My Worse Nightmare...

Is never selling again. I know how trite. But when I think of never holding another one of my books again...I break out in hives. I can deal with lulls. Those times just makes my writing stronger. So, I think B.S. when someone comes along and says, "I'll keep writing for myself even if I never published."

I've said the same exact words, but deep down, on the inside I'm thinking, "Pfft. It's never going to be an issue for me 'cause I'm going to get/stay published." Yup, I admit ego-maniac voice inside my head crops up every time I get a rejection. Every time I get a sucky review.

It's the only way to stay sane in this business. Either lie to yourself when you need it or get friends who can do the same. Honesty is great, but some days you need that white lie to get your through the next day. Because you never know that might be the day you get the call.

So tell me, what is your worse nightmare?

And More Reasons Why I Won't Let This Blog Die

Gauche: 1 a: lacking social experience or grace ; also : not tactful : crude b: crudely made or done 2: not planar (gauche) *(definition provided by Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

Someone recently accused me of being gauche for bemoaning a delayed response to a query. The issues wasn't the amount of time, but the fact I said something publicly about my disgust.

And then it just made me curious what got this taboo started. I'm very aware publishing isn't your normal work environment. You could have a grade A lawsuit for being black-balled in the corporate world for speaking, truthfully, about grievances of your work environment. In essence it's called retaliation.

But what I am fully surprised by is that most people black-balled in this industry are by other authors. Yes, some people should have thought better of what to say in public. Also, IMHO, some things were just blown out of proportion.

My questions to you: At what point was it okay for authors to be bashed for unprofessional behavior *publicly*? When did it become a faux pas for authors to speak of industry professionals for the same type of behavior? *not just their peers*

There Is Something About the Holidays...

That makes me want to write less. Seriously, I want to hibernate, but of course I must eat my weight in chocolate first. I've only been writing four years, but it happens like clock work. I'm writing like mad and then all of a sudden the words kind of fade out of my head.

Writing = pulling teeth without whiskey.

It got me to thinking--do authors have writing seasons? It is all in my head or do you find yourself writing more/less during a certain time of year?

How Long Has The Journey Been?

To piggy back off my last post, I want to talk about the journey to publication. It has it's many ups and downs. It's kind of like manic depression. The highs are really high and the lows are really low. There have been many times when I just want to call it quits. Days where I just don't see the point of writing anymore. Days when it's no longer worth the heartache.

And, of course, there are the Snoopy Dance days. I've only been writing four years. I've had two books published and there is no guarantee I'll ever be published again. My journey is just beginning. I still have loads to learn. Most days I accept the challenges that are ahead. I think that's what keeps me coming back to this crazy business--I still have many more mountains to climb.

Not to be sappy, just pointing out my journey hasn't been long, but has actually made me a better person. My journey hasn't been like anyone else's, but it's very similar to many.

What has your journey been like? What are your hopes for it's outcome?

Writing a Book in a Year is No different Than NaNoWriMo

I'm sure most of you have heard of National Novel Writing Month. I'm sure some of your writing buddies have started, quit, still going and barely hanging on. You may think they are insane. I may agree, but only about the pace of NaNo being insane. But it's the theory of getting from a blank page to a novel I'm curious about today. Specifically, the why, not the how.

I understand and believe in the rule of thought that the only way to write a novel is to sit down and write one. You can have the best story ideas, but if you never get your butt in that chair then you all you have is a good idea. The same goes for writing out the first three chapters of a novel and then you get hit with another brilliant idea. You close that pesky word document and write out the next story. Rinse. Repeat.

And, then there are the chosen few who sit down and write a whole novel. Doesn't matter if you write it out of sequence. If you start at the beginning and then you write until you type 'the end'. There is something larger at work: stubbornness, ego, your contract says so. But you finish, knowing what you write may never see the light of day. It doesn't matter if it takes you a year or thirty days, but you see your novel until the very (most times bitter) end.

The true insanity is that you open another word document and do it all again.

I want to know what drives you to keep on writing.

Apparently I Didn't Get The Memo

WARNING: SOAPBOX AND FOAMING AT THE MOUTH IS BELOW THIS LINE.

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My rants are far and few. I'm pretty much the same in real life. Not many things irritate me. If they do I work through them and move on. But they are times when things just creep under my skin and it takes a lot more effort to get past them. And they are other times when things are not meant to get past. I have to make hard decisions. I have to use the words I love so much, get on my soapbox and see if I can make some changes.


What has this snarky nerd choosing her words very, very carefully?

"Career focused. Career, meaning earning money through this thing we do. Being paid for our work. If we're not being paid a minimal amount for our work--for now, at least--it is not a career."


For the person who wrote these words I take offense that you can say what I do is not a career. What others do if they are not being paid a minimal amount is not a career. I would very much like you to define minimal amount so that you can complete your job of insulting a good percentage of your members.

Here is my definition of career that Miriam-Webster agrees with:

Career: a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling.

I also find it interesting you no longer want an attitude of Us vs. Them, but the words you've written (the opinion you are trying to stuff down my throat through your presidency) contradicts what you hope to change for your organization. It amazes me how you take offense to the term bodice ripper, but being seen as an author who isn't career focused isn't supposed to annoy me. *This is me smiling sweetly*

I'm also supposed to support and get behind you after you've just insulted my work as a whole, due to who I'm published with and my undefined minimal amount. Isn't that the same mind set you poo-pooed publishers for having--thinking of the money. As a member who wants to be a part of the THEM crowd how am I supposed to get behind ideas that stray away from your internal purpose of ensuring that author's talents are nurtured and valued on their work product.

So what do you want? Authors to understand this is a business and the mighty dollar rules all or do you want to nurture?

Frankly, I'll pass on any hug you want to give me.

I will also like to point out the business model you've built your argument on has very shoddy foundation.


"We get letters from those who explain their royalty rate is so much higher that an advance is unnecessary. And that may work for the tiny percentage who benefit from that set-up. Who benefits most from this equation, however, is the publisher who is taking no financial risk, and, therefore, has very little incentive, to promote the author."

I know you were trying your hardest not to say e-presses, but all your little "quotations" insinuated who you were talking about. Kind of like Sarah Palin's winks that were not very affective when trying to get a point across. You're "different path" and "different business model" fools no one.


If I am wrong, correct me. What publishers are you lumping together that don't lead a path full of career-focus?

Now, if I didn't take offense to all of the above, this would have sent me into a conniption.


"No one is saying if you do sell to them you are not published."

Really? Are we reading the same guidelines? The same contest rules? For one contest I am in fact published. For another I'm not published enough. Do your words have to be blatant for it to be construed that you are saying don't publisher with "different path" presses.

If I'd known back in January* before I paid my $75 hard earned money* that I would be told I wasn't career-focused, I might have made a different decision. Is this the kind of Presidency us members should look forward to? It feels like the Bush Administration. And, boy there were a lot of folks happy at the end of his rein of terror.

/rant

Agree? Disagree? I'm an idiot and my career is over? Wait a minute--I really don't have one.

Bad Agents

I'm not talking scammers. I'm talking bad as in can't sell books to save their lives. Bad that editors ignore submissions from said agent. Bad that when you ask have you ever heard of so and so your first answer is "Run". Yes, they exist. Yes, they go to conferences and hob knob and take appointments.

But the question is how: Well, I have a theory: desperate authors is how.

I know and understand the need to rush to NY. I know and understand how it can be a light at the end of the tunnel when someone finally says, "Send me the full" or much better, "I want to represent you." It's the "I'm King (Queen) of the world" type of feeling. But the question is how well did D.A. research this agent? How many e-mails did D.A. send to current and former clients (politely) inquiring about said agent? Did D.A. even check out this site to see what are the basics of an agents job? How many warning flags went up that these types of authors ignored?

* Yes, I'm aware some author still get the short end of the stick with very bad matches with their "dream" agent.*

So you tell me: How are bad agents still able to work in this business? What are some of the signs to look out for?