Comments on: will I read your manuscript? http://www.dianapfrancis.com/2009/09/13/will-i-read-your-manuscript/ Writer of Fantasy Adventure Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Di Francis http://www.dianapfrancis.com/2009/09/13/will-i-read-your-manuscript/comment-page-1/#comment-581 Di Francis Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:49:23 +0000 http://www.dianapfrancis.com/?p=307#comment-581 I tend to agree that the tone on this prompted some of the comments and the vitriol, though I do think there's a lot of that that's wow--out of wack. He made some people very angry. It is definitely flattering to be asked. Hence when it comes up for me, I go with politeness and gratitude that they thought I could be helpful. Though I did get this one request the other day that was essentially--do you have any advice to give me on writing? And I had no answer. Where to begin? Advice about what? Specific questions are always better, and I do try to answer them as frequently as possible. I wonder what happened to set him off, though. I heard from a writing colleague recently who is very highly qualified in his writing field. He said no to such a request, and politely (I read the text of the email) and the response was beyond flaming. Then the requestor then gathered friends and they just attacked viciously. It was appalling. But that's a whole other issue I think, which goes to civility on the net. Sigh. I tend to agree that the tone on this prompted some of the comments and the vitriol, though I do think there’s a lot of that that’s wow–out of wack. He made some people very angry.

It is definitely flattering to be asked. Hence when it comes up for me, I go with politeness and gratitude that they thought I could be helpful. Though I did get this one request the other day that was essentially–do you have any advice to give me on writing? And I had no answer. Where to begin? Advice about what? Specific questions are always better, and I do try to answer them as frequently as possible.

I wonder what happened to set him off, though. I heard from a writing colleague recently who is very highly qualified in his writing field. He said no to such a request, and politely (I read the text of the email) and the response was beyond flaming. Then the requestor then gathered friends and they just attacked viciously. It was appalling. But that’s a whole other issue I think, which goes to civility on the net.

Sigh.

]]> By: Murphy Jacobs http://www.dianapfrancis.com/2009/09/13/will-i-read-your-manuscript/comment-page-1/#comment-580 Murphy Jacobs Sun, 13 Sep 2009 21:42:17 +0000 http://www.dianapfrancis.com/?p=307#comment-580 You know, I've been following this and while I agree with the essence, I think it was his tone and implications that started the storm more than his right to control how he uses his time. I don't think anyone can legitimately say that an author's time and attention belongs to them (those who do are, well, the kind of people to be avoided). If he had not been quite so, shall we say, combative in his tone, I doubt he would be getting nearly the amount of attention he is. And I think that is exactly why he is being so combative. While I agree that many writers have full and demanding lives, and should have complete control over those lives, is it a preferable state of affairs to have no one who wants your opinion? Many writers never reach a position of being admired enough for anyone to want them to read anything. Of course it is easy to see it as so many vampires trying to suck away your precious time, but there does seem to be another side to it -- someone thinks you have an opinion worth getting. Someone is saying you have knowledge. I agree that anyone who demands your time deserves a rejection, and that no one has any right to get angry with you because you do not want/cannot/don't read their manuscript. I disagree that, except in very extreme cases, that rejection should be rude and angry. You know, I’ve been following this and while I agree with the essence, I think it was his tone and implications that started the storm more than his right to control how he uses his time. I don’t think anyone can legitimately say that an author’s time and attention belongs to them (those who do are, well, the kind of people to be avoided).

If he had not been quite so, shall we say, combative in his tone, I doubt he would be getting nearly the amount of attention he is. And I think that is exactly why he is being so combative.

While I agree that many writers have full and demanding lives, and should have complete control over those lives, is it a preferable state of affairs to have no one who wants your opinion? Many writers never reach a position of being admired enough for anyone to want them to read anything. Of course it is easy to see it as so many vampires trying to suck away your precious time, but there does seem to be another side to it — someone thinks you have an opinion worth getting. Someone is saying you have knowledge.

I agree that anyone who demands your time deserves a rejection, and that no one has any right to get angry with you because you do not want/cannot/don’t read their manuscript. I disagree that, except in very extreme cases, that rejection should be rude and angry.

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