Mar 6, 2023
Bookstr Response
3yWe’re sorry to hear the negative feedback in this review and would like to address each point:
1) No appointed editors: A specific editor cannot be assigned to each and every writer as that is not an industry standard - it would be very inefficient to work that way, as articles need to be edited as they come in. This is not like the book publishing world where one editor would be assigned to a particular manuscript. Also, it is important that editing be impersonal. We do not want editors to allow writers to go off style guide because of personal relationships. This also applies to the point 3 below.
2) Random calls after hours: There are NO CALLS whatsoever after hours unless the person requests having a call and approves the call time that is proposed to them. It is communicated very clearly and multiple times, that for a call with the CEO it’s usually after 6pm ET – but it is NEVER required, and only happens with the person’s approval. If that is a problem, the call is set between 10am ET and 6pm ET. We have repeatedly mentioned in our meetings that people are not required or expected to work outside of their work hours.
3) “Not committed to defending their writers” and “Stick by your writers when they're confronted by sources/authors”: There are only a couple instances in the past couple of years where this would be in question at all. When a writer writes about controversial topics, we will defend them to the hilt. Our social team and even the GM or CEO will respond to comments on social media or emails that come in.
However, there were a couple instances of a writer not following our senior staff’s requests and coaching, purposely antagonizing the audience with words or assertions that would trigger them. When we gave coaching about why we write a certain way, and ways to still communicate their point without antagonizing the audience, unfortunately, it was ignored. This is also why we want editors not to be assigned, as it can be attempted to get an editor to ignore the policies and requests along with the writer.
In those instances, the writers have put themselves above the audience and Bookstr. Our policy is either to have the writer follow what they’ve been asked, or we will take the article down or at least remove it from social media.
4) Too personal: In the instance of someone not following coaching as mentioned above, the CEO or other members of staff would absolutely take the time to see what was going on. We know that inside an internship, resisting policies and coaching or not understanding them, could be due to inexperience or perhaps some other reason. If an editor at a publication asked a writer not to do something, and the writer did it anyway, it could cost them their job. Rather than being punitive when someone is insubordinate to our executive editor and/or CEO, we would talk to them to see what was going on, and explain why things are the way they are and that if this was in a different workplace, they could have lost their job for doing the same thing.
To conclude:
1) Bookstr is extremely happy to provide a platform to writers and train/coach them in expanding their abilities, while they fully express anything they want on any topic. Go to Bookstr.com to see the many varied topics.
2) Bookstr probably isn’t the place for you if your personal agenda is more important to you than our style guide or abiding by the requests of senior staff.
3) Bookstr probably isn’t the place for you if you aren’t coachable.
We are so happy to offer Bookstr’s platforms for writers to hone their skills; and grow, learn, and expand their career. We’re proud to be a place where writers can take on tough topics around the literary world. We do expect whether someone is an intern, in management or anything in between, that they follow policies and the requests/coaching from senior management. Those requests will never be arbitrary, and only serve to have the message of an article – irrespective of the topic – be communicated most effectively with the greatest possible impact.