It's Better Than I Expected

I swear to Cow this is the best backhanded compliment I receive on my books.

Look, I know I come up with some wacky ideas. Hence, the name of this blog. It's funny how surprised readers, especially if they are also writers, are that I can make my crazy concepts work.

On the other hand, I guess I'm disappointed by how many other writers think I can't write at all. By no means do I think I'm the most gifted writer to grace the planet, and I do try to improve on a daily basis. Over the last fifteen years, I just tried to stitch together something fun that would entertain me.

I do find backhanded compliments useful because, let's face it, they are meant to be an insult.

Which they are in the right hands.

But when you don't know how to use them, you sound like a jealous bee-yatch. So use your power wisely.

Because my laughter can deflect your attempted insult.

Little Green Monsters

I've talked about professional jealousy here before. It's an ugly insidious thing that eats the souls of good writers. I expect it out of newbies. It's damn hard not to get depressed when things seem to flow effortlessly for other writers. Hell, I've suffered from the condition myself, but I'm not proud of that fact.

In general, if it crops up in my head, I squash it with an imaginary shoe.

However, envy of those ahead of you makes more sense than the envy I'm seeing in my peers, i.e. those of us who were fourth-generation indies.

(In my head, I consider first generation to be the folks who self-published, I mean REALLY self-published, not vanity published, prior to any e-readers. Second generation are those transmitting PDFs or selling CDs. Third generation are those writers who jumped into the Kindle world first.)

Anyway, the folks with some initial success, who are still writing (not sailing naked--which is perfectly fine because I enjoy the pictures), now worry about staying on top of the heap. Staying on top isn't easy by any stretch of the definition. Algorithms change. Retailers crash. Old ways of advertising don't work anymore. The public's tastes shift to the latest shiny.

In other words, it's the same old-same old in publishing.

But because they were the first to hit it big in e-books and not sell out to the Big 5 publishing houses, they became accustomed to a certain income level. I'm not talking about the gold rush people, the ones that threw out a bunch of books in 2010 and 2011, then disappeared under the next wave of indie writers. I'm talking about the ones who've stuck with this crazy venture for the last five to ten years. The ones who've worked their asses off. The ones Data Guy revealed with his last Author Earnings report, and the folks just below them.

And the scary part is how many of them have said spiteful things about each other. On their blogs. On other people's blogs. On Facebook. On Twitter.

Part of me is a little jealous of their success. I could have been one of them if I hadn't floundered through personal shit from the summer of 2013 through the summer of 2017. I could have been a selfish bitch and said no when people needed me. In retrospect, maybe I should have. Only DH appreciated the effort I put out to help other family members.

On the other hand, maybe it's a good thing I essentially started over this year. I didn't become accustomed to a certain level of income. I didn't assume the gravy train and the glory would continue forever. And I didn't freak out during the 2016 downturn in the industry.

Because any significant income on my part had already faded by 2016. LOL

In other words, I can sit here and whine about the shitty hand I was dealt, and how life's so unfair.

Or I can write a story. And publish it. And be super fucking grateful that people are willing to plunk down their hard-earned money to buy my books.

Now, I can't say I will never feel a twinge when a friend says he or she landed a TV option deal. But I will be happy for them.

Because that's their path. Not mine.

Mine's still through that frickin' raspberry brambles, but I'm trying to remember to taste the fruit.

Reviews and the Jealousy They're Written On

Reviews have always been fraught with spilled ink and hurt feelings. It's bad enough when any Joe/Jane Public slams your work. In fact, I try to adhere to the rule not to read reviews of your work.

But when it's someone more famous, it's harder to avoid. There have been public feuds between writers through the ages. Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer. Ernest Hemmingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Stephen King and far too many authors to list here.

In fact, Christoph Paul wrote a guide on how to start a literary feud.

While Mr. Paul suggested ripping the other writer on a podcast, the trend among indies today seems to be deliberately attempting to start a feud by leaving a horrible review on a rival in the same genre. And personally, I believe it's done out of jealousy with the justification of the First Amendment and/or a piss-poor attempt to gain attention, aka any publicity is good publicity.

Which goes back to my original advice regarding reviews on your books--ignore them.

Feuds occasionally happen over innocent misunderstandings, but you’ll have a better success rate with willful misunderstandings. - Bill Ferris

Even if you cannot ignore your reviews, DO NOT ENGAGE! Seriously, that's exactly what some of these bad reviewers want.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, you cannot disengage from the bad reviewer (like family or good friends). Because of course, they're only trying to help you be the best writer ever!

That's when I smile and say, "Thank you for your feedback! Which paragraph/sentence prompted your insight?" And then pursue that help with specifics until the friend/family member runs in the opposite direction.

Worrying about and/or dealing with someone else's jealousy is a waste of your time and resources. Focus on your writing, and ignore the idiots.

And if all else fails, sue 'em.

The Green-Eyed Monster - Part II

Currently reading - No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Last June, I talked about feeling jealousy over other writers getting what you think you deserve, whether it be appointments, your ultimate agent, contracts, etc.

So what happens when you're on the other side of the equation? You're the recipient of the good fortune, and all of your friends start treating you differently?

It sucks.

The big one.

Here's the thing. When the really good things happen to you, you're going to find out real quick who your friends are. Sometimes it's ugly. Just effing ugly. Guess what? It really isn't you. It's them. And you can't do a damn thing to change their minds.

It doesn't mean you stoop to their level. Be yourself. Be polite. Be reasonable. Be proud of your accomplishments.

And if someone gets in your face, you politely, reasonably, and very firmly tell them they are out of line. Otherwise ignore the naysayers, and remember the people who do appreciate you for being exactly who you are.

Why Not Me?

Currently reading - Blood Price by Tanya Huff

Lee? Oh, Lee? You won my contest. I want you to get your prizes. I can't get your prizes to you if you don't e-mail me, sweetie.


I haven't said much about my writing lately because, well, . . .

It's pretty fucking depressing, that's why. Oh, I'm getting requests for fulls, but then. . .

It's like you're having sex with (insert your Ultimate Fantasy Person here), and all the sudden he/she climbs out of bed right as you're about to climax and says, "Sorry, you're not doing it for me." *groan*

And to top it off, several friends and acquaintances are getting their worlds rocked by their UFPs lately.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm happy for my friends and acquaintances. I know a lot of them have worked their asses off to get their UFP in bed.

But my green-eyed monster keeps trying to crawl from under the rock where she hides, and I have to beat her back with my laptop. There's a reason Envy is one of the seven deadly sins. She's not crawling out to eat my alleged enemies. She's planning to chew on me.

And it won't be pretty.

Does anyone have suggestions for dealing with their green-eyed monsters? (Besides chocolate.)