I've been editing publications going on five years now. I like to get in as they are starting and help build them up with a strong base of repeat writers. Often, I solicit writers personally. I see work I love and send a message saying, hey, I'm working on this project and I'd love for you to be on board. It's work I mostly enjoy.

What I do not enjoy is receiving rude emails that say, "I submitted a piece. Publish it." 

Um, no. You just got yourself blacklisted. Not only will I not publish your piece, but I will not consider work from you again. 

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You are probably shaking your head over the idea that someone would send an email like that, but I have one in my inbox right now. It is what prompted me to type up this list to help anyone trying to break into publication off Steemit. Here are a few things you can do to avoid the editor's blacklist:

### Read the submission guidelines.

For the life of me, I don't understand why people submit work without doing this. It's like eating a banana without peeling it, except I'm the one with the taste of garbage in my mouth. 

*Me when I receive submissions that have nothing to do with my publication.*

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### Check for submission guideline updates before emailing to check on the status of your piece. 

People who check up too often are annoying. Give me time to read your work. Publications evolve, staff changes, life happens. Remember that an editor is a person who exists beyond the other side of your publication inquiry. Especially if they are, ahem, the *only* editor for a publication. [looks at self in mirror]

### This should absolutely go without saying, but edit your work. 

Yes, I am an editor. I can clean up a few mistakes. But I am not *your* editor. I am the publication's editor. If you need an editor, get one before I see your work. I suggest three peer readers to catch all errors. We ALL make errors. Especially me. 

*There should be no such thing as a fresh eraser in your house.*

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### If at first you don't succeed, try try again. 

Seriously. I like to give feedback on why a piece does or doesn't work for publication at the time it is received. Not all editors do this, but many do. And when they do, it's because they care. Because you probably have chops even if you missed the mark this time around. So try again. And when you do, remind me of what you submitted the first time around. (Unless you look back at it and realize it was utter shite. Then it's best left forgotten.)

### Establish a relationship with the editor. 

There are editors I have published with who have changed publications, and writers I publish who have followed me from one publication to another. Why? Because we know each other's work and are on friendly terms.Having a relationship with an editor is as simple as sending a pitch and responding with a rejection by saying thank you. I really loved what you wrote here. I look forward to crafting a piece that's the right fit for X. Here are a few more pitches. Checking back in is a good thing.

Bonus tip: 

### Send thank you letters. 

Do this on Steemit in comments. Do this on Facebook in Messenger. Send thank you tweets. Use the postal system. Wherever you are, take a minute to tell a writer or editor or someone else who has influenced or supported you that you are grateful. It's kind and they will remember.

Despite the snark, I love editing. Having writers send me their work is a partnership in trust. I want to honor their words as much as they want me to read it. That's why it's so frustrating to receive rude messages. I put my heart into my editing. I only work with people whose publications and writing I want to support. I am very choosy because it takes a lot of time and energy. Which is also why I respond to every submission I get, even the ones that don't work for me. 

With all that said, let me now share a gaffe I made not too long ago. I submitted a poem to *The New Yorker*. I received an apologetic rejection that requested I send more work soon. 

I never did. 

*Even this baby knows better.*

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WTF? Seriously, it was* The New Yorker*! I should look up that email and send a new piece because what am I waiting for? Oh, right. Something good enough to send. The poetry muse does not strike me often, and when she does, she's not very kind. Most of my poems turn into essays or short stories. 

This is not a humble brag. This is me banging my head on a desk because I *never* ask someone to submit again unless I mean it. No editor does. We don't have time for that. We are inundated with submissions to read, and that has to happen before selection, editing or scheduling. It's a big job. Why why why?

Ugh. That's neither here nor there. Let us move on.

What tips or gaffes can you share? 

*images from pixabay.com*