writing Tip #6

Avoid calling an editor and saying that you have a great idea for him or her. It's their decision, not yours, as to how powerful your idea is. I counsel courteous diffidence: "Do you have a couple of minutes to hear a story idea?" (When press agents would call me as a New York editor proclaiming a great story, my response would be, "I'll tell you if you have a great story for us; please don't you tell me." Arrogant, but true.)