I’m feeling pretty happy today, all things considered, so
posting a rant almost seems wrong. However, this blog was mostly done, so I
decided to finish it and pop it up here rather than keep you waiting any longer
for my pearls of wisdom. *wink* J
No gratitude
expressed upon receipt of requested advice. I’m in a position that many
others would like to be in: making a living as an author and/or editor. (I do
both; some would like to do just one or the other.) So, it makes sense that
people want to ask for advice, hoping to discover the secret to my success so
that they can succeed in the same way. Sometimes it’s an acquaintance, but more
often, it’s an Internet stranger who sends me a message saying that they would
like to do what I do and asking how I wound up doing it.
The short answer is that it was a “God-thing.” Everything I
do just fell into my lap, so to speak. But that is not what people really want
to hear. They want details! They want to know what—if anything—they can do to
improve their chances of becoming a paid author or editor. And so I save those
questions, and in a day or three when I have more time, I respond with a
well-thought-out explanation and some advice. Sometimes in return, I get a
warm, appreciative, and verbose thanks. Not long ago, I got a short note—thank
you soooo much and God bless—that made me smile. But then there are the terse,
one-word responses (Thanks.) or no response at all.
Thanks. (no
exclamation point) What does that mean? Thanks for nothing? Thanks to you, I’m
no closer to a job in publishing? Thanks, but I’d get better advice from my
cat? And what’s with no thanks at all? Surely if one has time to ask the question, one has time to offer a proper thanks for the answer.
If I spend a good chunk of time working on a detailed answer
that might even encourage the asker, I expect to receive a decent thank you in return. Is
that wrong? While I’m not looking for flowery protestations of gratitude—or
flowers, for that matter, I do feel a reply that recognizes the time clearly
spent crafting a thoughtful response to a question I was under no obligation to
answer would be appropriate, not to mention good manners!
What’s your opinion? Have you ever asked someone for career
advice? Has anyone ever asked you for advice? Is there ever a time when thanks
should not be necessary?
That reminds me: there’s an e-mail waiting on me for an answer ... I believe I’ll go answer it and see what happens!
No, I was merely being protected from spam. Blogger recognizes most spam and filters it out for us blogfolk, which I very much appreciate. I can’t tell you how many years I blogged before I discovered the spam file (*blushing*), and that is where I found those comments I’d been notified of. You know the kind: “Hello There. I discovered your weblog the use of msn. This is a very neatly written article. I'll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I'll definitely comeback. Visit my website -- 'This website'” 
They always include a link to another site, and they never mention specifics about your blog; it’s always in generalities that could apply to any blog. That’s a tip-off that this same comment is being spread like manure across blog land. I have not succumbed to the temptation to click any of those links. I grew up around farms. I know there is nothing delightful to be found in the midst of a cow patty, if you know what I mean.
