Marcel just came in to check up on me and my novel.
He offered encouragement,
along with a gentle reminder that it’s getting close to his dinnertime.
editors
Empathy: Part Deux
The other day I wrote about my feelings of empathy
for agents and editors who have to say NO to projects
they know are labors of love for the writers.
Well, this afternoon I experienced another level of
empathy for those agents and editors.
I received a phone call from the man to whom I’d sent
a carefully worded email letting him know I wasn’t
going to use his landscaping service.
He wanted to know why I’d chosen the other landscaper.
While his demeanor was pleasant, I was uncomfortable.
I’d made my decision and didn’t want to go into the specifics
behind that decision.
So I fumbled a bit and wished him well before hanging up.
I’m guessing agents and editors would rather not be put
on the spot that way, either.
image from morguefile.com (mrmac04)
Empathizing With the NOs
Today I had to send an email to a man who’d put time, energy, and creativity
into his proposal to landscape our back yard.
I had to tell him “Thanks, but no thanks.”
I spent quite a while composing those several email sentences,
wanting to be kind and to somehow minimize the “blow.”
In doing so I felt a certain empathy with agents and editors;
it must be really difficult to send out so many NOs.
© Tracy Abell 2012
Tracy Abell 