The other day I got a query about a novel from Marie. I knew it was
from her because that's the name that was displayed in my email
folder. And that was the name that accompanied the email address at
the top of the letter.
As I read the query, I envisioned how this female writer would handle
the male POV character she described, especially considering he was a
soldier during wartime.
Then I got to the closing paragraphs--and discovered the person
writing me was actually a retired police office named Richard who
lived with his wife, Marie.
Oh!
I had to recast my impression of everything I had read in the letter.
Especially my view of the author's professionalism.
How hard is it to get your own free email account through Yahoo! or
G-mail? Yes, my wife and I share several email accounts—but not the
ones I use professionally.
Meanwhile I've added to my list of writing pet peeves. One is a
dramatic scene that, without warning, turns out to be only a dream.
My new pet peeve is wanna-be writers who identify themselves one way
with their email account—then pull a switcheroo.
Please, remember what you learned in kindergarten: Put your name—your
own name—on the top of your paper.
