Comments on: A beginning writer bitches about the publishing industry http://ontext.com/2009/08/beginning-writer-bitches-publishing-industry/ Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:26:07 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: admin http://ontext.com/2009/08/beginning-writer-bitches-publishing-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-597 admin Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:03:01 +0000 http://ontext.com/?p=588#comment-597 Thanks, Phil, for the spot-on comment. Reality is harsh, but true. The business aspect of writing is something many, many writers either overlook or are untrained to attend to. I agree with you - it isn't about how cool we are, or how much star quality we have, or what we deserve. It's about supply and demand - and the customer is the decision maker. Sadly, writing for periodicals is becoming the Walmart of the publishing business. Lots of lower quality goods for sale to the end-user at cheap prices. Looking forward to hearing your voice again. If you'd like to consider guest posting, let us know. mkp Thanks, Phil, for the spot-on comment. Reality is harsh, but true. The business aspect of writing is something many, many writers either overlook or are untrained to attend to. I agree with you – it isn’t about how cool we are, or how much star quality we have, or what we deserve. It’s about supply and demand – and the customer is the decision maker. Sadly, writing for periodicals is becoming the Walmart of the publishing business. Lots of lower quality goods for sale to the end-user at cheap prices.

Looking forward to hearing your voice again. If you’d like to consider guest posting, let us know.

mkp

]]> By: Phil La Duke http://ontext.com/2009/08/beginning-writer-bitches-publishing-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-596 Phil La Duke Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:33:52 +0000 http://ontext.com/?p=588#comment-596 I've been a professional writer for over 30 years and writers often fail to recognize that they are basically in a sales position (assuming they are not working with an agent.)Once you recognize that this is a business, and not an exercise in ego stroking, one can understand a couple of key facts. Fact: Just because you think you are good doesn't make it so. Fact: Even if you are good doesn't make the story right for the publication to which you are pitching. Fact: Etiquette goes out the window when you are submitting unsolicited material for sale. In the business sectors outside of writing its called junk mail and it is neither wanted nor welcome. No response should be the expected norm. Fact: Your style may not fit the editor's current vision or business plan. Fact: We are seeing more and more writers hanging out their shingles. Competition + shrinking demand = less work/pay. Fact: This is a business. If the publication can't make money from your work, why would it risk running it? I’ve been a professional writer for over 30 years and writers often fail to recognize that they are basically in a sales position (assuming they are not working with an agent.)Once you recognize that this is a business, and not an exercise in ego stroking, one can understand a couple of key facts.

Fact: Just because you think you are good doesn’t make it so.

Fact: Even if you are good doesn’t make the story right for the publication to which you are pitching.

Fact: Etiquette goes out the window when you are submitting unsolicited material for sale. In the business sectors outside of writing its called junk mail and it is neither wanted nor welcome. No response should be the expected norm.

Fact: Your style may not fit the editor’s current vision or business plan.

Fact: We are seeing more and more writers hanging out their shingles. Competition + shrinking demand = less work/pay.

Fact: This is a business. If the publication can’t make money from your work, why would it risk running it?

]]> By: Margaret L. Carter http://ontext.com/2009/08/beginning-writer-bitches-publishing-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-496 Margaret L. Carter Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:00:17 +0000 http://ontext.com/?p=588#comment-496 The comments include many cogent points, most of which I agree with. However, I concur with the original poster that there is no excuse for the complete absence of a reply -- especially in this age of rapid, easy communication by e-mail. In most cases I won't bother to submit to a market whose guidelines say something like, "If you don't hear from us in X amount of time, we're not interested." Under that set-up, how can one be sure the submission even got there? The comments include many cogent points, most of which I agree with. However, I concur with the original poster that there is no excuse for the complete absence of a reply — especially in this age of rapid, easy communication by e-mail. In most cases I won’t bother to submit to a market whose guidelines say something like, “If you don’t hear from us in X amount of time, we’re not interested.” Under that set-up, how can one be sure the submission even got there?

]]>