I completely understand that some writers are concerned about their personal information. However, there are ways to handle that concern without coming across as unprofessional or setting up roadblocks for editors and publishers who want to respond to submissions.

Here’s a particularly effective method which I know is used by several authors who submit work to EDF: with all the free email services available, it’s easy to set up an email address specifically for the publication you’re dealing with (such as, for example, authorsname.edfsubs@gmail.com). So you may have five or six or more of these, if you’re submitting regularly to a bunch of venues, but you don’t have to check them individually — just set them all up to appear in your Outlook inbox (or whatever program you use). This is relatively easy to do; I have five email addresses and check them all in one place. Then, if one publication should be so horrible and dishonest as to sell or abuse your email address, you can delete that account without affecting anything but your relationship with that one publication (which would anyway already be spoiled).

Again, I’m very sorry you had such an unfortunate experience.

I’ve set up a system which annoys me somewhat. I did this because I gave three nice, open and friendly addresses to a (only one) person I trusted and had known for years – then we had a fight.

I received 270 pages (50 per page) of Viagra, Penile implants, Pfizer and Homosexual/Heterosexual/Transexual – and recently he’s placed me on a couple of dating sites.

MY ISP is helping me sort it all out. We’re down to 30 – 40 special Spam a day now.

I’m ‘gunshy’

I know you are very busy, just take a look from our end of the binoculars. Some of us are scared, that’s why we set up ‘blocks’.

But way to go for these people, who are apparently living in their own fantasy world.

J.C. is right. Chin up. Some people have no class. You have it in bucketsful — and talent to boot.

Those of us who got our first leg-up from Every Day Fiction don’t come back often enough to tell you how much we appreciate the opportunity you gave us.

Shame on us.

I have a fraction of your responsibilities and still find it difficult to get through the day, some days.

You have turned out a quality product for two years, still are doing that; don’t let the no-class bastards grind you down.

K.C.

I really liked each of those stories. “Archer” was my favorite of the group and as soon as I read it I knew it was going to be one of those that the readers loved or hated. It’s like Monty Python: you either get it or you don’t.

No disrespect at all to those who didn’t like it. I’ve tried to start two Nicolas Sparks books and I just couldn’t maintain interest. Everyone has their own tastes and how boring would we be if vanilla (or even chocolate chip cookie dough) was everyone’s favorite.

Chin up. Your efforts are noble, the cause worthy.

–John

First visit to your blog, but I’m bookmarking you now.

You don’t need to be a mind-reader to detect elevated stress levels here.

I can’t speak for others, but I imagine my sentiments are shared: I have made EDF a regular part of my routine, and reading a new story every morning is sometimes the highlight of the day. Whether I enjoy it or not isn’t necessarily a barometer of whether the story is good or bad. I just appreciate the ability to read and offer commentary.

There was recently a span of several months where I just wasn’t finding time to write or even read very much: EDF became a link to creativity that was otherwise absent.

So, I know the snarkers can get you down. I’m a moderator in another forum and feel the pain. Even one comment can set off a chain reaction of misery that drags you along with it. Please know that the vast majority of your readers appreciate what you and the rest of the EDF team do and hope that you continue doing it for a long, long time.

–John