The Most Unprofessional Request I’ve Ever Received from an Author

Some days, I find myself virtually picking my jaw up off the floor after reading emails from authors and freelance writers. Aside from the really, really awful messages we post in World’s Worst Query Letters and Book Proposals, I often have long back-and-forth discussions with authors and writers via email, or through our online portal that we use to communicate with our BookLocker authors.

This week’s humdinger was from a new author who has not yet signed up at BookLocker. In fact, she hasn’t even submitted a manuscript for consideration.

She contacted me using our “Ask Angela” form to ask me to put her on a writing schedule so that she can finish her manuscript by summer. Yes, an actual adult reached out to a stranger to ask that stranger to put that adult on a schedule because, apparently, that person doesn’t own a calendar, doesn’t have a reminder option on her phone, and doesn’t have any sticky notes to put on her bathroom mirror.

I understand that many people need schedules and reminders to keep them on track with their writing goals. But, asking someone else to hold you accountable for your own actions (or lack thereof) is extremely unprofessional. In fact, it’s downright childish.

I’ve seen my fair share of ridiculous requests over the years but that one really took the cake.

Other inappropriate requests that authors send to publishers:

Asking your publisher to explain the income tax code to you. (People who are not tax professionals can’t legally give you tax advice.)

Asking for free services because you “can’t afford them.”

Lying about being very ill in an attempt to get the publisher to rush your book to market. (A quick check on social media tells us if an author is lying or not.)

Asking your publisher to re-send your email receipts because you “lost yours.” (That means the author, a business person, didn’t save them to begin with, which is extremely unprofessional.)

Asking the publisher to post fake reviews because, “We’ll both make more money!”

Asking the publisher to ignore copyright infringement because, “Nobody will notice.”

Asking the publisher to ignore libel because, “Nobody will sue.”

Complaining that the publisher did not immediately respond to message sent by the author after midnight.


In other news, THE SPRING, 24-HOUR SHORT STORY CONTEST IS ONLY 8 DAYS AWAY!!

Grab a fresh, steaming cup of coffee, crack your knuckles, and get those creative juices flowing!

WE CAN’T *WAIT* TO SEE WHERE YOUR IMAGINATION TAKES US!

Sign up right here: https://www.24HourShortStoryContest.com

You can read ALL of the previous Winter contest topics RIGHT HERE

COME JOIN US RIGHT HERE A WEEK FROM SATURDAY! It’s a blast! 🙂

1st Place $300 + a Free Book Publishing Package from BookLocker.com! (Value: $875)

2nd Place: $250

3rd Place: $200

+ 80 other prizes!

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Got questions about Print On Demand and Self-publishing? Ask Angela Hoy.

About The Author

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Angela Hoy is the publisher of WritersWeekly.com, the author of 19 books, and the co-owner of BookLocker.com (one of the original POD publishers that still gets books to market in less than a month), PubPreppers.com (print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish), and Abuzz Press (the publishing co-op that charges no setup fees).

Angela has lived and traveled across the U.S. with her kids in an RV, settled in a river-side home in Bradenton, FL, and lived on a 52 ft Irwin sailboat. Angela now resides on a mountaintop in Northwest Georgia, where she plans to spend the rest of her days bird watching, gardening, hiking, and taking in all of the amazing sunrises.

WritersWeekly.com – the free marketing ezine for writers, which features new paying markets and freelance job listings every Wednesday.

BookLocker.com – According to attorney Mark Levine, author of The Fine Print, BookLocker is: “As close to perfection as you’re going to find in the world of ebook and POD publishing. The ebook royalties are the highest I’ve ever seen, and the print royalties are better than average. BookLocker understands what new authors experience, and have put together a package that is the best in the business. You can’t go wrong here. Plus, they’re selective and won’t publish any manuscript just because it’s accompanied by a check. Also, the web site is well trafficked. If you can find a POD or epublisher with as much integrity and dedication to selling authors’ books, but with lower POD publishing fees, please let me know.”

Abuzz Press offers FAST and FREE book publication, but only accepts a small percentage of submissions, and only works with U.S. authors.

PubPreppers.com – “We Prep, You Publish!” Print and ebook design for authors who truly want to self-publish. Offers formatting and design services only, and then provides simple instructions for authors on where to sign up to have the print and ebook editions printed/listed/sold. Cut out the middle man. Keep 100% of what bookstores pay for your book!

Angela’s POD Secrets Revealed Series can be found HERE.

Have a POD Book with another publisher? See if BookLocker can give you a better deal. (BookLocker offers “disgruntled author discounts” to those who want to move from other POD services.)

See BookLocker’s publishing packages HERE.

ANGELA ON TWITTER
https://twitter.com/AngelaHoy

BOOKLOCKER ON FACEBOOK – Provides links to free excerpts!
https://www.facebook.com/booklockerbooks

ANGELA ON FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/angela.hoy.750

ANGELA ON LINKEDIN
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/angela-hoy/78/719/390

Angela is the creator of the Original 24-Hour Short Story Contest!
https://24hourshortstorycontest.com/

Read More Of Angela’s Articles HERE

33 Worst Mistakes Writers Make About Blind Characters

I admire any writer who wants to tackle a blind character. But so many writers take up this challenge and FAIL. They research blindness by reading other fiction books, by observing their blind colleagues and acquaintances, and by tying on a blindfold and pretending to be blind themselves.

I understand the challenges your characters face, their triumphs, their hopes and their fears, because I’ve lived them. I work with people who have varying degrees of blindness every day, so I’ve seen every challenge, every situation you could imagine.

Let me share my knowledge to improve your writing. You can create blind characters that readers will fall in love with.

~Stephanie Green

BOOK PROPOSALS THAT WORKED! Real Book Proposals That Landed $10K – $100K Publishing Contracts – by Angela Hoy

Peek over the shoulders of highly successful, published authors to see how they landed publishing contracts worth $10,000 to $100,000! An enticing yet professional book proposal is the key!

BONUS! Successful ghostwriter, Anton Marco, shares his secret for landing ghostwriting clients. Don’t miss Anton’s real ghostwriting contract at the end of this book! It provides an example of what he charges and the payment terms he requires from each client.

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Author: By Angela Hoy – Publisher of WritersWeekly.com