Editor Time: Communicating to Publisher & Editor

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I should really re-name this one as: how to communicate without it sounding like a rant.

Or…how to not bite one’s tongue while typing?

Maybe…I know what you mean, but it ain’t reading that way…I know you don’t mean how it sounds/reads (hope you don’t, but can’t ask without sounding _______)

Let’s face it, emails are a tough communication medium. Texting and instant messaging is right up there, too. And we’ll never really know what the person receiving our communication is going through at the moment we reach out to them.

Which is why, even (more so) between friends/business-friends, we need to be aware of how we type our interactions. Now I’m a rambler, but I’d rather be wordy than have someone read an emotion that was not intended. Even in my teasing and joking I’ll put a smiley face or wink or come out and say right off I’m _____.

Why?

Because…uhm, how do I say this without sounding witchy. Is there a way to say this without coming across as a rant? Not sure I can word this without possibly inflicting guilt feelings on some…which, again, isn’t my intention.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the road to Hades is paved with good intentions.

Okay, okay, I’ll just spit it out. 

When you’re on the receiving end of multiple emails all wanting the same thing by the time you’ve read them nothing sounds/reads as a tease, joke, friendly innocent question. 

They all start feeling sarcastic, down-putting, not funny, demoralizing.

Sorry, but as an editor and part of a publishing house and reviewer, I can be dealing with a few hundred emails a week. While I do try and maintain a upbeat emailly (??) appearance, yeah, there are times I’m faking it. BIG time faking it.

Remember…I’m an author, too. I’ve sat on your side of the table.

Today, wearing my editor’s hat…yes my feelings get hurt. Yes, sometimes I would love to reply with – I’m doing the best that I can. Or…for crying out loud I’ve answered that already. Or even a frustrated yell of – go away and leave me alone.

But, I can’t. Even now I’m not sure whether or not to keep this posting. As you can see I’ve kept it…and rewrote this sentence six times…because I believe the message I’m trying to express is important.

The Internet and cyberspace have sped up how we reach each other. Letters would take days. Phone calls had to be juggled between time zones…sometimes even via an operator. Today it’s a couple of clicks on a keyboard and we’re reaching someone across the world.

Today social media has us talking with limited characters. We’re speeding with constant updates and quickie like buttons. It’s at a point where just saying – good morning – needs an active reminder instead of being our instant first thought.

And this has transferred its way into our emails, instant messaging, and even phone calls. We’re not stopping and checking ourselves. Heck, I’ve even just signed my name with C rather than type out my full name. Actually, how many of us have auto signatures so we don’t even need to think of it anymore.

I’m thinking of deleting this whole thing again. After all when you’re friends with people aren’t you suppose to be able to joke, tease, not worry how you’re read? 

That’s the point…when it’s personal, keep it personal. When it’s business, keep it business. 

Polite, precise, diplomatic…make your communication to others in the manner you want to receive communications from them. No matter how frustrated you are.

Remember there’s a human on the other side of the screen…would you really talk to them the way you type to them?

Yes, this is the business I decided to be in. Yes, it’s my choice to work with hundreds, so yes, I should expect to deal with many, and yes many, may very well have the same question. Tough luck.

Let me answer that with this one last question…in the end what type of cyber communicator do you want to be?