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This is a post from romance author Cheyenne McCray:
http://www.themidnighthour.net:80/11-editors-agents-on-websites-and-public-dissing
These tips were very interesting. Several said they didn't have time to check an author's website, but others said they were sure to check it out -- and that how the author presented herself might influence their decision. They talked about the professionalism of the website, but they also talked about what they thought when they saw writers dissing editors, agents, and so forth.
For example, from an assistant editor at Warner Books. "...nothing sends a red flag up faster than an author badmouthing people in the business. Publishing is a small world–you’ve got to be careful not to burn any bridges because you never know what might happen or who might end up where. And a quick google search means anyone can find it…and forward the link along to everyone they know."
The overall theme is that writers shouldn't complain about their editors, etc. in public (such in a blog). A lot of this is common sense advice. You never know when your editor or publisher might be reading your blog, not to mention a future editor. And I can think of many cases where authors should have followed this advice. (For example, one formerly best-selling author's complaints about her publisher simply made her out to be a flake who tried to get out of a bad contract and ended up in legal trouble.)
But aren't there cases where this warning doesn't apply, and authors should say something? For example, what about the authors who had issues about Triskelion and brought them up in public? If they hadn't complained, a lot of other writers might have unknowingly signed up with Triskelion and then ended up embroiled in the bankruptcy. And what about people who have been burned by a scam agent or vanity press, and blog about that experience as a warning to other authors? Surely editors aren't going to take those complaints against them!
Besides... In some cases, I wonder if all this talk telling authors not to diss editors and publishers is yet another way to keep authors from finding out what's really going on in publishing. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.
Another thing bugs me about this post. People who have signed up with printers such as PublishAmerica often get sucked into supporting their so-called publisher no matter what -- sometimes to a "cultish" degree. When other writers realize it's a bad deal and try to warn people about those publishers, the "cultish" authors warn them that writers complain about their publisher will end up in some kind of blacklist. It's used as a way to keep the complainers in check. Do you think this blog could give them support for their beliefs?
Some of the comments did give me pause. For example, from an Executive Editor at HarperCollins, "If they wouldn’t say it to the person directly, then they shouldn’t put it on a site/blog, imo…. Of course, I also believe that applies to editors, publishers, reviewers, etc. as well."
How did reviewers get in there? In most cases, they're not even part of the publishing industry. I can't understand why they were brought up here, unless it's because some editors are upset about their writers getting bad reviews at review sites and snarky review blogs. But surely professionals accept bad reviews as a part of the industry?...
http://www.themidnighthour.net:80/11-editors-agents-on-websites-and-public-dissing
These tips were very interesting. Several said they didn't have time to check an author's website, but others said they were sure to check it out -- and that how the author presented herself might influence their decision. They talked about the professionalism of the website, but they also talked about what they thought when they saw writers dissing editors, agents, and so forth.
For example, from an assistant editor at Warner Books. "...nothing sends a red flag up faster than an author badmouthing people in the business. Publishing is a small world–you’ve got to be careful not to burn any bridges because you never know what might happen or who might end up where. And a quick google search means anyone can find it…and forward the link along to everyone they know."
The overall theme is that writers shouldn't complain about their editors, etc. in public (such in a blog). A lot of this is common sense advice. You never know when your editor or publisher might be reading your blog, not to mention a future editor. And I can think of many cases where authors should have followed this advice. (For example, one formerly best-selling author's complaints about her publisher simply made her out to be a flake who tried to get out of a bad contract and ended up in legal trouble.)
But aren't there cases where this warning doesn't apply, and authors should say something? For example, what about the authors who had issues about Triskelion and brought them up in public? If they hadn't complained, a lot of other writers might have unknowingly signed up with Triskelion and then ended up embroiled in the bankruptcy. And what about people who have been burned by a scam agent or vanity press, and blog about that experience as a warning to other authors? Surely editors aren't going to take those complaints against them!
Besides... In some cases, I wonder if all this talk telling authors not to diss editors and publishers is yet another way to keep authors from finding out what's really going on in publishing. Or maybe I'm just paranoid.
Another thing bugs me about this post. People who have signed up with printers such as PublishAmerica often get sucked into supporting their so-called publisher no matter what -- sometimes to a "cultish" degree. When other writers realize it's a bad deal and try to warn people about those publishers, the "cultish" authors warn them that writers complain about their publisher will end up in some kind of blacklist. It's used as a way to keep the complainers in check. Do you think this blog could give them support for their beliefs?
Some of the comments did give me pause. For example, from an Executive Editor at HarperCollins, "If they wouldn’t say it to the person directly, then they shouldn’t put it on a site/blog, imo…. Of course, I also believe that applies to editors, publishers, reviewers, etc. as well."
How did reviewers get in there? In most cases, they're not even part of the publishing industry. I can't understand why they were brought up here, unless it's because some editors are upset about their writers getting bad reviews at review sites and snarky review blogs. But surely professionals accept bad reviews as a part of the industry?...