Comments on: Etiquette or the lack thereof in today’s publishing world

By: Draven Ames

Draven Ames — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:42:55 +0000

This is spot on. During an interview with Robert Walker, he told me that this is the biggest thing that has to change. He went off about how agents treat writers like dirt and claimed they had no business wanting to micromanage a writer. He said they would tell him that TV and radio doesn’t sell books, while turning around and using those tools for the higher sellers. He had a lot of opinions, some wrong and some right – I’m sure.

There seems to be a disconnect from the real world everywhere. With that, we have these kinds of things. People are considered weird if they drop off their book in person. Was it like that thirty years ago?

On the other side, looking over this site, it seems like your company has a lot going for them. For being so professional, you all seem fun. That is a good thing.

Draven Ames

By: Alex Patterson

Alex Patterson — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:48:32 +0000

People on board a sinking ship always fight over the last seat on the lifeboat.

By: Kelly Klem

Kelly Klem — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:24:30 +0000

…to be creative…

By: Kelly Klem

Kelly Klem — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 01:20:40 +0000

…-our-…sorry…my eye goes right to them…it’s the literal gene.

I am SO fortunate to work for a yarn company (freelance) that is particularly cognizant of this dynamic with their writers. As a creative person (sensitive to the point of wimping out if you look at me wrong)their handling of me which is not coddling but simply POLITE allows me to creative with confidence. Also, because of this – I am able to take their criticism in a more wholesome way that does not involve digging holes to hide in. Being civil with the people you work with promotes TRUST – an imperative for productivity.

By: Dara

Dara — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:51:51 +0000

Unfortunately that seems to be the prevailing attitude in nearly every part of business. It’s like professionalism disappeared. I don’t really understand it.

Of course that’s not to say that everyone is like that–obviously that isn’t true–but it’s always nice to see when there are people out there who truly show they care for their clients and want the best for them. Thanks for posting this. Hopefully it will change…

By: LupLun

LupLun — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 17:43:42 +0000

Hmm. Well, I’m not a publishing insider by any stretch, but my assumption would be that they don’t feel they have to be polite. The recession put a lot of people out of work, and many of them decided to try and make a living writing. This means three things: A) a lot of less-talented-than-they-think authors trying the patience of editors, make it harder and harder to please them, B) more work to do to meet their quotas (which you always have, even if it’s the arbitrary number in your own head,) and C) they can easily reject even a good book, since there’s plenty more where that came from.

Cynical, I know, but there it is.

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 21:28:04 +0000

I would hope, in the case of the editor who rejected the material without even reading it, that you’d be able to send the proposal to the assistant editor instead, but I get the feeling this publishing house would have a policy against that. :-\

It’s very sad if these examples become the status quo.

By: Michael G-G

Michael G-G — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:32:23 +0000

Thank you for this, Jane. Good manners and a pleasant disposition may, in TV land, be boring–but in my book they can’t be beat.

From the writer’s perspective: “Comforting” may not be the right word to describe the fact that agents get ignored too. “Enlightening?”

From all I have read recently, on blogs and elsewhere, it appears that for traditional publishing “the center cannot hold” much longer. I don’t know if we’ve reached the tipping point yet, but everyone seems to be talking about the “potential in digital publishing.” Writers in the trenches are getting restive. Agents are realigning. Publishing company CEOs are talking about “irrevocable changes,” and “e-publishing” being the wave of the future.

It’s a great time to be alive (and polite.)

By: Caitie F

Caitie F — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:12:06 +0000

If what you say is true, it is very sad. I have always thought the relationship is very important. If there is no mutual respect and a sense of working together, how can anything get done? I don’t enjoy working with people who are hostile to me, and I am sure authors, editors, and agents all agree!

I wouldn’t say it is all on the editors side though, I am sure there are agents that act that way also. I hear and read many stories of agents acting that way towards writers that query them, when a writer has just been professional and kind.

Hopefully it is a phase.