I agree! Btw, congrats on all the good stuff happening for you. You deserve that and more. You are an amazing support, mentor and beacon for friends and writers. Your essays are more than helpful, your kindness stellar. This all needs to be said.
Knock on wood, right Paul? Thing is, there's a whole lot of people in America and Canada that can barely string a sentence together too, so if we can find some talented writers around the globe, I guess the dross is inevitable no matter where the writers are from.
Ah yes, submission guidelines. I couldn't count how many times in my two decades as a licensing agent I uttered those two words. With little effect. But they are an effective filter. A quote from the product director at one of the big greeting card companies (where they get thousands of inquiries):
"The guidelines are on the site for a reason. If they cannot follow those, we won't be working with them. Click--they're deleted."
Hey Linda! I don't run any publications but as a writer it makes no sense to me that someone wouldn't read the submission guidelines--you provide them so there's no guesswork! I remember in the early days of Medium you often had to hunt around to find a way to submit for the more popular pubs. I think your new publication idea sounds great--definitely interested!
Unfortunately the statistics aren’t available, but I wonder how many people are arrested for driving without a license or have to take the license tests multiple times. This is a key life necessity in America but even with police enforcement there are still many drivers that can’t read the directions. Publishing in someone’s publication won’t get as much attention as driving does (unfortunately)
And driving while texting. Christ. That's my pet peeve. No one just looks at their crotch and laughs while they're driving. We all KNOW you are texting, cut it out. lol
People are pretty amazing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to type out explanations over and over to a person I co-wrote a book with - it’s maddening - now I just tell him to please go re-read my previous email.
I’m not at all surprised people don’t read the guidelines. As an instructor- so many students don’t read the basic materials.
I read guidelines several times before, and make sure I know all the steps or all of the instructions. I just don’t get people who don’t do that!
I love the explanation for “bat in the subject line.”
Also, I would love to be able to contribute to your personal essay pub!!
Yes. I want to write about Betty Girling who was a radio pioneer in my state. I’d like to write for women in History, but I don’t write fast. You’d get one a year.
Awesome, Johnny. I've found a few but so many are specific to a topic that I figured I'd just dive in and make a general one. I'll let you know when it's ready. :)
Awesome - you’ve done a great job with The Book Cafe, so please keep it up! A generic personal essay pub could do really well so long as people write their pieces in a relatable manner (tough for any editors!).
Yes, I think this tracks with how many (or most?) people do not bother reading bios on dating apps. And on Medium, so many people are confused about what pronouns I use, even though I display them prominently in my bio (both the short and long one).
In articles, people just react to the smallest paragraph (or sentence), and then accuse you of saying what they believed you said. And when you ask them to kindly read to the end of the article before launching such accusations, they say they hate your article so much that they won't waste their precious time reading it. LOL. No obligation for them to read, but if they want to accuse me of having a certain stance, they can at least have the courtesy of reading till the end before assuming what I mean.
So unfortunately, not bothering to read submission guidelines, is more of the same. :( I guess the upside is that it's very easy to stand out if you're one of the few who actually read the guidelines. 🤣 Omg.
At my pub, most writers who submit their first draft to us, neglect something or another, whether it's a subtitle, image attribution, tags, giving us an already published article, etc. Alas. We're very nice and tell them what to do to fix these issues rather than rejecting outright. But we're a smaller pub so we can afford to do this. Bigger pubs won't have the time to remind every writer!
It's a good time to come back, too. Good changes happening over there. :)
I agree! Btw, congrats on all the good stuff happening for you. You deserve that and more. You are an amazing support, mentor and beacon for friends and writers. Your essays are more than helpful, your kindness stellar. This all needs to be said.
Have a lovely weekend, Linda.
Knock on wood, right Paul? Thing is, there's a whole lot of people in America and Canada that can barely string a sentence together too, so if we can find some talented writers around the globe, I guess the dross is inevitable no matter where the writers are from.
Awesome Karen, I will let you know for sure. :)
Sounds like a great idea. I'd like to think I might have something to contribute. Either way, could be interesting reading. Have a wonderful weekend!
Man oh man, you sure should. I will let you know when it's ready. :)
I can imagine how frustrating that must be. I see comments like that too and wonder why they make their lives so hard for themselves lol.
Also, I’m definitely interested in your publication idea! I currently write personal essays too so it would be lovely to join as well.
LMAO. Right? They make it hard for themselves. Good point. And I'll come back and let you know when the new pub is up. Weekend project!!
Ah yes, submission guidelines. I couldn't count how many times in my two decades as a licensing agent I uttered those two words. With little effect. But they are an effective filter. A quote from the product director at one of the big greeting card companies (where they get thousands of inquiries):
"The guidelines are on the site for a reason. If they cannot follow those, we won't be working with them. Click--they're deleted."
Right? Some of them get mad, which makes even less sense. lol
Hey Linda! I don't run any publications but as a writer it makes no sense to me that someone wouldn't read the submission guidelines--you provide them so there's no guesswork! I remember in the early days of Medium you often had to hunt around to find a way to submit for the more popular pubs. I think your new publication idea sounds great--definitely interested!
I know, right? Just read. It's not hard. lol. And fyi, I'll let you know when the new pub is up. I can smell a weekend project! lol
Sounds great--thanks Linda!
I would be interested in the essays.
Oh Denise, that's awesome. I will let you know when it's ready. :)
Unfortunately the statistics aren’t available, but I wonder how many people are arrested for driving without a license or have to take the license tests multiple times. This is a key life necessity in America but even with police enforcement there are still many drivers that can’t read the directions. Publishing in someone’s publication won’t get as much attention as driving does (unfortunately)
And driving while texting. Christ. That's my pet peeve. No one just looks at their crotch and laughs while they're driving. We all KNOW you are texting, cut it out. lol
Thank you for making me laugh today!!!
See? You don't look at your crotch and laugh either. lol
Lol. I deliver groceries through an app sometimes, and read while waiting curbside. Now I will think of this every time!
lol. And then you can be like me, the crazy person standing alone and laughing.
Hey Linda - big fan here! If you're starting a pub for personal essays, pls sign me up!!
Oh that is so mutual. I will come back and let you know when it's ready!
I like the idea of a pub for personal essays - my favorite.
Awesome Kathryn, I'll let you know when it's ready. Soon!
People are pretty amazing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to type out explanations over and over to a person I co-wrote a book with - it’s maddening - now I just tell him to please go re-read my previous email.
I’m not at all surprised people don’t read the guidelines. As an instructor- so many students don’t read the basic materials.
I read guidelines several times before, and make sure I know all the steps or all of the instructions. I just don’t get people who don’t do that!
I love the explanation for “bat in the subject line.”
Also, I would love to be able to contribute to your personal essay pub!!
Right? I have worked with people like that. lol. Just read the email. I'll come back and let you know when the publication is up! :)
Yes. I want to write about Betty Girling who was a radio pioneer in my state. I’d like to write for women in History, but I don’t write fast. You’d get one a year.
Think you can swing a couple per year? lol.
Great piece - would love to contribute to a personal essay pub! Great idea. Medium needs a better place to feature that form of writing.
Awesome, Johnny. I've found a few but so many are specific to a topic that I figured I'd just dive in and make a general one. I'll let you know when it's ready. :)
Awesome - you’ve done a great job with The Book Cafe, so please keep it up! A generic personal essay pub could do really well so long as people write their pieces in a relatable manner (tough for any editors!).
Well thanks! I really hope it does well, and glad you're enjoying The Book Café, too. :)
I totally get what you’re saying.
Will you add me as a writer?
🤣😂🤣
lol. That made me laugh. If I had a fish, I'd smack you with it. lol. 🤣😂
I would deserve it. A rubber chicken would probably work, too.
It would. In my house, a dead fish is more likely. lmao
Dakota-- if you edit this and add the word "bat" in somewhere, you're in.
lol
Please add me as a bat! 🦇🤣
You found an emoji? Done deal!
Yes, I think this tracks with how many (or most?) people do not bother reading bios on dating apps. And on Medium, so many people are confused about what pronouns I use, even though I display them prominently in my bio (both the short and long one).
In articles, people just react to the smallest paragraph (or sentence), and then accuse you of saying what they believed you said. And when you ask them to kindly read to the end of the article before launching such accusations, they say they hate your article so much that they won't waste their precious time reading it. LOL. No obligation for them to read, but if they want to accuse me of having a certain stance, they can at least have the courtesy of reading till the end before assuming what I mean.
So unfortunately, not bothering to read submission guidelines, is more of the same. :( I guess the upside is that it's very easy to stand out if you're one of the few who actually read the guidelines. 🤣 Omg.
At my pub, most writers who submit their first draft to us, neglect something or another, whether it's a subtitle, image attribution, tags, giving us an already published article, etc. Alas. We're very nice and tell them what to do to fix these issues rather than rejecting outright. But we're a smaller pub so we can afford to do this. Bigger pubs won't have the time to remind every writer!
I find if I have more than one thing to say, it helps to number them. Which sounds nuts, but it seems to work.