that becoming obnoxious and rude will not help you achieve the results you like.
Sincerely,
Amazed at lack of courtesy, logic and professionalism of some self-publishing authors.
Please pay attention when we describe time frames. It is important to understand that we give you these time frames as guidance.
If you choose to have your work edited (which I encourage!), this will add time to that estimate.
If you choose to have an extra revision round, this will add time to your estimate.
If you need any additional services, this will add time to your estimate.
Please do not act surprised when the time estimate changes because of additional services. Unfortunately, these services take time. No I can't fit these into the original time estimate.
Please also understand that taking a strident tone and becoming rude and demanding will not alter the fact that extra services will take extra time.
Please further understand that while your changes might only take our designers a short time to complete, that you are not the only author with whom we work and it will take some time to get your piece in front of a designer. Please understand that we work with hundreds of authors and endeavor to give each author the same focussed attention. I know you are in a rush because 2012 is coming and everyone will need to read this book, but we have proceedures that must be followed.
Please be advised that telling me what other companies are doing does not alter our process, nor shorten the time it takes to produce a work of quality.
Please be advised that phoning me every other day will not alter our process, nor shorten the time it takes.
Please be advised that our book promotion department has specific experience in their areas, and while you might have graduated from journalism in 1862, that does not mean you know the best way to market your book.
Please be advised that if your target market is college age readers, it might serve you well to listen to our staff, who are college aged and know how that demographic communicates.
Please be advised that becoming obnoxious and rude will not help you achieve the results you like.
Sincerely,
Amazed at lack of courtesy, logic and professionalism of some self-publishing authors.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Editorial Expectations
Unfortunately I have reached the point in my career where I am being made painfully aware that authors don't aways understand the role of an editor and don't always know what to expect when their piece comes back from a professional edit. Let's take care of that now:
Expect:
*a manuscript containing suggestions to help YOUR voice be heard. Using an editor does not mean that you are no longer the author. You choose whether to accept changes or not.
*most (90%) of spelling and grammatical errors caught. This does not include colloquialisms from different countries. This does not include corrections to proper names (unless they are widely known). This does not include every error (after all, editors are people too :)
Do Not Expect:
*data entry. If there is material missing, it is the author's responsibility to provide the editor with the full manuscript
*artistic commentary. It is not the editor's job to give writing advice. They specialize in grammar and spelling. If you have chosen to get what we call a "Content Edit", you receive commentary on the story, including pace, flow, continuity, character and storyline consistency (or for non-fiction, organization and logical flow)
Hope this helps you in your writing career!
Expect:
*a manuscript containing suggestions to help YOUR voice be heard. Using an editor does not mean that you are no longer the author. You choose whether to accept changes or not.
*most (90%) of spelling and grammatical errors caught. This does not include colloquialisms from different countries. This does not include corrections to proper names (unless they are widely known). This does not include every error (after all, editors are people too :)
Do Not Expect:
*data entry. If there is material missing, it is the author's responsibility to provide the editor with the full manuscript
*artistic commentary. It is not the editor's job to give writing advice. They specialize in grammar and spelling. If you have chosen to get what we call a "Content Edit", you receive commentary on the story, including pace, flow, continuity, character and storyline consistency (or for non-fiction, organization and logical flow)
Hope this helps you in your writing career!
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Rejection Letters
Having applied to my fair share of publishers, I have many rejections to show for it. (I also have non-answers, which are simply just spaces in the excel spreadsheet that I keep for that purpose.)While I was accepted by one traditional publisher, that relationship ultimately faltered.
My point is that I have learned so much from the rejections that I have received. They have been at times encouraging, complimentary and some with invitations to resubmit. Although it is difficult to understand that they don't want to publish the brilliant novel I have written, when I slow down to read their wording, even form letters contain clues to help make me a better writer and literary business person. The two are not the same thing. Something that I continue to learn.
In terms of the literary business, one of the things that I have learned is the meaning of "Simultaneous Submission". I understood this term to mean "don't send us more than one thing". What it actually means is that the publisher doesn't want you sending your submissions to anyone else until they've had an opportunity to decide if they will publish it. WHOOPS!
Actually, I sent out about 25 submissions with single click of my mouse. Those that listed "No Simultaneous Submissions" are the ones from which I did not hear. Having learned the hard way that the industry is miniscule, I now know how to put my rejection letters and non-responses into a more appropriate context. This helps me look at the situation and strategize about how to make my next approach better. My response is no longer rooted in my own fear of the "No Talent" judgment I used to hear rustling under the words of the latest rejection letter.
I encourage everyone to view their rejections (if you have any :) as a learning experience and as part of the literary business of getting published. Comments?
My point is that I have learned so much from the rejections that I have received. They have been at times encouraging, complimentary and some with invitations to resubmit. Although it is difficult to understand that they don't want to publish the brilliant novel I have written, when I slow down to read their wording, even form letters contain clues to help make me a better writer and literary business person. The two are not the same thing. Something that I continue to learn.
In terms of the literary business, one of the things that I have learned is the meaning of "Simultaneous Submission". I understood this term to mean "don't send us more than one thing". What it actually means is that the publisher doesn't want you sending your submissions to anyone else until they've had an opportunity to decide if they will publish it. WHOOPS!
Actually, I sent out about 25 submissions with single click of my mouse. Those that listed "No Simultaneous Submissions" are the ones from which I did not hear. Having learned the hard way that the industry is miniscule, I now know how to put my rejection letters and non-responses into a more appropriate context. This helps me look at the situation and strategize about how to make my next approach better. My response is no longer rooted in my own fear of the "No Talent" judgment I used to hear rustling under the words of the latest rejection letter.
I encourage everyone to view their rejections (if you have any :) as a learning experience and as part of the literary business of getting published. Comments?
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