update: business of writing

Nick Mamatas and I are discussing how editors should respond to abusive writers here. Since I'm thinking about it now: Writers should remember that when they submit stories, it's like knocking on strangers' doors and asking them to buy band candy: If one screams, "You damn kid get out of my yard!" you're entitled to grumble afterward, but if you yell, "You suck, you old fart!" you just look bad.

Especially if the stranger actually said, "I don't like milk chocolate. Come back if you have dark chocolate with almonds."

"professional" should mean more than getting paid to perform

Editors behaving badly « Will in the World

Will Entrekin wonders about a couple of editors who behave like, well, in terms the people in question would use, assholes. This is an essential life lesson: You will meet many assholes as you go through the world. Most of them, if you knew their circumstances, would evoke your pity. But if you have no pity for them, you should still remember this: respond like an asshole to an asshole, and you're an asshole.

Regarding writers and submitting: If an editor rejects you, the only proper response is to send that editor another submission. If you believe that no response is also a response, that's a fine response, too.

later: James Nicoll was a little baffled by my last paragraph. So, take two: Aspiring writer, if you think you've gotten a harsh rejection, submit another story or take that editor off the list of people you submit to. If there's a third good option, I haven't a clue what it is.