I Can't Be Bothered by Talking

It does seem that way lately, doesn’t it? It looks like we have shut off all communications.

Here’s an example. In my rather naive belief that, given all my experience developing products for children from birth to age 12, I could write a children's book, it seemed like I should be able to do this, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to try. After all, I wrote many scripts for animated videos, creative design briefs, and all sorts of written communications over the years. 

So, I spent a good part of the year developing an idea and writing about it across a series of three chapter books for children around 7-9 years old.

I had a blast. I don’t know if they were any good, but I had a lot of fun crafting them.

It really allowed me to have fun with characters and present a simple plot that also spoke to human emotions, such as fear, the effects of bullying, and knowing when to stop asking so many questions and think for yourself.

I tell you all of this because once I looked into getting my book published, the fun stopped. I did a ton of research on the process and found that I need an agent; if they like your book, they work with you to get it to publishers. It seemed simple enough until I got into the process. Finding them was sort of easy. Writing a query letter to get their attention was also relatively easy. But during that time, almost all of the agents wrote on their websites that if I didn't hear back after submission, they passed. 

They said they review thousands of submissions and can’t respond to each and every one. I can appreciate that. However, passing without even an acknowledgment that they received and passed seemed so, well, unhuman. Now, keep in mind they review a one-page query letter, so it has to be brief. Does it not seem that, in today’s world, a prewritten rejection letter would be so hard to send out? A simple program can be set up to automate this process. I understand I may not be the next Dr. Seuss, but the thousands of writers just like me spent a lot of time crafting their manuscripts, and they really get zero feedback. Not even a thanks but no thanks letter. 

This process of human connection appears to have broken down.

Another example is in the world of job seekers. HR and hiring managers seem to have decided they don’t need to communicate with candidates at all. I have talked to many job seekers, and they say they hear nothing back. Nothing! I know, I know, recruiters get thousands of resumes as well. Sound familiar? These HR folks should be flattered that candidates want to work for their company; so at least respond to them.

This seems to be a bigger problem: non-communication and a lack of respect for fellow humans. Perhaps it’s the loss of manpower or the withdrawal of emotion due to technology, but I think we need to regain our caring and communication.

This certainly starts early in life, and parents need to make sure their children behave like humans and actually talk to each other. Parents need to recognize that their own non-communication is part of the problem and that it doesn’t help their children communicate better. Parents, talk with your children every day. Ask them questions that can’t be answered with a yes or no. Have them see you communicating with others. Don’t act like you’re too busy. We need to work on this. A little attention to communication just might bring people closer together. We are all in the same boat. Let’s try rowing together in one direction.

Oh, BTW, I got one rejection letter from an agent, and I was so thrilled, I forgot that it was a rejection!