How to Get on an Editor's Good Side

Do you wonder what annoys an editor and how you can avoid doing that? Remember, editors are people too, and want to be treated with respect. Here are six ways to get on an editor's good side, which is something a writer should always strive for.

Don't send a cover letter describing how great you are with your submission. If you do include it with your material, editors won't read past the first few sentences. They will make their own judgment about your work, and you may get on their wrong side because of it. A condensed list of publications where you have been published in will impress the editor more.

Don't send out simultaneous submissions. Sending out one submission to more than one publisher at a time, unless it specifies that it is okay in their guidelines is frowned upon. If two publishers accept your material, you will have a hard time explaining to one of the editors why it cannot be bought.

Don't bug editors with inquiries. Calling editors, or writing, immediately after acceptance, asking what issue they plan to run your piece will surely annoy an editor. That is just what you don't want to do. Editors usually will not know exactly when your submission will be used. Sometimes, it can take months for them to have a date for it.

Don't call an editor by their first name. If you do that without having been invited to, the editor could construe that as your being impolite. You definitely want to avoid that.

Don't misspell the editor's name. It is important to send your submissions to the proper editor and spell their name correctly. If you are not sure, check the publication's masthead itself. I you do call, only speak to the person answering the phone. It is inadvisable to ask for the editor directly.

When you know the 'secrets' of how not to annoy an editor, you will increase your chances of avoiding that dreaded rejection slip. Of course, you work still has be top-notch.

Following the above can help you receive those most-welcomed acceptance letters and checks all writers crave.