tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677181678998387043.post2537383725507793533..comments2018-10-26T00:07:30.689-07:00Comments on Kate In The Closet: Maybe I'm Just in a Bad MoodKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16995806117529635229noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677181678998387043.post-14670580480011587092010-12-07T11:43:04.230-08:002010-12-07T11:43:04.230-08:00CORRECTION: I'm sure these people DO NOT want ...CORRECTION: I'm sure these people <b>DO NOT</b> want to be jerks!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16995806117529635229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677181678998387043.post-28396784127214795632010-12-07T11:36:35.251-08:002010-12-07T11:36:35.251-08:00I've heard the argument that politeness takes ...I've heard the argument that politeness takes too much time, that you can't be polite to 10,000 authors a year or you'd never get any work done. I would agree with that, in the sense that I don't expect agents and editors to write hand-written notes to every person who contacts them. <br /><br />However, setting up an automated system that allows authors (and agents and editors themselves for that matter) to know the general status of submissions wouldn't be a huge investment but would go lightyears in terms of both goodwill and efficiency. There are such systems out there, both commercial and informal, but they appear to mostly be used by tech-savvy agents, only for queries, and even then are not the norm. If someone can tell me otherwise, I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT!<br /><br />I also want to say that I don't feel agents or editors should feel any more obligation to unsolicited submissions that I do to my junk mail. But if they <i>ask</i> for it, then they are responsible for it. What I am most concerned about is when they request full manuscripts, and then sit on them for months or years, all the while the author is getting a ulcer, unable to concentrate on other writing, and asking himself hourly <i>should I ask for an update today or should I wait another week?</i> THIS is flat-out unprofessional, rude, and - intentionally or not - mean.<br /><br />I'm sure these people want to be jerks. I think they are just underpaid, overworked people doing what they can, and that a little efficiency borrowed from the 21st century would make EVERYONE happier.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16995806117529635229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3677181678998387043.post-40644399496968634582010-12-07T03:07:48.942-08:002010-12-07T03:07:48.942-08:00I'm reading these posts backwards after having...I'm reading these posts backwards after having just read your "on the other hand" post. But I do agree with pretty much everything you say in both. My experience of contact with the publishing industry is that, by and large, they just ignore you. Surely basic politeness should apply here?Simon Kewinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11537163555998763769noreply@blogger.com