Aspiring writers, avoid bonehead moves

If you hope for writing to be more than a hobby, it’s a good idea to have a good sense for what is and is not good practice when it comes to dealing with editors and agents. Those people will be your doorway into the world of getting paid for your work and having readers who are not friends and family. It’s helpful to know what approaches work and, more importantly, what approaches DON’T. That’s one reason why I pay attention to their blogs.

Literary agent Jessica Faust shares a story about a writer who got defensive when she asked for more information about the author’s manuscript. Way to shoot yourself in the foot! I’ve mention being overly defensive before and it’s worth repeating: you will only hurt yourself.

Janet Reid, also a literary agent, shares a similar story. I feel her pain on this one. In my day job as an editor I’m often on the receiving end of those calls — when I say “send me more information,” that is NOT an invitation to pitch your amazing news feature to me over the phone — so I take great pains to avoid being That Guy.

That doesn’t mean you act like a timid mouse, unable or unwilling to assert yourself. Be aggressive in pursuing your dream at all costs! Just try to avoid these simply boneheaded blunders. Speaking as an editor myself, trust me, those creative gimmicks you think will grab attention will not help you, they will hinder you — but that’s another blog post entirely — and being pushy rather than aggressive is a surefire way to get editors to ignore you.

Don’t be That Guy.