Comments on: Following Directions

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:21:23 +0000

About replying to source queries - if there aren't tons of them I do try to reply. Sometimes I'll just reply with a vague, "Thank you for responding. I'll be in touch within a week if my editor and I feel your company is a good fit for the story."

Knowing how frustrating it can be to have no reply, I do make an effort to respond. If I had 50 replies I'd probably only answer the most viable candidates - and the ones who aren't even close. I want them to know they are NOT a fit.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:31:44 +0000

I have a credit list/resume on my website – if they want it in the body of an email I do that; if they ask for an attachment I do that… it's not rocket science… or maybe it is.

It amazes me too, Lori, Devon, Paula… just amazes me.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:07:29 +0000

Cathy, I've not had troubles with that, actually. I've gone back to sources weeks, even months after they've gotten in touch and have worked well with them. I think it's pretty typical with the online searches to not have time to respond to everyone, but I keep names of those who are interesting.

Wade, I'll send it over to you. It's pretty simple, really. I like to use Arial because it's cleaner to read, and I keep the "fancy" formatting to a minimum. Plus I'd say it's just heinous to use Tables in a resume. Having edited and rewritten a ton of resumes, I've found those to give me the biggest headaches. Sometimes they're unreadable, which isn't good!

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 15:39:59 +0000

What format do you use for your CV? Have you tried the resume that likedin produces? The classic resume is so yesterday, but it's hard to know what people are looking for.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:57:01 +0000

I have seen instructions that request links vs attachments. How many attachments do you figure they get buried with? :-)

Just my 2 cents (and recognize I don't go looking for experts because my ghostwriting brings them to me), I'd consider if it's a source you might want to use in the future-the old don't burn your bridges syndrome. They may just have a lousy publicist.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:25:42 +0000

Paula, I hear you. It's a great lesson for us writers, for sure.

Unrelated question: When you get multiple responses to a query, do you respond to everyone? I respond only to those whose expert fits. When I get twenty responses, I don't have time to answer them all, especially the ones that don't work.

By: Paula

Paula — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:45:24 +0000

The flip side is when you use a service like HARO or ProfNet to find experts. In your query you spell out exactly what type of sources you need. Then you set a deadline.

Yet people in non-related industries almost always reply (well, their publicists reply), stretching and spinning to try to sound even slightly relevant to the topic:"Your article is on helping college freshmen adjust to life on campus? My client, author of '100 Reasons I Don't Belong in Your Article,' once WENT to college! He can offer first person insights about adjusting to campus life!" Yeah, circa 1983.

Oh right - they replied a full week after my stated deadline, too.

Getting those bad matches remind me why it's so important to 1) only reply to job listings you know you're a good fit for, and 2) follow the directions as closely as possible. (I'm sure I've inadvertently overlooked a step or two over the years, but I try.)

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:14:02 +0000

Devon, I had that once with a job I'd posted asking for help with a project. The instructions were clear -- send me your resume/portfolio and two samples. What I got in every case but one was examples of why people don't get hired. One note said, "What do you need? Call me." That's it. Another was "I'm sure you know my work...." Another sent a sample (one) and no resume. Another sent the resume but no samples.

One person followed directions to the letter. She was hired, and she was fantastic to work with.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 12:53:46 +0000

I host authors on one of my blogs. When I have slots open, I post on loops and I ask that they email me off-list (which is the norm) with their media kit and whatever other information I need for that particular slot (clearly listed in my call).

I can't tell you how often I get, "oh, I don't know how to do a media kit. You can scroll through my website/blog/facebook page for what you need."

No, I can't. I don't have time. I am hosting you, not charging you for advertising. Give me the information in the way I ask for it, or I'm not hosting you.

These are the same people who whine about not getting any publicity for their releases.