This topic of discussion needs mentioning I think. In the past I’ve seen articles by editors about how you should never address your cover letter to “Editor.” You should figure out the editor’s name. And heaven forbid if you spell the editor’s name wrong.

Let me state for the record that yes, I understand what it’s like to get hundreds of emails a day. I understand what it’s like to have thousands of names in my contact list. So yes, I understand what it feels like to have lots of contacts and plenty of submissions, not to mention details to be buried in.

That said, editors are not the only ones buried in these details. I do feel sorry for all the crap editors have to read. There, I’ve said it. Editors freely admit they have slush piles and most of that mountain is…slush.

I try not to add slush to the already slushy pile. That’s my contribution.

Let me also state that I understand what it’s like to have someone call you the wrong name and/or misspell your name. I have become exasperated about it before, sure, but I have never gotten bent out of shape about it. I consider it a small detail. For the record, I spell my name Ally. Not Allie. Not Aly. Not Alley. Not Allee. Not Alie. Yes, I’ve seen all of those. I don’t sweat it. I know who you’re talking to…me.

In fact I had a running joke when I was younger and people called my Allison I would correct them and tell them “but I pretty much answer to anything that begins with A and isn’t followed by two Ss.”

Also, my maiden name was hard for EVERYONE to spell. Even our power company misspelled our name. So unless your name is Smith, you have nothing to complain about.

It’s small stuff. That’s they way I look at it.

Regarding “Editor.” As often as editors change houses, well it’s like musical chairs. And yes, we should, as writers, make an effort to find out who’s editing and how to spell your name. But that only goes so far here people. We’re writers. We writer. We’re not in the publicity business. We are not Super Sales people. We’re selling our book and you’re an editor in the market for books. If you’re not, that’s another post entirely.

I have seen several publishers request letters be made to Editor so they can appropriately and easily forward your mail on to whoever is available. What a novel idea. Not getting bent out of shape about having your name on a piece of paper.

I do understand how nice it is to get real mail with your name at the top versus Dear Editor or Dear Resident as is the case in my snail mail box. So if you as an editor must have letters made out to you, please put your name and contact details on your publishers website in an easy to find location. That way everyone wins.

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What say you? Do you agree? Disagree? Speak up.