Re: Oracle loses its fingers on the cutting edge

Look on the bright side -

I sent one article in on spec. and had
it rejected because it was too technical.

I took out most of the technical bits and then had it rejected because it wasn't warm, fuzzy and positive enough about Oracle.

So I drafted an outline for a new article - the editor approved of it and asked me to submit before 15th May. I posted the article in a week ahead of deadline, but got no response.

I followed up three weeks later, and got a reply saying "Oh yes, I noticed it was an article submission so I put it in my queue. It might get in Sept/Oct, but then again it might not."

I've got no problems with planning ahead - but that's a process that needs extra
care in the communications and courtesy
departments.

--
Jonathan Lewis
http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk

Next Seminars
        UK            July / Sept
        Australia      July / August
        Malaysia        September
        USA (MI)        November
http://www.jlcomp.demon.co.uk/seminar.html

Mike Ault wrote in message
<37fab3ab.0206271123.3c92fb2f_at_posting.google.com>...


>Time for me to get rid of some negative energy by means of a rant...

>

>As many of you know I write Oracle books, articles, white papers, etc.

>Recently I wrote an article for Oracle Magazine (the latest edition,

>check it out!) any way, comes time to get paid. Let me lay it out:

>

>1. Email to editor: Hey <name deleted> I haven't seen a contract yet

>2. Reply: You want a contract?

>3. Reply: well, yes...I would like to get paid

>4. Reply: Oh...(mean while article is already to printer in magazine)

>how much?

>5. Reply: How much do you usually pay?

>6. Reply: in the range of x to z...

>7. Reply: ok, since I haven't written for you in a while I'll take y.

>8. About a week later I get contract, sign and return it.

>9. About a week later, another email to editor: DO I need to send you

>an invoice?

>10. Reply: Oh...we need to send you a PO first...let me get that

>started

>11. Amazingly the PO shows up in eamil the next day

>12. Email to editor: Ok, who do I send invoice to?

>13. Reply: To purchasing, here is their email and fax number

>14. Fax and email invoice to Purchasing

>15. Reply from Purchasing: You need to send this to Accounts Payable

>16. Reply: Ok, what is their fax or email address?

>17. Reply: Oh, they don't accept fax or email submission, it must be

>by...you guesed it..regular mail!

>18. I mail the invoice

>19. Two weeks later....

>20. Email to editor: <name deleted> I still don't have anything from

>Oracle

>21. Reply: I checked with purchasing...they haven't recieved your

>invoice

>22. Reply: eh...I think you need to check with accounts payable

>(forwarded their email to me to him)

>23. Sent him copy of invoice, asked him to hand deliver...

>

>And they tell us we need to use their B-to-B crap, we have no need to

>mail things back and forth and should do everything by the web when

>they can't even do it themselves. Physician heal thy self!

>

>There...feel much better...

>

>Mike Ault