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| original work by Christine I Steeves Speakman |
Go ahead and call me a smart-arse, been called that before and will be again, I’m sure.
First please allow me to state…I am not perfect. I have read, re-read, re-re-read, and again re-re-re-read guidelines and I’m sure I’ve still messed something up at some point in time.
Second, the answer to probably the most often asked question-to-the-editor: what bugs you most; what should a writer do to get your attention; what is the major goof writers do; what turns you off a writer’s submission more; what’s the first thing any writer should do when submitting; any advice for a writer…answer: READ AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES!
Go back to first sentence…Yes, I know I’m a smart-arse.
No, this topic isn’t something new, it’s something I’ve heard and experienced in my twenty years online via multiple publishers, working with publishers, being a reviewer, and a member of various writers’ groups. And asking the same question in my newbie years. Plus having high school teachers drill into my brain – read, then re-read what’s being asked.
Seriously, though, failure to read and follow guidelines is the number one most commonly made mistake when submitting a request to anyone…publisher or reviewer. They are there for a reason…the same reason people make FAQ – frequently asked questions – documents. These documents, webpages, will either answer your questions or direct you on how to proceed…even when to proceed.
They’re there to help streamline that site’s manageability. To open the door wider and friendlier to those they are designed for. Imagine a children’s publisher or reviewer or even a blog host opening an email request from someone who writes erotica, whose writing is more adult-themed…whoa, wrong place, wrong audience. Buh-bye.
Opposite is true as well…an erotic site opens an email about a picture book of Teddy the Tiger’s Terrific Picnic…huh? Now, unless Tiger is wearing the teddy and having some adult fun at the picnic, uhm, nope, sorry wrong marketplace. Buh-bye.
I know most of you have heard the comment – know your audience. And yes, sometimes I’ve asked – what the heck does that mean, there’s a wide audience my article, book.
Let the guidelines of the site you’re looking into help direct you. Let’s revisit the above situations.
That children’s publisher, reviewer or blog host…they already know their audience. They’re directing their materials to parents, grandparents, aunt/uncles of children…even to children themselves. It doesn’t matter what else these adults may read, the site is family-themed…children-themed. Meaning – safe for all ages to visit and wander through. Their audience is not expecting to see some picture or read about a busty gal or groin-loaded guy.
Back to our erotic/erotica site…now here is where mom and pop are searching for that busty gal getting it on with Mr. Groin-load. And, they sure don’t want to run into the face of their child’s Teddy-the-Tiger asking to go to the amusement park.
I can hear some voices now…well, the people behind the sites wouldn’t let that happened, smart-arse.
They would politely let me know I have the wrong site and that’s that.
Okay, sure…let’s see how many emails a day; say at least five of them are wrongly sent; each email takes five to seven minutes to read and figure out WTH does this person want, wrong site; another ten minutes to write the reply, cause if you don’t you’ll get another email asking if the first was received or at least someone will complain to someone else that emails are never answered (without bothering to mention you didn’t read the guidelines and sent to wrong place to begin with)…yeah, time gone that could have better spent if only the guidelines had been read.
Oh, my pet peeve of all non-read guidelines…sending a submission or whatever to be reviewed that is completely formatted in some fancy-pant font that is super ridiculous to read beyond a heading or paragraph.
Oh, and don’t even bother telling me you’re ignoring the guidelines cause you just KNOW I’ll be super excited to read your request…yeah, nope hasn’t happened in twenty years, don’t expect it to happen in the next twenty years either.
Yeah, I know…I’m a smart-arse.