QUOTE: Originally posted by DiTryin


Here's something that's been grating my cheese since the day I said my newsletter is a paying market: writers don't go out of their way to learn their trade.

Maybe I'm the only one who, when the decision to get into freelance writing hit me, I bought books and ebooks, signed up for newsletters, and read the articles on writer sites trying to learn everything I could to so I would succeed. (Yeah, ok, so I'm book-smart and experience poor, but this will work in my favor once I start submitting)

But if you get more rejections than you do acceptances, do yourself a favor and READ! Learn how to do it right so you'll stop doing it wrong. Learn how to write a good, attention-getting query, learn how to submit it, proofread your piece before you send it, run it by someone else (preferably a writer) to make sure it's clear and as good as it can be before you send it to an editor, look at past issues to see if it's even a good fit for this publication (someone once sent me a piece on LINUX (the computer code) -- and then sent me a nastygram when I said it wasn't a good fit for my newsletter! And writers wonder why some editors don't respond! <pound head on desk>),..........

Have you ever heard that editors can only use 10% of what they receive? I'm here to tell you -- that is s-o-o-o-o true! You don't have to be in the other 90%. Do a little homework. Learn from the pros what works and what doesn't. If you really want to succeed -- do yourself (and editors) a favor and do it!

[8D]

Diane

http://www.coolstuff4writers.com/FreeShipping.html




You make very good points, and nearly all new writers would serve themselves well by listening. Learning to write well usually takes time and practice, but new writers do so many needless things wrong that it greatly lengthens how long it takes to become successful. Mearly all these newbie mistakes could be avoided just by reading how-to books and magaines.

And most editors can only use 1% or less of what comes in. Often less than one half of one percent.

QUOTE: How can you justify extolling editorial opinion when you have not been published?

The responses from Northwriter and James were quite helpful. But from Mammamia

QUOTE: slamming a newcomer to the forum before you've seen proof they deserve it, is not in very good form, imo...

that said, ditryin could have couched her very valid rant in less all-encompassing terms [to 'some' instead of 'you'?], to allow it to not seem to be applying to all who post here...


and from Factuality

QUOTE: I share your pet peeve, DiTryin! Just look at some of the questions asked in this forum and you'll know the posters haven't tried to learn a thing on their own. Many questions are so poorly written they're incoherent, and the posters call themselves writers! Like all slackers, they seem to want knowledge and success given to them without making an investment of their own.

You're in a good position to learn what not to do because you receive so much bad copy. For your initiative, knowledge and competence, expect to be shunned here by some of the more proliferate posters. Ignorance seems more welcomed here by a few who seem to want to be big fish in a pond so small it's more like a partially dried-up mud puddle. How dare you know something they don't! (Guess I vented a pet-peeve of my own riding on your coattails, didn't I?) Just ignore the criticisms—occasionally someone comes along with something meaningful to share and makes the time spent here worthwhile. I especially appreciate the many books and websites I've learned about through this forum.

I hope you'll continue to share and upgrade the caliber of information provided in this forum.

do nothing more than drip with arrogance and offer nothing to the thread but, I guess, to be heard on some level. (I know, I know, it’s the Pet Peeve forum!)

The purpose of my question was to find out why editors are not published writers? Again as a newcomer to this field, I did not know this.
My first impression is that it would be like being cut from the team by someone who has never played the game. But if that’s the way it is then that’s the way it is.

I’d suggest everyone switch to decaf and don’t take life so personally.

---

"Every man is the architect of his own fortune." --Appius Claudius

QUOTE: Originally posted by LeeAnnSontheimerMurphy
Somehow I think that perhaps Factuality might be including me among the "regulars" here on the Forum who lack any knowledge worth sharing.


I never said there are "'regulars' here on the Forum who lack any knowledge worth sharing." Can you point to the words in my message that led you to say I did?
Do you think you are such a person? Where did that come from?

QUOTE: Originally posted by LeeAnnSontheimerMurphy
I've become really, really weary of the word wars, the egos... I'm tired of the game playing and the one-upmanship.


Then why do you do it? Did you think this was a nice thing to say and that you said it in a nice way:

QUOTE: Originally posted by LeeAnnSontheimerMurphy
You are an inexperienced, unpublished writer who has yet to submit work but are an "editor" of your own newsletter with the power to reject others although you have read all you can find about writing and this qualifies you as an expert…

QUOTE: Originally posted by LeeAnnSontheimerMurphy
I may join in a few discussions but I won't offer any tangible information.


I'm not sure what you mean by "tangible information." Is this an example:

QUOTE: Originally posted by LeeAnnSontheimerMurphy
Your rant will fall on deaf ears.

QUOTE: Originally posted by LeeAnnSontheimerMurphy
Watch for my byline coming to a publication near you.

No thanks, I prefer writers who get their facts straight.


******************

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mike27
It never fails to amaze me the level of intolerance of those who we, as relative newcomers to the field of writing, look to for guidance.

I asked the question

How can you justify extolling editorial opinion when you have not been published?


Is this the way a learner speaks to someone from whom he wants to learn? Your own question comes across as rhetorical—as an "intolerant," "slamming," "arrogant" (your words) statement in the disguise of a question.


You said that some messages were helpful, but others like the one "from Factuality… do nothing more than drip with arrogance and offer nothing to the thread but, I guess, to be heard on some level."
Didn't you find this encouragement helpful:

QUOTE:
Just ignore the criticisms—occasionally someone comes along with something meaningful to share and makes the time spent here worthwhile. I especially appreciate the many books and websites I've learned about through this forum.

I hope you'll continue to share and upgrade the caliber of information provided in this forum.


Do you think your own message offers something to thread? I don't see you exemplifying that which you seek.