Published on December 14, 2005
We give candy and cookies to our friends here in Bangor for Christmas so Ali and I are baking up a storm this week. I’m trying to make Peppernuts for the first time ever this year. My mom’s been making them for years. We received them in a tin each Christmas from one of mom’s friends for years and the lady would never give out their secret family recipe, despite all those years of begging and bribes from my mom. My mom was into ceramics at that time (she even had her own kiln) and, one year, the neighbor’s daughter came over and asked my mom to make a ceramic teddy bear for a friend. She was willing to pay. Mom said she, of course, couldn’t take the girl’s money, but she would like the girl to run home and get her mom’s peppernuts recipe.
Published on December 14, 2005
Dear Angela-
I just want to let you know that I really enjoyed your column regarding Jerks masquerading as Authors-in fact, I often enjoy your columns.
Victoria Grossack
https://www.tapestryofbronze.com
—
Right (write) on Angela. Jerks waste time, money and energy and merely take advantage. I’ve been in business over 20 years, as an outsource to business and individuals, and we have learned to listen for the key words that announce “I am a jerk.” As soon as we hear them we say “no” to whatever they want. This practice has seen us through quite well. Once in a while we make a mistake and take on a jerk. As soon as he/she/company identifies their true self, we tell them we don’t want their work. I have never regretted it, nor found it hurt our business.
A very successful, long-term attorney, now retired said he didn’t think a business could operate that way, but after watching our company, he wishes he’d done that during his legal career.
Ethel Geary
Published on December 14, 2005
It’s almost tax time again! And, as in the past, A.J. Cataldo offers his tax wisdom to self-employed writers.
Published on December 14, 2005
I recently landed two articles in a mid-sized magazine, and when reviewing the second noticed a letter to the editor tearing apart my first article. The letter was quite vitriolic, there were no counter-opinions expressed, and I was never contacted for any rebuttal. I have to admit to bruised feelings since even though everyone is entitled to an opinion, I had hoped I might have been backed up with a balanced opinion or even a chance to respond to letter writer.
Published on December 14, 2005
Inspiration hits at weird times. For me, it was at the gas pump.
Published on December 14, 2005
This Week:
Published on December 7, 2005
We went for a prenatal check-up last week and Max had to stay home with Zach. I told Max we were going to to the baby doctor to have them make sure the baby is okay. Max must have misunderstood me because, when we got home and walked in the back door, Max looked at my empty arms and demanded, “Where’s the baby?!”
Published on December 7, 2005
In the BookLocker submission guidelines, we feature this note: “All BookLocker authors are part of our family. We treat all authors with the same kindness and a smile. We don’t work with “prima donna” authors-people who think they’re more important than other BookLocker authors. To put it simply, we don’t work with jerks. If you fit this description, please do not submit your manuscript to us.”
The funny thing is this statement really seems to offend the “jerks” out there and makes everybody else (the nice people) laugh. So, it’s been a very good way of weeding out the “jerks.” Let’s face it, life’s too short to work with jerks, even if they’re willing to pay us to do so.
Every once in awhile, one of those jerks will send us a scathing diatribe about how our statements mean we’re self-righteous, horrible human beings. I received once such letter by mail this week.
Published on December 7, 2005
Letters will return next week.
Published on December 7, 2005
Authors, heed my words. Hire an editor. Find someone you have never met before, some good soul with a great resume and references, but someone who has no emotional interest in you or your project. Hire an editor who won’t give a rat’s shiny fanny whether your manuscript changes the course of history; hire an editor who just wants to know what your deadlines are and whether your check will clear.
