Golden Opportunity: Talk to Top Editors and Publishers

Like a few other publishing pioneers, InterVarsity Press is blogging. Yet I notice that many of their posts sit with zero comments. Frankly, this astonishes me.

I could say I'm surprised because they have great posts, which should incite great comments. But this isn't really the issue. To my mind, the issue is that a whole lot of writers are missing a golden opportunity. Where else, besides a blog, could writers get the chance to connect on a regular basis with the people who make book and article decisions?

Okay, I'll answer that question:

1. a writer can spend up to several thousand dollars to go to a conference, to maybe get 15 minutes with an editor. A pricey option indeed, and it doesn't help the writer connect on a regular basis (unless the writer becomes annoying and begins emailing the editor incessantly, which will probably incite the editor... but not to great things)

2. a writer can publish articles in magazines and newspapers (and maybe treat the editor-to-woo to paid subscriptions of these magazines and newspapers); however, this option also requires first being noticed by other editors, a technical difficulty

3. a writer can move next door to the editor and offer to shovel snow (or clear out geckos, depending on the geography). This option has obvious down sides, not the least of which is shoveling snow or clearing out geckos.

Or.... [drum roll here]....

4. a writer could visit an editor's/publishers blog on a regular basis and occasionally make insightful and witty comments. This option is only a problem if a writer lacks the ability to make insightful and witty comments. But then, that might suggest that said writer would be more suited to shoveling snow or...

Anyway, someone is going to say that visiting an editor's or publisher's blog is totally intimidating and completely out of the question. But so, I might add, is trying to woo an editor in 15 minutes or less, while simultaneously trying to ward off the effects of jet lag.

I'd also like to suggest that editors and publishers may actually WANT to meet witty and insightful writers, without committing to 15 minutes of face-to-face time or promising to look at a particular proposal. (If you doubt this, I recommend this New York Times article.)

So why not begin today? Check out these great editors' and publishers' blogs. And if you've got some favorites I haven't listed here, by all means, let us know. Happy insightful and witty commenting.

Edit Cafe, Barbour editors Rebecca Germany, Susan Downs, JoAnne Simmons
Faith in Fiction, a Bethany House blog by "Dave"
Goodword Editing, by High Calling & Christianity Today's "Faith in the Workplace" Editor Marcus Goodyear
Heavy Topics with a Light Touch, a blog by Wesleyan's James Watkins
InterVarsity Press's Behind the Books
InterVarsity Press's Likewise Books
Joe Wikert, Vice President and Executive Publisher in the Professional/Trade division of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Michael S. Hyatt President and CEO, Thomas Nelson Publishers
Loudtime, Dave Zimmerman, editor at InterVarsity Press
Orca Book Publishers
Oxford University Press USA
Pecan Grove Press by Editor Palmer Hall
Penguin Group USA
Simon & Schuster Tradetalk
Suburban Christian, Al Hsu, editor at InterVarsity Press
The Penguin Blog UK
Theodore P. Savas, of Savas Beatie (historical titles)
Today's Christian Woman Editor's Blog
University of Chicago Press
Writer's Digest, by Brian A. Klems, On-Line Managing Editor
Your Writers Group, Waterbrook Editor Mick Silva
Zondervan Blog

MORE LINKS, provided by you the commenters:

Editors' and Publishers' Blogs:
Andy Unedited InterVarsity Press's Ed. Director & Associate Publisher, Andy Le Peau
Christianity Today's David Neff
Christianity Today's Mark Galli
Joe Wikert's Kindleville blog


Agents' Blogs:
Agent Kristin
Rachelle Gardner

How to Determine if an Agent, Editor or Publisher is Legitimate:
Writers Beware
Preditors and Editors (what can I say, maybe they misspelled it on purpose)


Mick Silva's Blog photo, by L.L. Barkat. And a hat tip to Scobleizer and his commenters for several of the publishers listed here.