Bill Bodden's Blog - Posts Tagged "etiquette"
The Waiting Game
Being an author often requires a lot of waiting. Once you submit a story for consideration, it often takes weeks or months before you hear anything - whether they love your baby or have consigned it to the trash heap. The best advice I've heard for dealing with this is to keep writing. Hopefully, you'll get engrossed in other projects and the time will pass more quickly - and you'll spend less time obsessively hitting the "refresh" button on your email, waiting for The News.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't check in from time to time, but for goodness' sake, don't ever query until AFTER their deadline for responding to you (note this is different from your deadline to have the story turned in!) has passed. In fact, it's best to wait a week to two weeks after their response deadline just to give those considering your work a little extra time - they have lives too, and as the saying goes, shit happens.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't check in from time to time, but for goodness' sake, don't ever query until AFTER their deadline for responding to you (note this is different from your deadline to have the story turned in!) has passed. In fact, it's best to wait a week to two weeks after their response deadline just to give those considering your work a little extra time - they have lives too, and as the saying goes, shit happens.
Gratitude
A writer doesn't exist in a vacuum; many people offer constructive criticism, suggestions, or even ideas that can get the creative juices flowing. I would be a clod if I didn't acknowledge, from time to time, people who've helped me get started as a writer.
First of foremost, my wife Tracy has been the cheerleader, the booster, and the sounding board. She's my alpha reader, and has had a ton of good suggestions for making things better.
I owe a large debt to Matt McElroy and Monica Valentinelli, friends who gave me a shot at being included in their company's - Flames Rising Press - first publishing effort, Haunted: Eleven Tales of Ghostly Horror. Also, they've offered me endless useful advice and encouragement, both before and since.
My most recent publishing success in the anthology Sidekicks! owes thanks to a number of people: first, Sarah Hans for giving me a chance by inviting me to submit a story; second, fellow Alliterates Doug Niles, Lester Smith, Steve Sullivan, Dave Gross, Steven Schend, Thomas Reid, and Will McDermott for critiques and help cleaning up the story to the point where it's one of my most proud accomplishments. Your help was invaluable, Gentlemen; thank you.
Despite being a largely solitary endeavor, writing shouldn't be a solo proposition from start to finish. Most importantly, it's good to have extra pairs of eyes scan your manuscript to catch things you missed, or to highlight things that, while perfectly clear to you because you know what you meant, will not be clear at all to some random person who doesn't share your precise brainwave pattern.
Be grateful for help, and remember to return the favor as often as possible. Consider also paying it forward. There are plenty of authors out there trying to catch a break - give them a hand as often as you're able. Writers DO compete with each other for work, but mostly, we compete with ourselves to produce the best stories possible. Any help received in that quest should be acknowledged and appreciated.
First of foremost, my wife Tracy has been the cheerleader, the booster, and the sounding board. She's my alpha reader, and has had a ton of good suggestions for making things better.
I owe a large debt to Matt McElroy and Monica Valentinelli, friends who gave me a shot at being included in their company's - Flames Rising Press - first publishing effort, Haunted: Eleven Tales of Ghostly Horror. Also, they've offered me endless useful advice and encouragement, both before and since.
My most recent publishing success in the anthology Sidekicks! owes thanks to a number of people: first, Sarah Hans for giving me a chance by inviting me to submit a story; second, fellow Alliterates Doug Niles, Lester Smith, Steve Sullivan, Dave Gross, Steven Schend, Thomas Reid, and Will McDermott for critiques and help cleaning up the story to the point where it's one of my most proud accomplishments. Your help was invaluable, Gentlemen; thank you.
Despite being a largely solitary endeavor, writing shouldn't be a solo proposition from start to finish. Most importantly, it's good to have extra pairs of eyes scan your manuscript to catch things you missed, or to highlight things that, while perfectly clear to you because you know what you meant, will not be clear at all to some random person who doesn't share your precise brainwave pattern.
Be grateful for help, and remember to return the favor as often as possible. Consider also paying it forward. There are plenty of authors out there trying to catch a break - give them a hand as often as you're able. Writers DO compete with each other for work, but mostly, we compete with ourselves to produce the best stories possible. Any help received in that quest should be acknowledged and appreciated.
