One thing I have learned in my 30+ years as a writer is to be professional.
An unprofessional author-publisher relationship can sabotage your career and a professional one can make it surge.
Being professional includes how you act with executives, administrative assistants, marketing folks, editors, and even shipping staff.
A nonfiction writer, I try to help editors as much as possible by including headings, leaving wide margins for notes, indexing the book, being careful about attributions, and not complaining about revisions.
These actions have helped me to develop good working relationship with a variety of publishers and editors.
"You want to create relationships that will last the duration of our career," explains the Professional Resumes website, and I have tried to do this.
When I look back at my career I think I have been professional 99 percent of the time.
But I must admit that sometimes I am hard on myself, and wonder if I have offended someone.
Thankfully, this lasts only a few minutes.
How would you describe your author-publisher relationship? You may pick up on conversational nuances, for example, or miss them.
Even better, you may be an author who really listens.
Like me, you may try to help your publisher as much as possible.
Professionalism usually gets good results, but not always.
Years ago I lost a book sale because I was professional.
It was a sticky situation, one that I prefer not to go into now, but suffice to say I was forced to hire a lawyer.
Though the case was resolved and I lost the same, I am still enthusiastic about the book and hope to sell it some day.
Kevin Eikenberry describes the elements of a professional relationship on his website.
In the article, "Seven Ways to Nurture Professional Relationships," he says all work is relationship business.
"Having stronger relationships creates less stress, promotes high productivity, improves speed and efficiency and helps our work in almost every measurable way," he notes.
What are the puzzle pieces of this relationship? According to Eikenberry, a professional relationship is your top priority, shows caring, helps you make connections, develops trust, sets standards, aids listening, and fosters leadership.
Indeed, the time you spend on your professional relationship "will create lasting benefits for everyone.
" These last few weeks I have been evaluating my professional author-publisher relationship.
Since I had already discussed my idea with the company I did not submit a book proposal.
Instead, I sent the executive director email updates and suggestions for saving on printing costs based on my art degree.
I included suggestions for bulk sales as well.
The publisher has not made a decision yet, but seems enthusiastic.
Newbie or experienced writer, it is a good idea to evaluate your professionalism from time to time.
As you do this, remember the people who have helped you along the way and those you are about to meet.
According to the Professional Resumes website, "The most important adage when it comes to relationships is 'As you give, so shall you receive.
"' Copyright 2010 by Harriet Hodgson
An unprofessional author-publisher relationship can sabotage your career and a professional one can make it surge.
Being professional includes how you act with executives, administrative assistants, marketing folks, editors, and even shipping staff.
A nonfiction writer, I try to help editors as much as possible by including headings, leaving wide margins for notes, indexing the book, being careful about attributions, and not complaining about revisions.
These actions have helped me to develop good working relationship with a variety of publishers and editors.
"You want to create relationships that will last the duration of our career," explains the Professional Resumes website, and I have tried to do this.
When I look back at my career I think I have been professional 99 percent of the time.
But I must admit that sometimes I am hard on myself, and wonder if I have offended someone.
Thankfully, this lasts only a few minutes.
How would you describe your author-publisher relationship? You may pick up on conversational nuances, for example, or miss them.
Even better, you may be an author who really listens.
Like me, you may try to help your publisher as much as possible.
Professionalism usually gets good results, but not always.
Years ago I lost a book sale because I was professional.
It was a sticky situation, one that I prefer not to go into now, but suffice to say I was forced to hire a lawyer.
Though the case was resolved and I lost the same, I am still enthusiastic about the book and hope to sell it some day.
Kevin Eikenberry describes the elements of a professional relationship on his website.
In the article, "Seven Ways to Nurture Professional Relationships," he says all work is relationship business.
"Having stronger relationships creates less stress, promotes high productivity, improves speed and efficiency and helps our work in almost every measurable way," he notes.
What are the puzzle pieces of this relationship? According to Eikenberry, a professional relationship is your top priority, shows caring, helps you make connections, develops trust, sets standards, aids listening, and fosters leadership.
Indeed, the time you spend on your professional relationship "will create lasting benefits for everyone.
" These last few weeks I have been evaluating my professional author-publisher relationship.
Since I had already discussed my idea with the company I did not submit a book proposal.
Instead, I sent the executive director email updates and suggestions for saving on printing costs based on my art degree.
I included suggestions for bulk sales as well.
The publisher has not made a decision yet, but seems enthusiastic.
Newbie or experienced writer, it is a good idea to evaluate your professionalism from time to time.
As you do this, remember the people who have helped you along the way and those you are about to meet.
According to the Professional Resumes website, "The most important adage when it comes to relationships is 'As you give, so shall you receive.
"' Copyright 2010 by Harriet Hodgson