Comments on: Damning With Faint Praise

By: Where is J. Jonah Jameson When You Need Him? | Diary of a Mad Editor

Where is J. Jonah Jameson When You Need Him? | Diary of a Mad Editor — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:09:00 +0000

[...] on this blog, a somewhat controversial post elicited a comment that suggested that I have no class. Not the first-time, and I suppose I should [...]

By: melisa

melisa — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:59:43 +0000

Now I’ve got an idea how some publishers react at such submissions… ^^

Publishers have the right to scrutinize and pour out their intense reactions over submitted materials that happen to be unfit for publication in whatever way, but I think it’s unkind to print the writer’s full name here (and his emails)–if indeed that was his real name–with this post filled with lots of negative remarks.

On the other hand, writers should always inform publishers from the very beginning of correspondence that they also submitted the same material to other publishers.

But personally I’d rather send the material to only one publisher, then wait and follow up. I know they’re always busy, but I think they should be able to at least acknowledge that the hard copy and cover letter I sent finally reached their office.

By: John Erianne

John Erianne — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:01:21 +0000

1.) In his initial email, he didn't inform me that his submission had been simultaneously sent to other publications — by definition that is a lie by omission. 2.) Obviously, you're not a regular reader of this blog. This is certainly not the first time I've eviscerated a writer and it probably won't be the last. And, for the record: I was nice to the when I accepted the his story. I was nice to him when I took the time to explain things to him because I, too, initially believed his was "feeling his way through." I was nice to him when I gave him an extra 48 hours to mull the situation over. But there is a limit to how nice, patient and classy I'm willing to be and his free pass expired the moment he withdrew his story. Also, FYI — I've never maligned or otherwise retaliated against a writer who followed the correct protocol for simultaneous submissions.

By: John Boughn

John Boughn — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:32:30 +0000

I don’t know, judging from the emails above i just read I don’t really see this kid lying about anything. I also don’t think he was trying to be rude, I think it was probably just his first attempt at publishing something and he was feeling his way through it.
I know you must’ve been frustrated, but to me it would seem the more classless thing to do is to eviscerate the young guy on your blog, John!!!

By: John Erianne

John Erianne — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:25:06 +0000

Thanks for reading, Katy. You hit the nail on the head, I think. The issue was never about the simultaneous submissions, but that he lied about it. That, having been offered an acceptance by me, he couldn’t just take “yes” for an answer and tell those other publications that his story had been accepted elsewhere. My own submission guidelines are very explicit on the subject of simultaneous submissions and I’ve certainly covered the subject enough on this blog in the past.

Morgan is a living, breathing example of why many editors don’t take younger writers seriously.