Follow Instructions

Why is it that folks get it into their head that they don't need to read and/or follow instructions? It must be some case of vanity run amok: I know a better way to do it, so hang they way they want me to do it. That must be it. Or in some other unrelated or slightly related field, you got away with or were told to do the same thing in a different way. The latter is understandable. But if you're submitting anything to anyone for any purpose, you should know the format the receiver requests and follow it. When did "follow instructions" become an optional task in life? Is this what led to the insane amount of litigation in this country? Is this a side effect of humanity's naturally self-centered nature? And then when someone gets called on blatantly disregarding the instructions, that person usually gets all bent out of shape, being incapable of saying, "Whoops. My bad." Or even a "thank you" for the correction and a note to self to follow that instruction in the future. I don't understand that.

I would say that this is an issue reserved for authors, but I know better. I've been a graduate teaching assistant and a high school teacher. Ignoring the instructions is rampant. Given another year in public education, I'd probably be that asshole teacher who hands out a three-page test with the instructions "answer the first three questions, then hand in your test; for each question answered after the third, you will lose five points" and grades accordingly. And I suppose that if we don't train our students to always, always read and follow the instructions, then I guess we can't expect adults seeking jobs or publication or whatever to do the same. But now we can expect that adults called on not following directions will react as if they did nothing wrong and it's someone else's fault for not creating directions that catered to the way that person submitted their resume or manuscript.

Teresa posted an extremely informative essay about the perils of the slushpile and strange author responses to good or neutral rejection letters. Her reward? After 150+ supportive and appreciative comments by authors, editors, slushpile readers, general folk, an attack by some misguided soul who thinks the publishing world owes him something. And who also thinks that insulting a Big Shot Editor with Huge Name Publisher will somehow garner him a publishing contract. And who labors under the double-standard that it is not OK for editors and agents to hate authors (not true, but something he sees as gospel), but it is extremely appropriate to consider agents and editors The Enemy, The Antichrist, and All That Is Evil in this world. The moment of truth for the angry poster came in this description of his reaction to Teresa's post: "I have rarely read anything so aggressive/defensive and simultaneously self blind." I believe an introduction of the Pot and Kettle are in order here. As well as a moment of intense thanks and praise to God that I am capable of self-analysis and honesty in my writing and life.