Have I taught you nothing?
The opening of an email I just received:
Dear Editor:My reply:
I am seeking the publication of my young adult novel, TITLE, complete at 168,000 words.
You'll never get anywhere like this. My guidelines say no YA, and nothing over 100,000 words -- I didn't read anything beyond that in your letter. I wish you luck, but, believe me, all editors just chuck emails that begin "Dear Editor" (our names aren't that hard to find), especially when they show a complete disregard for the guidelines of or an unfamiliarity with the publisher being approached.
The Robert J. Sawyer Web Site
Posted by Rob on Tuesday, January 27, 2009
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3 comments
3 Comments:
Perhaps you are not writing clearly enough in the guidelines?
Maybe you should have bolded the entire sentence:
"It is a line of adult books: we are not interested in children's or young-adult fiction."
Perhaps you should apply the dreaded blink tag to the line (which you thoughtfully bolded, but obviously requires more emphasis "Our maximum length is 100,000 words — no exceptions."
Ah, people. You weren't hoping that they would actually *read* what the requirements are, did you? ;-)
The guidelines? I suppose that explains why you rejected my proposal for a biography of Paris Hilton.
;-)
Heck, I know that and I'm not even a (wannabe) writer.
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