From time to time things happen that irk us in regards to our jobs/careers/professions. We’ve all been there, probably more times than any of us would like to count.
Sometimes we really need to blow off steam, vent our frustrations, and just get our irritation off our chests. There are right ways and wrong ways to go about getting this release.
1. Talk to someone who can do something about it. It could be your editor, or if you don’t feel comfortable with that, you could choose me. It is always best to go to the source of your problem first, then the next level up if you can’t come to an agreement.
2. Don’t talk about your issues in a public forum. Doing so violates the other person’s right to privacy. You could be accused of libel: a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression b (1): a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt (2): defamation of a person by written or representational means (3): the publication of blasphemous, treasonable, seditious, or obscene writings or pictures (4): the act, tort, or crime of publishing such a libel.
3. Don’t burn your bridges.
Decisions get made and to be blunt, the health of the company is the primary concern. The health of Aspen Mountain Press affects all the authors and editors. You may not like certain editorial decisions. Unless you have a really strong, compelling argument why a decision is “wrong”, I am going to back the editors. But you also know that I’ve really striven to be accommodating to the authors here. This is unlike nearly every other book and e-Book company I’ve known. Horror stories abound where authors have: received fifty pages of editorial “direction”; been asked to rewrite the first hundred pages of a novel four and five times; given input in regards to covers and blurbs and then totally ignored. This list can go on ad nauseam.
I’ve worked in schools and in corporate America. I didn’t agree with all the the policies and procedures that those entities insisted I follow. I had two choices…stay or leave. In no case did I publicly state why I left one employer in favor of another or why I felt company XYZ was wrong. I did what my heart insisted I do, but in doing so I took the high road which I recommend everyone here do in every aspect of their lives. I never knew if there would arise a situation where I would need to contact that company or school again, or perhaps one of the individuals employed there. In a couple cases, I actually went back to work for the company I left. If I’d left complaining loudly and publicly about management, the way problems were handled, and other issues, I’d never be able to have a positive relationship in the future.
I keep an eye on the loops, I’m on over 100, (it’s why I get so much email) and I make note of the things I read…especially of the negative things I read. I already know there are authors I will never contract because of their lack of professionalism on the loops. I know the same is true of other publishers. I know agents and editors hang out in some of these groups and I know they watch the blogs. I’ve been told by two influential NYC houses that they do a web search on potential authors and read what they’ve posted.
I attend publishers’ conferences, authors’ conferences, workshops, etc…and if you think the competition doesn’t talk with one another, you are sadly mistaken.
So, do yourself and your career a huge favor. Think and speak positively. And if something is really bothering you, follow some sage, ancient advice…If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. In our contemporary times cultivating the positive relationships, is simply called “networking”.
So, is your network strong or weak?
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