Writing Etiquette
Business communications etiquette is not unfashionable. I risk sounding like a whiny old lady, but when did common courtesy leave the scene? Just because we have technological communication possibilities, doesn't preclude business messages including formal salutations, last names, and explanations for the contact.
It's not my fault you are trying to do accomplish too much simultaneously (like Twitter, blog, write and query). If the communication is related to work, slow down to shape the message into clarity and coherence. Are you serious about your writing or not?
Yes, I am once again on a tear, complaining about people whom I have never heard of telling LinkedIn that I am their "friend" and wanting me to include them in my network of connections; strangers greeting me in a first contact email message as "Hi Georganna," and asking for a favor. Worst was a message from a professional woman who, I feel certain, knows better considering her high placement in the communications department of a major institution. She emailed no message at all, just forwarded a copy of a release. I wrote back, "Am I guessing correctly that you would like me to review your book, or what?" "Where did you find my email address?" (It was not one that included my name.) "Do we have any sort of connection?"
People, people, put yourself in the place of the receiver.
If someone you don't know asks a favor (in real life or a snail mail letter), don't they explain who they are, why they are contacting you and what is your advantage in accommodating them (if any)?
Why should email or Web 2.0 contacts differ?
Other annoyances are people who want help with writing or publishing, send material for review, require an exchange of several emails and then offer only silence when they receive an estimate of cost. I would appreciate knowing if they are taking time to make up their minds, preparing whole manuscripts to send, or turning down my services. I am using energy to keep them in my attention, keep an active file for their work on my desktop and an email folder in prominence in Outlook Express. When/if they call, I can refer to our messages and work right away. At this point, I've invested quite a bit of time in this process. At least have the consideration to let me know it's been wasted (from my point of view) and I can close the files.
It's not my fault you are trying to do accomplish too much simultaneously (like Twitter, blog, write and query). If the communication is related to work, slow down to shape the message into clarity and coherence. Are you serious about your writing or not?
Yes, I am once again on a tear, complaining about people whom I have never heard of telling LinkedIn that I am their "friend" and wanting me to include them in my network of connections; strangers greeting me in a first contact email message as "Hi Georganna," and asking for a favor. Worst was a message from a professional woman who, I feel certain, knows better considering her high placement in the communications department of a major institution. She emailed no message at all, just forwarded a copy of a release. I wrote back, "Am I guessing correctly that you would like me to review your book, or what?" "Where did you find my email address?" (It was not one that included my name.) "Do we have any sort of connection?"
People, people, put yourself in the place of the receiver.
If someone you don't know asks a favor (in real life or a snail mail letter), don't they explain who they are, why they are contacting you and what is your advantage in accommodating them (if any)?
Why should email or Web 2.0 contacts differ?
Other annoyances are people who want help with writing or publishing, send material for review, require an exchange of several emails and then offer only silence when they receive an estimate of cost. I would appreciate knowing if they are taking time to make up their minds, preparing whole manuscripts to send, or turning down my services. I am using energy to keep them in my attention, keep an active file for their work on my desktop and an email folder in prominence in Outlook Express. When/if they call, I can refer to our messages and work right away. At this point, I've invested quite a bit of time in this process. At least have the consideration to let me know it's been wasted (from my point of view) and I can close the files.
posted by Georganna Hancock M.S. | 7:30 AM
8 Comments:
If you're a whiny old lady, Georganna, then so am I. I agree with everything you've said here. And have experienced it too.
Thanks, Paula whoever you are, besides another whiny old lady!
I probably shouldn't have called it "etiquette." Courtesy. Common sense. Intelligent communication. Consideration.
I wholeheartedly agree!
From another 'whiny old lady'!
Dear Georganna,
Here's another whiny old man for you. I do definitely agree that common courtesy, like Elvis and Michael, has left the building. Oh deary me!
Sincerly,
Rchrd
Thanks, Rchrd and Kit. Barb Tobias, the Thrift Diva, also emailed the comment, "Well said!" Thanks for that one, too.
I'm Paula B. from The Writing Show, Georganna. You know me.
Yes, Paula B. I figured that's who it was, although Paula Offutt offtten comments, too. Blessed be all Paulas!
I was chuckling when I read this. I'm often asked to contribute posts or reviews, then, when I mention that the person can check rates posted at my blog . . . dead silence. As if we all can afford to give our services away for free!
While I do engage in free promotion of others' sites, it still amazes me that people expect something for nothing--as if a writer's time is somehow less valuable as the rest of the world's.
Post a Comment
<< Home