Keeping Things Professional
When I graduated from high school I got a job at a bank as a teller. I was also waitressing at night so getting up early for a professional job exhausted me.
One day during training I finished my workbook. The other tellers were doing drive-thru. The lobby wasn't open yet.
To my eighteen year old mind, it seemed like a good time for a nap.
That didn't go over well.
I didn't have a professional mindset. I was still back in school where I always took a nap in the mornings during class.
If you're writing toward publication, toward a career, it's important to find out what is expected of professionals in this industry. I read an interesting comment where a lady remarked that her husband was in sales, and in that industry, it's okay not to take no for an answer. But with the publishing industry, that can be a death knell for your career.
What have you learned about being an author? What are the things required of you in your current job to be professional? How is it different from the publishing industry?
One day during training I finished my workbook. The other tellers were doing drive-thru. The lobby wasn't open yet.
To my eighteen year old mind, it seemed like a good time for a nap.
That didn't go over well.
I didn't have a professional mindset. I was still back in school where I always took a nap in the mornings during class.
If you're writing toward publication, toward a career, it's important to find out what is expected of professionals in this industry. I read an interesting comment where a lady remarked that her husband was in sales, and in that industry, it's okay not to take no for an answer. But with the publishing industry, that can be a death knell for your career.
What have you learned about being an author? What are the things required of you in your current job to be professional? How is it different from the publishing industry?
Comments
That reminds me, one year I worked on a ropes course and had a shift in the trees watching out for the kids. I fought nodding off there too. Yikes.
~ Wendy
Waiting on notes from betas, replies from queries, agents to read MSs, and eventually I'll wait to hear from editors. Waiting and more waiting. The life of a writer.
Hope you had a great 4th and took lots of naps. ;)
Ps...I forgot to comment on your RWA comment but you know you are welcome to stay with us if you come down. We can always make room for a friend. :)
I think being professional by keeping goals, helping others when they need it and learning as much as we can about this business.
I like what you think about being professional. You're right!
Great words. :-)
I have to agree with what others have said. Patients is a huge part of being a writer. In every step of the process there is a feeling of " hurry up and wait." You just have to be able to roll with that.
I have learned that things in this industry change more often than a 13 year old girl changes outfits. So, you must learn to be flexible. Everything will not turn out the way you think it will. It may be better, but it will not be the same as you pictured it.
And--be careful what you say on blogs, Facebook and Twitter. It's way too easy to be a jerk online. You can excuse a nap at 9 a.m when you're 18--you can't excuse a tacky remark about another human being when you're 35 or 53 and trying to represent Jesus and yourself in this marketplace. Before you say, pray. If it's not nice, put it on ice. And you may quote me on that.
That's SO true. It's also true about no defined rules.
Patti, true. I wonder if it has anything to do with the personalities involved? You know, introverts? *grin*
T. Anne, I'm currently hoping my patience will pay off! LOL Trying to impress an agent (and I'm sure she doesn't even notice. lol)
Katie, rolling with it is hard. Ha! Wonder how I can pick up some momentum? :-)
But this was a great post and brought some interesting things to my mind. I have several things to think about, courtesy of this post.
I do better when I plug along with daily goals so the tidal waves don't throw me off...too much.
Great post.
Patti
Be careful of mixing business with pleasure. A friend is a friend in a social environment. If you work for them (editor) in the publishing industry keep it professional. A teasing remark could be misunderstood as whining/complaining.
Work extra hard to meet your deadlines.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Blessings,
Karen :)
Lisa, that's very true. :-)
Patti, lol, I didn't know about the BAM thing. :-) Thanks for the tip!
Ali, YES!!! Great analogy.
Melissa, I love the commments too! People always give me something to think about and a different way to look at things.
I work in a family owned recycling business.
This work is so different from writing in the sense it helps the environment, and here I am writing stories to be put on paper! lol
j/k.
Not really the "tree-hugger" type...no offense to those who are ;)
Cause around here, there's plenty of trees..anyway, not the point...
It's hard to be professional in a family business.
My coworkers are at each family get-together, church function, and birthday party, lol.
Which actually makes it easier to discuss business, but a little harder to be professional here in the office when we just saw each other in bathingsuits over the weekend...lol
Hope you had a happy 4th!
I guess I've learned not to burn any bridges:)
Suzanne, exactly! And publishing, I've heard, is a small world so things get around.
LOL Kelly, no, I wasn't fired. Thank goodness! One of the tellers gave me a little talk and cried because I was so embarrassed! But it all worked out and I had a really wonderful time during the years I worked there. :-) Sounds like you have a great job!
Karen, interesting point about respect. I'd have to agree with you.
I have seen writers literally follow agents/editors into the facilities. (You get the picture?) And then they proceed to chat while said agent/editor is taking care of business. Shoving their MS under the door. YIKES!
Your post will make a lot of writers think twice. And that's a good thing. :)
I think the one thing that holds true regardless the profession is to always show respect to the people you deal with - including yourself.