tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post4206081272468115260..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: HeelsJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-9328663390682657462008-02-06T10:48:00.000-06:002008-02-06T10:48:00.000-06:00Hey, Mr. Konrath.I've recently learned a valuable ...Hey, Mr. Konrath.<BR/><BR/>I've recently learned a valuable lesson on contacting writers through email. I have a question for you: How did YOU score on the integrity test? (Sorry if I missed the answer somewhere...you've got a lot of site content here.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-73271806890982437462008-02-05T15:25:00.000-06:002008-02-05T15:25:00.000-06:00Hmmm. Just found your blog by following a link on ...Hmmm. Just found your blog by following a link on Tess Gerritson's.<BR/><BR/>The email issue. Do you think maybe you have a blog issue? I just saw the number of blogs you follow! I am exhausted just looking at the vast number. Too exhausted in fact to even consider checking ANY out. Sometimes too much is just, well, too much.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-3084966194375112242008-02-05T09:17:00.000-06:002008-02-05T09:17:00.000-06:00I force myself to spend an hour dealing with these...I force myself to spend an hour dealing with these kinds of emails every morning. I get them out of the way. If there's more than an hour's worth they get held over until the next day. It's easy to start looking at your inbox like it's a time sucking evil torture device. Um. Not that I ever think that way.Wendy Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02619336710125018971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-91726831930308018452008-02-04T13:06:00.000-06:002008-02-04T13:06:00.000-06:00Well, how many of those emails are just plain junk...Well, how many of those emails are just plain junk? I receive about 20-40 emails on my WG discussion group. We help each other and answer medication questions. Sometimes I can help, sometimes I can't. But we help each other.<BR/><BR/>I receive 10-20 emails trying to get me to buy p***s extension products. <BR/><BR/>That's what I hate the most... the junk. It takes time to sort out and delete. And, it is worse than the junk mail in the box. At least that stuff only showed up once a day.<BR/><BR/>CynCyn Bagleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08404416186783891402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-46833484327370925022008-01-31T08:02:00.000-06:002008-01-31T08:02:00.000-06:00The book "The Four Hour Work Week" is a great sour...The book "The Four Hour Work Week" is a great source that may help--virtual assistants, batching your email response, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-50474415203351598212008-01-30T15:02:00.000-06:002008-01-30T15:02:00.000-06:00I do that, too. Exactly the same, 94 urgent messag...I do that, too. Exactly the same, 94 urgent messages that all need answering immediately.<BR/>There's no solution to it. Oh, you can try all the things you mention and all the things that other commentors mention, but you won't solve it. I know this because I can't solve it either.<BR/>It happens because you're much more interested in other more interesting things than answering complicated emails.<BR/>Which means you've got a life. Which means you're doing OK.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-23729015243487184322008-01-28T19:08:00.000-06:002008-01-28T19:08:00.000-06:00I have riters block...I have riters block...Jackiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12359716659280413186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-61623302162141764282008-01-28T15:24:00.000-06:002008-01-28T15:24:00.000-06:00"I can still handle everything myself. I just don..."I can still handle everything myself. I just don't."<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure why, but that line made my day. Maybe because it hits so close to home :)Trish Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18038324441006141430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-53310054106280722372008-01-28T06:42:00.000-06:002008-01-28T06:42:00.000-06:00How old are your kids? Can they answer your email?...How old are your kids? Can they answer your email? :) That could be fun. Pay them $10 a week to keep the box empty.<BR/>I just read "How I got Published". Loved your chapter on in that one. Your story is inspiring, but also shows that your overnight success took a lot of work.<BR/><BR/>Email dilemma? Give it an hour in the morning as you drink coffee and wake up.<BR/>Create a "personnal" email box just for your agent, friends & family so you don't miss that stuff.Aimlesswriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03012050763172251381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-62533409231525695612008-01-27T22:27:00.000-06:002008-01-27T22:27:00.000-06:00JAI use Tim Ferris's 4-Hour Work Week rules...Use ...JA<BR/>I use Tim Ferris's 4-Hour Work Week rules...<BR/><BR/>Use Outlook rules to help eliminate the spam.<BR/><BR/>Check email 2x a day or less if you can.<BR/><BR/>Setup an auto responder to tell people WHEN you'll answer or tell them to call you IF they have your cell phone number.<BR/><BR/>Setup an FAQ page on your site to answer the questions you've been answering over and over again.<BR/><BR/>Those are just a few, but they've been helping me stream line the email at least so far :)<BR/><BR/>~StaciaStacia Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06041665903048254553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-70692617837022001302008-01-27T21:33:00.000-06:002008-01-27T21:33:00.000-06:00Be careful what advice you take, Joe. Harry also ...Be careful what advice you take, Joe. Harry also said nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog. Try telling that to my three-year old!<BR/><BR/>nKNick Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04951621700075682249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45130073214794105042008-01-27T17:21:00.000-06:002008-01-27T17:21:00.000-06:00--Scott Sherman -- I've emailed Konrath before. I...--Scott Sherman -- I've emailed Konrath before. I'd say it probably takes him around a month to respond. :>) <BR/><BR/>I think his email is now to the point where, like other famous authors, he needs to put a disclaimer nearby: <BR/><BR/>"I cannot respond personally to each email; there are simply not enough hours in the day. I do love to hear from you--fan mail is a huge bright spot in my day. I am simply unable to respond to each one and still have time to write the next book!" <BR/><BR/>Of course in your case...with a business prop...well, when he offers that sort of thing, he kind of needs to respond...I'm guessing that's why he wrote this long post on the subject.<BR/><BR/>:>)Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11234907275906877802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-14863076892332873022008-01-26T22:44:00.000-06:002008-01-26T22:44:00.000-06:00This blog is wonderfull, Please check out my blog ...This blog is wonderfull, Please check out my blog (I am an ameture writer whho needs openions)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25803859448928627192008-01-26T15:45:00.000-06:002008-01-26T15:45:00.000-06:00My Achilles heel is filing. There are always more ...My Achilles heel is filing. There are always more important things to do (including commenting on blogs!) and I feel guilty spending time on ‘mundane’ tasks. <BR/><BR/>I’m determined to crack this. So I plan to take Rosemary and Jenn’s advice. Thank you!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10442346154131507824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-87248130234316532722008-01-25T07:56:00.000-06:002008-01-25T07:56:00.000-06:00I enjoyed this post, not just because I can relate...I enjoyed this post, not just because I can relate, but because a few weeks ago I sent you an email about advertising in your ebooks and you never responded. Having low self esteem, I figured it was because my note was inane or somehow offensive. Smile. <BR/><BR/>Now, I have some small comfort knowing that it may have been overlooked. Whew. I'll send it again in the hope that you get a chance to read it. <BR/><BR/>And let me just say here in public - I love your books and your blog! Keep up the great work. <BR/><BR/>ScottScott Shermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11549686440104092345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-75600661326238647302008-01-25T07:27:00.000-06:002008-01-25T07:27:00.000-06:00I don't know, Joe. I think you ought to take the g...I don't know, Joe. I think you ought to take the guy up on the Costa Rica deals.<BR/><BR/>And I like your blog, too. You write goodly.<BR/><BR/>When is AFRAID coming out and what name is it being published under?Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-38405629522814085532008-01-25T07:22:00.000-06:002008-01-25T07:22:00.000-06:00JA, you will always have more money than time; how...JA, you will always have more money than time; however little money you have, you have less time.<BR/><BR/>So my advice is #1. They have these virtual assistants now, many who work part time. You can turn over a lot of your fan mail and myspace management over to them, you can pay them to work X number of hours per week, an even if they just make a small dent, that's that much more free time for you (to write!). <BR/><BR/>I too am really bad at returning emails, and since I've become more popular (and therefore busy as a blogger) I've gone so far as to block emails from certain people from my writing group who send lengthy emails full of questions, and book talk - I'm happy to talk about those things, but rather do so in the comments on my blog - I'd rather have public content and discussion on my blog rather than one-on-one private email conversations that do not add content to my blog.<BR/><BR/>Short emails are ok, but when one person makes constant demands on my time, I draw the line.Josephine Damianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17952030380866201241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15288430795099704402008-01-24T21:40:00.000-06:002008-01-24T21:40:00.000-06:00(This is the same comment as above, only shorter. ...(This is the same comment as above, only shorter. My own Achilles Heel is rewriting long after I should.)<BR/><BR/>I'd agree that locking the door on incoming mail could harm more than help. If it gets to where you can't keep up with your e-mail, or simply feel bad about it taking so long, you might post a note on your site saying, "I appreciate your e-mail, but often don’t have time to reply." Then if and when you do write back, your readers will appreciate it even more.<BR/><BR/>There's a brush-with-greatness feeling one gets whenever one receives a note from someone you admire, and authors can only gain from respecting their readers enough to reply.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-48543799070378699072008-01-24T15:19:00.000-06:002008-01-24T15:19:00.000-06:00I can't afford an assistant either, but I think th...I can't afford an assistant either, but I think that's the route I'll have to go to maintain some semblance of control in my life. Somebody (wow, I hope it wasnt' you) suggested hiring a student from the local university to take some of tasks off my plate. I'm starting with the English department, looking for a student who'd value working for a published author. I plan to pay them the going university rate or a little higher. I figure 10 hours a week is plenty. Now I just have to find time to hire somebody. I really need an assistant to help me find an assistant.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4789488044619030622008-01-24T12:52:00.000-06:002008-01-24T12:52:00.000-06:00Oops. I meant the previous post.Oops. I meant the previous post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-58978531773965536492008-01-24T12:50:00.000-06:002008-01-24T12:50:00.000-06:00JA, I just found your blog today and I really enjo...JA, I just found your blog today and I really enjoy the information you're giving here. This particular post is really interesting and I'm going to post an excerpt and link to it from <A HREF="http://blog.aaroncrocco.com" REL="nofollow"> my blog.</A> The tips in this post are really great!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-51271505292749966012008-01-24T10:40:00.000-06:002008-01-24T10:40:00.000-06:00Eileen's got a good tip there, and a FAQ page as w...Eileen's got a good tip there, and a FAQ page as well could save writers plenty of time.<BR/><BR/>Just checked your site, J.A., and you not only already have a FAQ page, but Writing Tips and Links pages as well, and they're all top notch. So what people are still writing to you about, I don't know, except to say, as I will, thanks.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-738090832162138612008-01-24T10:07:00.000-06:002008-01-24T10:07:00.000-06:00Do you have some template answers for the most com...Do you have some template answers for the most common questions/comments? Someone writes in for writing advice and you have a template answer for places to go. They write it to say they love your books (and how could the not) and you have a standard thank you.<BR/><BR/>You can always customize a few lines at the bottom. <BR/><BR/>I started doing this for my day job and it works. In my writing life I am not yet besieged by fan mail- but hope springs eternal.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07967828178034612278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-71765654645726690872008-01-24T09:00:00.000-06:002008-01-24T09:00:00.000-06:00I follow the advice noted in the book, The Writer ...I follow the advice noted in the book, The Writer Mama - 20 minutes to do this - GO, 20 minutes to do that - GO, 20 minutes to schedule this - GO, and so on. I admire the 15 minute philosophy outlined on flylady.com (and even enlisted a cow-timer to do the job), but that five extra minutes really HAD to be included in this working writer's life. ::winks:: There are days, however, when I would rather chuck said cow out the window, pour some tea, and hide under the covers . . . but no, the urgent emails, looming deadlines, and "why the heck won't you answer your phone" messages beckon. (as do my children)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05752504199556834991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-90919928549766615012008-01-24T07:11:00.000-06:002008-01-24T07:11:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Steve MChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15026970188928733645noreply@blogger.com