Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Here's the Thing

Today, I reacted like many bloggers would and felt so badly that a good friend of mine felt attacked, that I nearly caved. I nearly took my post down. That would have been a very bad thing.

I forgot where I came from and what I know. I let my feelings get into the game. Some of you know I’m a former journalist and newspaper editor. What I’ve not said online yet, is that I’ve won awards for both my investigative journalism and my editorials, from the Arizona Newspaper Association and the Arizona Chapter of the National Press Women. Why is that important? Here’s why:

I wrote a blog post – Wait, Wait, Wait, - in exactly the correct editorial format. Unlike other forms of journalism, which require complete impartiality and no usage of slanted words or expression of opinion – an editorial is supposed to present a point of view, elicit emotions, and hopefully sway opinions. It is also supposed to state facts and provide references for the reader.

When I presented the blog posts of Rob Guthrie (someone I consider a friend and I highly respect), and the comments made on them by others, as a starting point for my post (editorial) he took that personally. It wasn’t intended that way, and frankly, if I’d started out with “some people think” I wouldn’t have been effective or correct.

In my summation, which referred to a possible assessment team for the worth of writers before they could be published on Amazon, I was attempting to elicit emotions and sway opinions, very definitely. Not, however, in the way it turned out. This was not a reference to Rob, as a person or member of the Indie author community.

Why did I feel a need to come back to this? For two reasons, the first being to regain my self-respect and secondly, to clarify what this was all about.

It is very tough to write about important things. You must develop a thick skin and be willing to ward off personal attacks, because they will come. I know from experience. I’ve lost my edge, obviously, and have actually chosen not to write about controversial subjects, because having my motives questioned and assaulted for two years wore me out. I also prefer to live in the light – enjoying the happy times – writing stories I hope will encourage, inspire and make people laugh.

Because, I don’t want to return to this subject over and over, I’m going to go into one more aspect of this whole argument over whether Indie writers should be subjected to a review of some sort. Let me say here, that I do not consider myself a great writer. At best, I’m decent and a fairly good storyteller (a different question, altogether). I could very well be one of the people not to make it past such a review.

I have read comments in favor of instituting a process like this from writers, who would themselves suffer from such an inspection. I don’t think anyone has honestly addressed this. One very adamant proponent wrote one of the first books I ever bought for my Kindle. It was so atrocious I couldn’t get past the first five pages. A prominent writer, who has wisely stayed out of the fray, suffered from bad formatting until someone pointed it out to her. So did I, until a very kind Twitter friend, gave me the heads up.

This whole thing is still a learning process. It really is. I’m still having trouble navigating it, aren’t you? If you’ve got it completely licked, I salute you.

That’s it. No more diatribes from me, and it will probably be a long time before I test the toughness of my hide again. I don’t like it here.

17 comments:

  1. As far as amazon helping the independent writers out there it has. But I know for a fact that before amazon allowed writers to build their own business to sell and publish their works, Independent publishers/authors were at it for a long time. Except they found their markets and fed them direct or through various distribution channels. Organizations like Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and other like organizations were developed to assist independent publishers. Not to mention a large amount of authors I've met over the years that went Indie when it wasn't 'cool' to publish your work. Now without any boundaries and with little cost an author can publish their books in ebook formats. Some even used POD - setting their books at reasonable prices. I think the next few years will cultivate a community of independent publishers/self-publishers that produce better and more competitive products.

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  2. Great points here, especially the reference to those to pioneered when it "wasn't cool." They really faced a negative environment, but did it anyway. Virtual applause.

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  3. What an interesting coincidence. I just left another blog where I took the author to task for letting their hostility cloud their judgment. I expect to hear back on that one. And, just the other day, I berated someone who commented to one of my blog postings, for using pejoratives (which I left on my website to embarrass them). Now, I find you huddled in a corner defending yourself. There must be something in the air.

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  4. Well, I'd like to think I'm standing tall rather than huddled into a corner but it's all a matter of perception, isn't it? I think there is something in the air. I was thinking about it last night after I wrote this. I believe the bad smell is "ugly competition."

    When you take too many animals of any species and put them in a tiny pen, don't feed them enough and deprive them of other necessities for survival, they kill each other off and eat their young. I think Indie writers are feeling the pinch.

    I've love the inclusiveness of the Indie author community, previously (and sincere desire of each to help the other) and hope I'm wrong in seeing a slipping away of that phenomenon.

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  5. People always bring a point of view to everything they read (and anything else for that matter). I watch people drawing conclusions for me that are not my conclusions at all. No matter how clearly we attempt to present an an issue, the emotional state of the reader will very much influence their take on what is said. Having had a consulting business in conflict resolution and inter-relational communications, I am actually surprised for the better at how well we're doing with one another, given the high tension in the writing profession these days. Like you, however, I would like to see us celebrate coming increasingly together, something at which we can always improve. xo

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    1. I'm so aware of your first point. I try to be careful with people's feelings, but you can't account for everything and at some point you just get too watered down.

      In united hope for the future of our community -

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  6. 'Situations' are inevitable, unless you are a mute hermit (no offense to any mute hermits out there), and it's how you respond to the situation, as they say. In this case, I think your sincerity comes through, and really, that's all we can offer -- sincerity and good intent over maliciousness and bad intent -- because there will always be myriad opinions.

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    1. LOL - Oh, Laura - I loved the disclaimer here. I really did make me laugh out loud. Thanks for the vote of confidence on my sincerity. I admit, I'm personally gun-shy.

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  7. The only way to not offend your friends from time to time is to not have any friends, or not be a writer.
    I don't like either choice, so I'll just continue apologizing when needed.

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    1. Good way to look at it, L.L. I like that. Just keep apologizing and smiling. :)

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    2. Well, the third way is to be a wimpy writer - so terrified of offending that you really don't say much of anything. Okay, apologizing isn't so bad. :-)

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  8. I read your previous post, Kathy. It just sounded to me like you were inviting friendly debate on the subject. I'm so sorry that you felt attacked because of expressing an opinion and inviting others to do likewise. Cyberspace can be tough; it's easy for people to sling words from behind an avatar. I commented on a news item last week and was attacked by someone for no reason other than they disagreed with me. They were snarky and viscous. The commenting was moderated through Facebook, so I deleted my comment (and theirs)and then blocked the person on Facebook. Like you, I prefer to live in the light. I don't like "running away," but I refuse to be someone's punching bag. I hope we both can find a way to continue speaking our minds.

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    1. Thanks for this comment. There are those that just love taking offense or stirring the pot. Sounds like you were a victim of someone like that. I think this is the territory of cowards - especially those that couch what they really intend to say in vague snarkiness.

      In my case it was more a case of being completely misread and my first reaction was to retreat because I'd hurt someone. Once I remembered that I hadn't written the piece the way it was read, it seemed incumbent on me to clarify.

      This kind of "personal" controversy is really painful to me, but I'm with you - I want to continue to speak my mind, especially when I think it's an important subject.

      Thank you Diane.

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  9. Oh Red, It sounds like you have felt the "slashing of teeth". But I don't understand why. I didn't take your post anyway other than saying people have a right to write whatever they want. The industry is becoming more adaptable for people to express themselves. Yes, there are bad writers out there and yes, we'll all pick up or buy books that we end up not finishing because we just can get interested, whether it's the plot, the format, the writing....whatever. I thought your blog post was very insightful and took it as information and opinion only...period. I enjoy reading your posts and your books. I'm reading Red Mojo Mama right now and enjoying very much. Of course, it really caught my eye initially since I belong to a biker group called The Mojo Riders. :) Keep it up, Red. I think you're doing great!

    Linda Runnebaum

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  10. I love when people make me chuckle on a comment. Knowing that you were attracted to the title because of The Mojo Riders makes me happy! Thanks for the support and encouragement. I really, really appreciate it.

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  11. Well said, Kathy-- I bet Red helped on this one. I'm always resisting the urge to speak my mind on the internet-- why is that?

    When I read a book by an indie and I see a problem I really try to let them know-- by email.

    I've heard so much lately about authors growing thick skins. It's our thin skin that allows stories of beauty, horror, murder and redemption to slip out. I've even read an editor flaming at writers for being so sensitive. I want to tell her to... well you can probably guess the two words I chose.

    Writers must learn to put the readers first after they finish the first draft. Don't go for speed or marketing deadlines. Produce something you can be proud of in a year from now.

    I agree with LM Preston. Things are getting better and will continue to do so. EBooks have changed the world of writing!

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  12. You hit on an important point here. Writers are sensitive - myself included. That's why I didn't last long as a journalist - which absolutely demands a shell to do your job well. I didn't like wearing the shell.

    I absolutely agree with you about writers producing the best work they have in them. I'm learning to be more careful.

    Here's where I see a problem. I have a friend that wants to be a writer, but is so bunged up about perfection, I truly believe it's going to take a miracle for her to get past that to actually writing anything, let alone publishing it.

    I read a Clive Cussler novel a while ago. It had 3 glaring errors in it that I found, one of them was the misspelling of a city in Alaska - and this author has a publishing empire to assist him. I'm not sure perfection is attainable. I'm not suggesting that you're insisting on perfection, by the way. Just my additional thoughts. Geez, I'm jumpy now.

    Dannie - you always have the best comments! Thank you.

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