Blast from the past: Ask not what writers can do for you…
I thought this post from 2006 was worth another look. Enjoy!
A couple of things happened today that inspired this post. First, someone posted on a forum for professional writers asking for tips on how to get started as a freelancer. This, of course, caused many pro writers to become PO’d. (Why expect professionals to spend hours giving you advice that you can find in countless books and websites?)
Second, someone e-mailed me today asking for a list I compiled of magazines that assign health articles, which I mentioned on a different forum (the list was part of a handout for Diana’s and my Canyon Ranch presentation). When I sent her the list, which included about 30 magazines with their snail mail addresses, URLs, phone numbers, and e-mail formats, she wrote back lamenting that the list didn’t include editor names. (Oh, I’m sorry that the free information that I provided was not up to your exacting standards.)
Most of the people who write to me asking for help and advice are professional and polite. I don’t mind answering a brief question or two, and the asker often writes back later to let me know how he fared using my advice (which is gratifying). Everybody wins! But based on these two situations today, I think some writers need a lesson in how to ask for advice.
1. Let the writer know that you respect her time.
A little groveling never hurt anyone. Some aspiring writers start their e-mails by saying, “I know you’re busy, but I was wondering if you had a minute to answer my question.” Others launch into a list of questions without acknowledging that they’re asking the writer to spend her otherwise billable time helping out a stranger. Guess which ones get answered?
2. Keep it short.
Try to distill your question down to just a few sentences. This is good practice for all kinds of writing, and is also more likely to generate a response than a rambling recounting of your life as a writer.
3. Be specific.
A question like “How do I write a query?” would take the writer hours to answer; after all, there are entire books on the subject. Keep your questions as specific as possible.
4. Don’t poach.
Many professional writers have writing books or e-books or offer writing e-courses. Don’t ask a bunch of questions that the writer answers in her book or course. For example, don’t write to Jenna Glatzer, author of The Street Smart Writer, asking “How can I avoid writing scams?” Don’t write to Kelly James-Enger, author of Six Figure Freelancing, to ask how to boost your writing income. Most writers hate to say “Buy my book” but — buy their books! (I’m using Jenna and Kelly as hypothetical examples here; they haven’t expressed any grievances to me about writers asking for advice, and this tip applies to all authors.)
5. Do your research.
If you post on a forum (or e-mail a writer) to ask “How do I get started?” you might as well wear a flashing sign that says, “Flame Me!” Read the forum archives, do a Google search, pick up some writing books at the bookstore or library, and read magazines like Writer’s Digest and The Writer. Lurk on forums until you have a good idea of what kinds of posts are and aren’t acceptable.
6. Remember that you get what you pay for.
When you’re asking for free advice or information, don’t get upset if the writer doesn’t spend hours pondering and answering your questions, or if the information isn’t everything you had hoped for. If your question is broad or the writer is swamped with work, she may reply with a quick list of resources for you to check out or books for you to read. Instead of pitching a hissy because the writer didn’t carefully answer each of your questions herself, appreciate the fact that she took the time to compile a list for you…then go and read the resources she recommended.
7. Say thanks.
Be sure to thank the writer for her advice; I can’t tell you how many times I’ve written long, thoughtful answers to writers’ questions and never received a thank-you. Professional writers also love to know how you fared with their advice, so do write back later to let her know. For example, I got an e-mail yesterday from a writer who said that she followed my advice and landed her first national assignment. That’s nice to hear!
8. Return the favor.
Many writers I help return the favor by alerting me of new magazines and sites they think I’d be interested in, recommending my e-course to others, or sharing editor names with me when they break into a new pub. Sharing with others generates good writer karma.
9. Pay it forward.
When you’re a famous, wealthy writer, remember the help you got from professional writers when you were starting out and “pay it forward” by helping others land their big break.
I will answer a question from someone who seems to have studied up and gotten a lot of info on his or her own. I do always feel like I may be creating competition to undercut me, though.
I too, believe in the power of good karma. I don’t balk when writers ask me for my contacts at a magazine, especially if I know them. I don’t worry about it meaning less work for me as I just think the publishing world is big enough for those with talent and perseverance. And, besides, one day it might be me asking for a favor. I figure the well meaning people are all in this together.
My ears are burning!
Seriously, I *am* happy to answer specific questions from readers…especially when they tell me something like “I’ve read your book and I love it but have a question about clips…[or whatever]” Really smart writers say, “I *bought* your book and I love it but have a question about clips…”
But anyway, I do answer specific questions from readers who I can tell have “down their homework,” so to speak. But the emails I get (and I get a lot) that say something like, “I saw your name on the internet and I want to freelance–how do I get started?” get a polite but canned response suggesting several practical, helpful resources and offering to answer any specific questions not addressed therein. I never, ever hear back from those people (and we’re talking hundreds of emails over the years).
In short, I’m not willing to spoonfeed someone but I do answer valid questions…good karma and a way of paying it forward, as the post says. And I think it’s helpful to have a solid network of writers (I know Linda and Diana would agree with this!) and connections, too.
Thanks for mentioning Six-Figure Freelancing, by the way!
Kelly
Thanks for your comments!
Kelly, I’m with you…thoughtful questions get a thoughtful response. “How do I get started” questions get a list of books and websites to start with.
I’m no “real” writer, but when I get emails from people asking me how does my blog get so much traffic, or how I get books to review, etc, I have to laugh. I’ve spent years teaching myself how to do these things, and I wouldn’t ever dream of emailing a famous blogger and ask them “Hey, can you teach me everything you know, even though I am a complete stranger?”
I can’t believe you were kind enough to share that list with this person in the first place. Why would this person then write back to you and complain about missing contact information like a fool? What a dummy! I’d be thrilled to give you a huge “thank you so much, you made my day” if you were to ever send me a list like that. And, if you need that huge thank you, feel free to send me that list. I’m totally kidding, but if that list were to show up in my email I wouldn’t be upset at all.
I have never written to anyone to ask for help with out doing my homework first. Honestly i feel like it is a waste of my time and theirs. This is a do it yourself business, how can i expect to succeed with out learning to do it myself.
That being said, i love your books (own them both of course!) and I’m working on the skill of writing profiles. I am wondering if you could consider running a writing profiles tips post here on the RW blog. I’m a self taught writer and while i feel the profiles i’ve written are ok i know i can make them better. I always find your information incredibly helpful and I haven’t been incredibly successful in finding information on how to write a profile.
thanks.
This was wonderful! I am somewhere in the middle, having both some modest success. I like contacting writers and picking their brains in exchange for promoting their services among my friends or pass their information along to contacts I know who would be interested in their work. For newbies who contact me, I am very patient and happy to answer questions and toss things their way. I really believe in paying it forward.
Couldn’t agree more! I met a friend of a friend who asked me about some work stuff. I gave him one contact. No reply. I emailed three weeks later to check he got the mail. He wrote back saying it was terribly good of me to check. Yes he did. Could I critique his work? I wrote back explaining that it wasn’t good of me to check – I was amazed he had not had the courtesy to reply after I shared a contact. He apologised but made a lame excuse. If you have time to ask me to help you, you bloody well have time to say thanks.
Thanks for all your comments!
Jessica, a while back I wrote an article for Writer’s Digest on writing profiles. I’ll try to post it in the next few weeks.
OOO. I think I may have been one of the ones who asked Linda a stupid question….
I’m getting a little annoyed with the requests on Linked In groups for this type of stuff – the “how do I get started”. It seems I see one of those every day. I’ve been working at writing for over three years and I’ve amassed loads of websites, loads of tips, loads of contacts, taken dozens of classes, gone to workshops, talked to writers. I’ve also taken my “list” and crossed off websites, tips, contacts, and lame workshops. It ain’t that easy. Some people just want a recipe and there isn’t one.
Yes, it’s tough finding the editor’s name and/or email address. Sometimes I can’t even find a phone number. But when I do finally find it – I’m so proud of myself!
On Linked In I did ask for input from members for horror conventions and websites. I got a pile of good leads and that lead to more leads, and more leads….