By Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

As a lead managing editor, one of my jobs is acquisitions. It’s the hardest part because I spend a lot of time saying no thank you. There are multiple explanations of why I am forced to pass on a manuscript. Rejections fall in many categories from poor writing to demanding and insulting authors.

I’ve spent time developing new classes for conferences and it has become increasingly more evident one of those new classes needed to focus on how authors kill their writing opportunities. It’s important to know that the way I choose to give rejections differs from many other acquisitions editors. Rejections received from me have an explanation to the author as to why they are rejected plus a short list of suggestions and a bit of encouragement. Yes, it takes time, but this is how I choose to handle the ways I offer rejections. I’ve been on the receiving end of those rejections hundreds of times and regardless of the kindness used, a rejection hurts. A touch of encouragement is never bad.

Here are five ways guaranteed to kill your publishing opportunity.

Social Media Blindness tops my list.

I recently sent a rejection to an author with the suggestion to build a website, work to make a presence on social media, and guest blog. Her response, “I don’t like social media it’s like self-promotion.”

Social media is just what the name says. Social. If you head into social media intending to advertise your book and all you do is wave a flag saying buy my book, then Dorothy click away on those shoes but your red slippers will not get you home. Be social on social media. Make friends, reply to posts, genuinely make an effort to know others. My rule of thumb is to make 10+ posts for others or things that are enjoyable to others and 1 post as an update on my upcoming book. People will follow you because you are genuine. Post memes, share fun things, personal tidbits. Stay away from controversial topics and allow your friends to have a break from the junk of the world. Some of my highest ranking posts are when I share personal mishaps. Not only are they funny but folks relate. Publishers are not asking you to self promote. They are asking you to build a following of friends who love you so when your book does publish, they will want to read it. Again I say. Be social.

“I’m too old to learn new marketing and apps” rates number 2.

I’m definitely over 60, so this is not an excuse. It may be true that my six-year-old grandson can do more with a computer than me, but I’m willing to try to learn. You are never too old.

A few years back, we contracted a book with an 89-year-old woman. It was a great little devotional, humorous and it hit the market of seniors. As we sat telling her she needed to make a presence on social media, her sweet hand shook while she took notes. I’ll never forget her response. “Don’t have a clue what you just said, but I’ll get my grandson to help me.” And she did. She went home, enlisted the help of her grandson who set her up on Facebook and Goodreads and to this day, the woman is constantly on the web. The point is – she was willing to make an effort. Not only that but every opportunity to set up a book table and sell books, Liz is there. She’s praying for folks on Facebook, sharing her family outings, telling funny things that happen to her as an aging senior. People love her. And by the way, she’s soon to be 97. My question is, what is your excuse? She runs circles around all of us. Her books are not bestsellers, but the woman is a worker. If we suggest she try a new method to sell her books, she grabs that grandson and she’s off to the races. Age is not an excuse but heart is everything.

“God told me you were the one” finds it’s spot as number 3.

I don’t doubt God speaks to others. He is, after all, God. But the truth is, this comes across as a manipulative guilt tactic. What God tells you and what He speaks to me are two different things.  To quote singer/songwriter Rich Mullins, “God hasn’t told me yet and until He does, it just won’t happen.” I pray over every submission, then I trust God will lead me with personal discernment and good common sense. I once had a man preach to me how terrible I was for rejecting his manuscript. God had told him I was the one to publish his book. It didn’t matter that we didn’t publish YA. The point is, guilting an editor is not the way to win an opportunity to publish. The publishers and editors I work with across the country are all believers. They pray daily over their jobs and the work they receive, seeking guidance and personal counsel. This is not fair nor it is professional.

“I WANT this done, now!” would be number 4.

In the mountains, there’s an adage, “Don’t burn no bridges on your way to town.” Simply put, play nice because if you don’t, you won’t be invited to play again. Perhaps it’s this age of entitlement that presses this attitude to the forefront. Authors, who, once they have a contract in hand turn nasty. Suddenly they know what is best for the publishing industry and their book. Did you know, once a book contract is signed, it no longer belongs to the author? It’s now the property of the publisher. Publishers want authors involved in the process of publishing. It’s what makes the book special so trust them. Their years of experience in marketing, editing and publishing far exceed that of a new author. Publishers aren’t in the business to cause a book to fail. Spending valuable time arguing with a demanding author who thinks they have all the answers is costly. That publisher may complete the project and work hard to sell it because they are financially invested, but when a second manuscript crosses their desk, rejection is probably inevitable. Don’t burn bridges on your way to town. An attitude like this will follow you all across the industry.

Multiple emails sending the corrected, corrected, corrected file wins the final spot.

I will only say this. Before you hit send be sure the work is 1) Right. 2) The best it can be. 3) The correct file. I’ve done it myself, grabbed the wrong file. It happens. But when you are submitting it’s vital you pay attention.  Set a new folder on your desktop. Label it Final Work, then save your final copy there. When I worked for a veterinarian, he taught me when filling a prescription always do a three count. Read the prescription, check the bottle, count the pills. Do that 3 times before you bag it for the customer. It’s a good practice for authors too. Check it three times before you send it. There is nothing that makes you look less professional than multiple emails that are incorrect.

Take these things and ponder them. How can an author improve their opportunities if they don’t know what issues need to be addressed?  Give yourself every good chance to become published and don’t kill the opportunity.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conferenceteacher. She is the cofounder of ChristianDevotions.us and the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and InspireaFire.com. Cindy is the managing editor forStraight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, both imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is an award-winning and best-selling author and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com. @cindydevoted