Don't be one of these writers (inappropriate pitches)
- Thread starter VTwriter
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SLake
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Discounting even issues of appropriate vs inappropriate, and issues of intimidation, there is also the simple job factor.
Put simply, being an editor is a job, and writers are the suppliers offering their products to the editor to sell. It is up to the editor to select the best products from the best suppliers if they want their own work to be successful.
Accosting a person and demanding their attention at inappropriate times in a context like this states, quite explicitly, "regardless of the quality of my product, I will be a difficult supplier to work with and will demand a disproportionate amount of your time.". I can hardly blame editors for not wanting to publish writers like that.
And besides, when most people are not at work - when they are at lunch (whether in a buffet in public or not) or when they are on the toilet, they do not want to still be dealing with their job. Acknowledging that people need time away from work concerns is just part of being a basically decent human being.
Put simply, being an editor is a job, and writers are the suppliers offering their products to the editor to sell. It is up to the editor to select the best products from the best suppliers if they want their own work to be successful.
Accosting a person and demanding their attention at inappropriate times in a context like this states, quite explicitly, "regardless of the quality of my product, I will be a difficult supplier to work with and will demand a disproportionate amount of your time.". I can hardly blame editors for not wanting to publish writers like that.
And besides, when most people are not at work - when they are at lunch (whether in a buffet in public or not) or when they are on the toilet, they do not want to still be dealing with their job. Acknowledging that people need time away from work concerns is just part of being a basically decent human being.
I saw an agent lay the smack down on several tweeters the other day because they were trying to pitch in 140 characters. When she pointed out her submission guidelines they (and hoardes of loyal friends) started to go nuts at the agent. One tweeter even commented that the agent refusing to listen to their friend's pitch over Twitter would be reminiscent of when Decca turned down the Beatles which made me chuckle. A lot.