Comments on: Blast from the past: Ask not what writers can do for you…

By: Karen Elliott

Karen Elliott — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:50:03 +0000

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….

By: LindaFormichelli

LindaFormichelli — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:54:54 +0000

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.

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:53:01 +0000

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.

By: Snarky's Machine

Snarky's Machine — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:30:59 +0000

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.

By: Jessica Alvarado

Jessica Alvarado — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:16:26 +0000

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.