And the mail is in my hands. Shimmer magazine‘s contract and payment for “Even Songbirds are Kept in Cages” arrived today. That was a lot faster than I anticipated, not that I’m complaining. I guess I’ve just gotten used to the long response times one tends to get when working within the publishing business. Even with places starting to take email queries and the like…it’s not as if technology provides us any more free time or makes less work…it just makes the process faster and more efficient (not necessarily the same thing) so we have more time in the day to do more stuff.
If you ever wonder what it is that takes up so much of an agent or editor’s time (thus requiring weeks, if not months between submissions and responses) then just check out some of the blog links I have on this page that are run by agents. Quite a few out there, but browse through some of the archives and sooner or later most will have a few blog runs that list what they do throughout the day. After reading a bit, you’ll get a good sense of how hectic their lives are, and admire them for it (if not be gripped by the sudden urge to offer them foot rubs and fresh baked cookies). Anyone on the receiving end of queries and story submissions, whether an agent, magazine/book editor, etc. is flooded every day with material they must sift through. Most of these people have assistants whose entire job it is to filter out the “meh” material from the “not-so-meh.” Do you have a hard time keeping up with all your email contacts? Imagine getting hundreds of emails a week, if not daily, and needing to respond to every single one of them…even if it’s just a “No.”
These people likely fund the entire coffee industry. I don’t understand how they get the time to blog, but I think it has something to do with cloning or time travel. Anyways, applaud them, one and all, offer them backrubs and fresh cookies, and don’t get too antsy while camping out at the mailbox for weeks, waiting for a form letter reply. That way you can be pleasantly surprised when something does a whip-snap return time.
I see that smile.
Oh, bless you for that post.
And thanks for sending us “Even Songbirds are Kept in Cages.”
Thanks for dropping by, Mary. I’ve loved what I’ve seen of Shimmer and am very excited to be part of such a quality magazine. I love the artwork and graphical feel of it too. Do you work on most of it yourself as the art director, or do you freelance out some?
I hire artists, but do the layout myself. I’ve got art in a couple of the issues, but that’s generally when an artist has flaked. I like to hire people who are better than me.
Wait until you see who is doing the cover of the issue you’re in. Oh, baby.
I always love what good art and illustrations can do to bring an issue and its stories alive. Gah…guess I have to do this whole “patience” thing to find out. I’ve no doubt it’ll be worth the wait.