Tip O'Day #36

Be Professional, say writers Stella Deleuze and Devyn Quinn.

First, Stella Deleuze from her blog http://synopsisandbookfactory.wordpress.com/ (used with permission):

If you decide to join an online forum for writers, Facebook, twitter or if you own a blog – any public forum, in fact - you should keep it professional. Agents and editors are scouting for new writers and if they see the author of this good and publishable book is behaving like an idiot, constantly arguing, posting all sorts of things that make them look bad, there’s a great chance of him or her walking away. Opportunity missed.

Nowadays, everything is trackable; Google yourself and you will find a lot of proof for that, especially if you are active in online communities. Agents/editors/potential employers who receive your e-mail and like what they see, might be put off as soon as they search your name in Google, if they are confronted with foul language and online-fights, you calling others names.

Publishing houses don’t want difficult. They want easy-to-get-on-with authors, employees. Yes, you can be a square-thinker, but be professional about it. One can have a good discussion without getting personal.

In the end, if you are invited to an author-interview you won’t start yelling at the interviewer just because he asked a question you don’t like, would you?
I have heard of authors who have been ‘released’ from their contracts before their book went into print, because they have shown a different side to them after signing.

Being a paid author has to be considered a job and therefore, to be taken as seriously as one. Your online presence is your personal reference, make the best of it.

Along the same line, here is author Devyn Quinn:

The thing is, there are no "tips" for getting published. It's a business and you approach as such. It's like showing up to an interview in shorts and sandals when business attire is expected. Agents and editors expect to work with authors who know what they are doing, not simply guessing how the business works.