As If It All Makes Sense...

As If It All Makes Sense....

When people undermine your dreams, predict your doom, criticize you, remember they're telling you their story, not yours. (quote from Cynthia Coccelli) Someone recently posted this quote on FB. I had to admit it gave me pause. For so long I have been told I am a failure, and will always be a failure. That I will never achieve my goals and to give up. As a new author, nearly a decade ago, other authors were demeaning my work, belittling me, posting reviews that were more to do with criticizing me personally, than with my work, and hatred directed at me for my open-minded opinion on same sex marriage and love.

It was ironic to me that even after I left working for the police, I was more on the front lines than I was when sitting in a patrol car with a badge and gun. Who knew the world of authors and publishing could be so ugly?

I have seen critics and authors take down newbies with a swift kick to their crotch (be it a new novel or an idea for one). Yes, there are many good people, thank fuck, who do a lot for each other by promotion on their private blogs, and writing good reviews. This by no means is to be a brush painted for everyone's actions.

But the kind of people who do the above quote are still lingering out there. The pain they inflict is nothing short of exasperating. And now I know why. A light has turned on by the simple words of Cynthia Coccelli. They are telling their own story, not mine.

When someone asks me my advice for a new writer, or someone aspiring to do anything dream-worthy, I say, DON'T GIVE UP. If I had listened to the hate-mongers, the critics, the negative reviews and predictions for my career, I would not be where I am. Nearing 90 novels, not counting short stories and freebies.

At times I think some of us writers who place their work in the public eye become punching bags for either jealous peers, or people who simply don't get it. No there is nothing wrong with a review that points out weaknesses in a constructive way. But unfortunately it's much more fun to be nasty and just tear someone apart. To go out of one's way to locate your work and report it, ban it, or find fault for your own pleasure. Look, life is rough. Each of us goes through it over mine fields and pitfalls. No one has it easy around here, and if you do, it's because you're on good meds.

Over and over I try to get the message across to authors, readers and publishers, karma is a bitch, or an angel. Through the years I have given voice to unpublished authors in my work. Authors who want to write MM fiction and either can't be heard or break through the barrier. My latest unpublished author is Joey Jameson for his work Roll It, in Taking Ryan. But in the past I have given other authors their first chance; Edward Kendrick, Ryan St James, JC Szot, and these authors will help someone in turn.

Though it seems like a good way to live, to relate to other people in our business, in our lives, on FaceBook, Google, and everywhere there is a chance to either be nasty or be nice, remember when you bully someone anonymously or otherwise, perhaps it is your story you are telling, your anger with your own failure, your own laziness to keep trying.

Be careful out there.