Tayari's Blog: The Ethics of the Hook Up
Posted by TayariJones on March 10, 2007 12:18 PM
Filed under
The Writing Life
Last week, there was an interesting letter written in to The Ethicist. In summary, an MFA prof asked whether it was unethical for another prof to send a student's work in to be published without that student knowing. The letter-writer's real concern was that the other students would think this was favoritism. Well, at the end of the letter, was the writer's REAL NAME. I thought, "Wow. That's brave." Well, this week, The Ethicist apologized for missing the little request that name be withheld! Imagine the drama in the faculty lounge when she went to work on Monday. What a nightmare. Lets just hope she's already tenured.
But anyway, that brings us back to the real question. Do you think this sort of thing is okay? For a student to have her work sent to a journal by a big-time writer, really helps her chances to get in, and that makes it unfair, or at least unequal. But, if a writer sees something extraordinary in her student's work, isn't she right to help out?
As a person who has been a student in a writing program, I can really see both sides of the issue. I will freely admit that professorial connections did help me get an agent for my first novel-- so who am I to say such favors should not be offered. But at the same time, I have been the over-looked student that did not have the benefit of a guardian angel with major name-recognition. It can be really demoralizing to know that the goodies are being handed out, but not to you.
It's not much of an issue for me as a professor, because I am still pretty junior in the field. I don't have any hook-ups really to share. All I have to offer my students at this stage is my time and my attention.
(BTW, you have to go to the original to see what The Ethicist had to say about the matter.)
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There are 4 comments on "The Ethics of the Hook Up". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by dwayne ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
hey,
i dont think it's unethical. of course, im speaking as a beginning writer who can stand a hook-up in terms of journals. but also, im speaking from the perspective that hook-ups happen all the time. and one thing, i hope is true; one thing, i stake all my aspirations as a writer on, is that talent can persist and survive.
so even if i dont get the hook-up, some journal i send my work to will see that i should have had the hook-up. then too, for me as a writer. its more refreshing when i get no's that i earned, than when i get yeses that i didnt, or may not have earned. (note to self: you have never gotten a hook-up so you can't really commenting on how satisfying it is. if someone sends one of my poems into Poetry and it gets published, I'll let you know if I feel bad.)
but all jokes aside. it shouldn't be an issue. some people need that hook-up because they'd otherwise be afraid to share their work. when a professor does choose to look out, it's not like they aren't staking their reputation that the student has the goods.
dwayne
March 10, 2007 02:39 PM
Comment #2, by Michael Fischer
I think the prof should've asked the student for his or her permission beforehand, because the work belongs to the student.
But I don't see it as favoritism. I mean, yeah, all writers have egos and anyone who has been in a writing program has felt overlooked at one time or another, but that's just the way it is. Being overlooked and crapped on is part of being a writer. Might as well get used to it!
March 10, 2007 08:39 PM
Comment #3, by cheryl miner
I am split here. On one hand, I hate the hook up. Half of whats wrong with the whole publishing industry is that it is so much based on who you know and the bottom line of dollars and cents that talent has so little to do with who anything any more. the hook up to me is directly related to talented/gifted writers languishing in poverty while semi- talented personalities or even worse non -talented pre-school level writers getting paid because they pander to the dysfunctional emotions of an immature group (for ex. "the reason I cant find a good man is not because I keep picking psycho losers its because men aint no good!" books) But on the other hand, the hook up is an invaluable tool in helping an unknown talent get in touch with the right people at the right time. So what to do? Having been both the darling and the dud in a writing class, I vote for having the prof. wait until that student is no longer a student in his/her class before offering the hook up. Otherwise it is an unfair advantage to one student. Afterall, the other students are paying equal dollars to be there so, talented or not they should have equal access to whatever the prof. is offering while in that class. On a personal note, I plan to take whatever hook ups come my way and run with the little suckers.
March 11, 2007 08:08 AM
Comment #4, by cheryl miner
I am split here. On one hand, I hate the hook up. Half of whats wrong with the whole publishing industry is that it is so much based on who you know and the bottom line of dollars and cents that talent has so little to do with who anything any more. the hook up to me is directly related to talented/gifted writers languishing in poverty while semi- talented personalities or even worse non -talented pre-school level writers getting paid because they pander to the dysfunctional emotions of an immature group (for ex. "the reason I cant find a good man is not because I keep picking psycho losers its because men aint no good!" books) But on the other hand, the hook up is an invaluable tool in helping an unknown talent get in touch with the right people at the right time. So what to do? Having been both the darling and the dud in a writing class, I vote for having the prof. wait until that student is no longer a student in his/her class before offering the hook up. Otherwise it is an unfair advantage to one student. Afterall, the other students are paying equal dollars to be there so, talented or not they should have equal access to whatever the prof. is offering while in that class. On a personal note I plan to use whatever hook ups come my way and run with them
March 11, 2007 08:11 AM