tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post116892546088319423..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: CommunicationJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25465937151339178332007-07-25T16:53:00.000-05:002007-07-25T16:53:00.000-05:00Have you tried http://five.sentenc.es ?Have you tried http://five.sentenc.es ?Emerson Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03965584179407710504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169217484193547672007-01-19T08:38:00.000-06:002007-01-19T08:38:00.000-06:00Mr. Ellington,I would never demand anything of a p...Mr. Ellington,<BR/>I would never demand anything of a published author, but hey ... if you want to walk me into your editor and get me that six-figure deal, I'd be more than happy if you can swing it.<BR/><BR/>And I promise to enjoy the "writing part" and do my own research. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169211391537176872007-01-19T06:56:00.000-06:002007-01-19T06:56:00.000-06:00keep up the good work.Robertokeep up the good work.<BR/><A HREF="http://www.trendio.com" REL="nofollow">Roberto</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169151711144247912007-01-18T14:21:00.000-06:002007-01-18T14:21:00.000-06:00Hi, Joe. The "opposite of talking is waiting" quot...Hi, Joe. The "opposite of talking is waiting" quote originally comes from Fran Leibowitz. If you haven't read her hilarious books Social Studies and Metrolitan Life, buy them right this minute. You'll love them -- I promise.<BR/><BR/>(Hmm. Is this that legendary "word of mouth" that's supposed to sell books?)Lisa Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16273391238820872246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169142257882162802007-01-18T11:44:00.000-06:002007-01-18T11:44:00.000-06:00Okay, I don't get any email either--unless one of ...Okay, I don't get any email either--unless one of the subscribers to my free online serial novel decide to cancel. Sometimes they send me a comment when they do this.<BR/><BR/>I got one yesterday that upset me for a while. Now keep in mind that my books have no graphic sex and no graphic violence. An episode of "Law and Order SVU" would give you more.<BR/><BR/>But this person said they were cancelling because they were disappointed in the amount of sex, and particularly "OFF sex", as they called it. They wondered why I had to do this--why couldn't I just get on with the story.<BR/><BR/>What they don't seem to understand is that I can't fully tell who that particular character is and what they're thinking without the "over-the-line sex". And, as I said, we are not talking about graphic sex at all.<BR/><BR/>I am just now writing my second novel, so I'm new to this type of criticism. But after thinking about this for a while I realized that if my writing doesn't offend anybody on the planet--at least one person, then my writing is probably way too bland.<BR/><BR/>Anybody else have a similar experience?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169137620496769632007-01-18T10:27:00.000-06:002007-01-18T10:27:00.000-06:00OK, nobody ever emails me. EVER. My inbox is as ...OK, nobody ever emails me. EVER. My inbox is as empty as it can be. What the heck am I doing wrong? At this point, I'd pay someone to be my obsessed stalker fan. <BR/><BR/>(And I hardly ever read my MySpace bulletins, either, but I do send them out occasionally. I get lots of responses when I'm offering free stuff, but that's the only time.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169135563903144912007-01-18T09:52:00.000-06:002007-01-18T09:52:00.000-06:00Like Beth, I was also one of those people who repl...Like Beth, I was also one of those people who replied to your Myspace test. Also like her, I thought it was very cool that you wrote back.<BR/><BR/>Personally, it always makes me feel good when I get a reply from a writer (or someone else famous/succesful)who I've sent an email to. <BR/><BR/>Just that little gesture on their part pretty much assures that I'm going to continue supporting their works. <BR/><BR/>(Unless, of course, their works begin to stink.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169064530854976372007-01-17T14:08:00.000-06:002007-01-17T14:08:00.000-06:00I answer all my email usually within 48 hours. I u...I answer all my email usually within 48 hours. I usually do it at night as I'm unwinding. Most email goes really quickly. If I need to put more thought into an answer, I put it aside for a day or two. The only time it gets a little out of control is when I'm on a very short deadline, but then I take the time to catch up. <BR/><BR/>I mean seriously, it's not like I'm spending eight hours a day writing and then shutting down the computer and going home. I put in about four good hours of writing time a day (okay, that's a lie--I put in 4-6 hours when I'm a month or less from a deadline. The rest of the time I spend far too much of it doing nothing of importance.)<BR/><BR/>Responding to email is polite. It doesn't matter if they are fans or friends or fellow writers or unpublished authors, people deserve a response. I even respond to people who don't like my books and sought me out to tell me. And, frankly, it doesn't take that much time. It's something you need a process for and a set day a week, or a set time every day, to take care of. And it's more important than blogging.Allison Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872860080644987843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169058538884112052007-01-17T12:28:00.000-06:002007-01-17T12:28:00.000-06:00Wow. I'm kind of afraid of myspace, even though I ...Wow. I'm kind of afraid of myspace, even though I need to set up an account sooner or later. I see people with 77,475 friends and wonder if they really respond to each "friend."<BR/><BR/>You're the king of writerly advice, Joe. The least we advice-requesters can do in return is buy your books & recommend others do the same!Jess Rileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06987689969282168406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169041871383299352007-01-17T07:51:00.000-06:002007-01-17T07:51:00.000-06:00I was one of the people who responded to your MySp...I was one of the people who responded to your MySpace question, Joe. When I saw you wrote me back, my first thought was: How nice. My second: I can't believe he's responding to this when he probably has 2000 other emails in his in-box. *g* Just want to say the fact that you did respond was most excellent customer service. I felt the effect. Most positive. Good luck with your 2007 goal.Beth Ciottahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02251212401535078560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1169001298001892482007-01-16T20:34:00.000-06:002007-01-16T20:34:00.000-06:00There's a bit of craft to writing a Myspace bullet...There's a bit of craft to writing a Myspace bulletin. You need a teaser in the title, and if they click that you need a short hook to encourage whatever the required reaction is (visit a website, read a blog.)<BR/><BR/>Usually I'll lay it all out in the bulletin, because I figure one hook is enough. Getting them to follow up with a second click is ten times harder.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168994250530927242007-01-16T18:37:00.000-06:002007-01-16T18:37:00.000-06:00Its time to branch out into mulitple email boxes. ...Its time to branch out into mulitple email boxes. I have three. One for personal use; friends, relatives and anyone I don't want to miss. Email two is for groups and peeps I want to check on my own time. Email three is for junk. Anytime I think someone is going to send crap or I give them email three. Also for things that want you to give your email to post or request info. <BR/>Keeps the junk flowing in one direction and the important stuff in the main box. <BR/>Of course JA, you got email one.Aimlesswriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012050763172251381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168993399641236632007-01-16T18:23:00.000-06:002007-01-16T18:23:00.000-06:00Hats off to you just for making the effort. So ma...Hats off to you just for making the effort. So many authors shy away from communication with their fan base, and even more avoid all public discourse. Not you, though, and I'm sure your accessibility continues to expand your fan base.<BR/><BR/>And, I guess we'd all still like you if you turned into a bot. As long as Ms. Daniels doesn't turn into a bot. That would get you e-mail you REALLY don't want.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168992869248901222007-01-16T18:14:00.000-06:002007-01-16T18:14:00.000-06:00I don't mean to sound mildly resentful, but all th...I don't mean to sound mildly resentful, but all this talk about having too many emails makes me feel pathetic.<BR/><BR/>There are whole weeks go by, when I get nothing but spam and email from my mom.<BR/><BR/>Which reminds me, <A HREF="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2134467263300059605&pr=goog-sl&hl=en" REL="nofollow">have you seen my Writers Group presentation in South Boston, Virginia</A>?<BR/><BR/>I love you guys. Too many emails...<BR/><BR/>I feel for you.<BR/><BR/>StaceyStacey Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128613653591282474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168992170929182482007-01-16T18:02:00.000-06:002007-01-16T18:02:00.000-06:00As someone who has benefitted from your generosity...As someone who has benefitted from your generosity from time to time, Joe, I truly appreciate it.<BR/><BR/>I hope I'm in a position to reciprocate some time in the near future.<BR/><BR/>You rock, bud!Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168981352726148642007-01-16T15:02:00.000-06:002007-01-16T15:02:00.000-06:00Joe, an empty inbox is a goal I share with you. It...Joe, an empty inbox is a goal I share with you. It's a never-ending cycle; the more you answer, the more you get. But I do love those fleeting moments when there are no messages, short-lived though they are.<BR/><BR/>Still, better than getting nothing in the first place...Tasha Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01850540427161315450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168978034335675472007-01-16T14:07:00.000-06:002007-01-16T14:07:00.000-06:00The MySpace Bulletins are like any advertising. Th...The MySpace Bulletins are like any advertising. They're there for whoever will to see. Not everybody sees everything, no matter what kind of ad it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168963208992633842007-01-16T10:00:00.000-06:002007-01-16T10:00:00.000-06:00I guess 1400 other people are also fed up with the...<I>I guess 1400 other people are also fed up with the 'repost if you're a real friend' bulletins, eh?</I><BR/><BR/>I don't even read the bulletins I get, so I assumed no one else did either.<BR/><BR/>But the cool thing about bots is you can send messages and comments just as easily---and those are read more often than bulletins. <BR/><BR/>Not that I advocate, endorse, or recommend using bots.<BR/><BR/>I also do not advocate, endorse, or recommend drinking, drugs, casual sex, and a lot of other fun cool stuff.JA Konrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168957317031587232007-01-16T08:21:00.000-06:002007-01-16T08:21:00.000-06:00"I did a little MySpace experiment three days ago,..."I did a little MySpace experiment three days ago, sending a bulletin to my 1700 friends and asking them to reply. Three hundred people have replied so far."<BR/><BR/>Two problems with that - I also have over 1000 Myspace friends, and the front page only shows the latest 4 or 5 bulletins. Once you're off that page I don't see it.<BR/><BR/>Second problem ... I get three or four of those 'Reply to this if you're <I>really</I> my friend' bulletins PER DAY. It's actually become a chain letter of sorts.<BR/><BR/>A couple of times, long ago, I replied, only to have the original poster write back and say 'Oh, I didn't mean you. I know you're a friend.' So, now I don't reply to any of them, assuming I'm excluded.<BR/><BR/>I guess 1400 other people are also fed up with the 'repost if you're a real friend' bulletins, eh?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168957201859855242007-01-16T08:20:00.000-06:002007-01-16T08:20:00.000-06:00When I was freelancing and building up my clientel...When I was freelancing and building up my clientele, I finally wrote a canned query letter, but I tweaked and personalized it for each client. Because there are always going to be commonalities in those letters. And it saved a lot of time.<BR/><BR/>So use the canned responses--you can always tack on a personal sentence at the end.Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168953579263644692007-01-16T07:19:00.000-06:002007-01-16T07:19:00.000-06:00I've written over a dozen books set in various sha...I've written over a dozen books set in various shared-world settings: the Forgotten Realms, Star Wars, and EverQuest. One of my characters and a magical artifact from my books have been written into video games. Quite a few gamers incorporate characters I've created into their Dungeons & Dragon role-playing campaigns. Since this is such an interactive setting, people have questions; I get a ***load of email. <BR/><BR/>When people email with questions that are addressed on my FAQ page, I'll sometimes give a short answer and a link to the more detailed answer. That seems to cover the bases; it's a personal response, and it provides a convenient way for the reader to access the information. And it avoids the pitfall JAK pointed out: the rudeness inherent in the "Read my web page, moron!" approach. I also invite them to email back if they have further questions. Most don't, but those who do generally have a fairly manageable follow-up question. And it seems to me that the stated willingness to follow up indicates that I'm not just brushing them off. Time is saved, customer service is kept at a reasonably good level.echttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02782487578492323052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168950448695785022007-01-16T06:27:00.000-06:002007-01-16T06:27:00.000-06:00I'm still wondering when you're going to begin pha...I'm still wondering when you're going to begin phasing in more video blogging. You're so damn funny live.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of video...<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1655040432471665784" REL="nofollow">Watch Me Get Interviewed on Google Video</A><BR/><BR/>StaceyStacey Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128613653591282474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168947747896611622007-01-16T05:42:00.000-06:002007-01-16T05:42:00.000-06:00I have a friend who is an actor, and he was on a p...I have a friend who is an actor, and he was on a popular TV show many years ago. We have all the most common questions he gets asked posted up on his Web site, and I'll tell you, people do not read. Or they aren't happy with the answer and try to get a different one. We had one guy email us and ask the same question three times differently. We just kept resending him the same link to the answer. And then, at a public Q&A session, the same guy asked the actor that question again and got the same answer.<BR/><BR/>Some people really need, as Miss Snark puts it, a clue gun. But there's others who are too lazy, and still others who think they're more important than everyone else. But there's also a crowd out there looking for a "special answer," one that no one else has. Information from celebrities is like gold; it's like saying, "I have a secret and you don't, and it's all mine."<BR/><BR/>I got rid of a lot of the dumb questions for the actor that I was getting in email by putting up an email form rather than an email. It asked for as a required field the email address and the name--both things already coming with an email in most cases. But doing that cut down a lot on the dotty questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168943597393169982007-01-16T04:33:00.000-06:002007-01-16T04:33:00.000-06:00I'm just sober enough to realize I can no longer t...I'm just sober enough to realize I can no longer tense. <BR/><BR/>I blame a six-hour jag. Too many words unmaking sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-1168943513952833462007-01-16T04:31:00.000-06:002007-01-16T04:31:00.000-06:00You already have shown you got high-class hooker m...You already have shown you got high-class hooker money. Now those of us walking the docks for 10 bucks want the shortcut.<BR/><BR/>If you're lazy enough to email an author with a question that is answered (sometimes repeatedly in different areas) on their site and/or blog, it shouldn't be a surprise that if you get a reply, its canned. The author is still doing you a big favor by personally replying at ALL.<BR/><BR/>Still, if I promise not to send you a "and how do you write a best-seller" email, you might deign to still keep my link on your blog? I just won't dress it like yours, baby. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com