Tree Huggin' Trinity

Okay, I freely admit to being a tree hugger. I recycle everything I can, drive a small, fuel efficient car (I'll get a hybrid when I can afford one) and every single light bulb in my house
has been changed to those super long-life fluorescent bulbs that last for years. At one time I even owned a small recycling business.

Personally, I strive to be one of those people who lives in a tree for a month just to keep big bad corporate America from chopping it down to make another parking lot. (But I wouldn't last fifteen minutes without Internet access.)

So what does this have to do with writing? Recently, I decided to enter a contest, and I had my choices narrowed down to two. Both contests had good reputations, offered feedback and had terrific editors as final judges. So which one did I enter? One contest was traditional in that you made three copies and sent them in the mail along with a check and a SASE. The other was completely done through email and PayPal.

Let's see. Print copies, write a check, find an envelope large enough, schlep off to the post office, wait in line, pay ten bucks or more for postage or use PayPal and email your entry.

Hmmm...didn't have to think too much on that one. It amazes me that the publishing industry hasn't caught on to this. With the exception of epublishers, most publishing houses still require paper copies of submissions. I can't imagine why an editor would prefer to wade through mountains of paper versus using email.

In my opinion, it's time for publishers to leave the dark ages behind and join the modern world.

And for goodness sakes, save a tree while you're at it.