Comments on: So You Say You Dont Understand http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/ Just Another Damn Group Blog Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:17:00 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lynn http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8285 Lynn Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:27:21 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8285 I can actually sympathize with the guy -- I was a housewife version of him when I sold my first two books. Back then there was no helpful internet, and since I didn't know any published writers except a minister who had written a Little Golden Book, I had only Writer's Market and Writer's Digest to guide me (which didn't help me get published, but almost resulted in me being a victim of Edit Ink, who advertised and had their phony agents also put ads in WD before they were all busted.) It's hard to know what to say to hopeful new writers. If I'd been told in advance what I was getting myself into, I don't think I would have believed it -- but at the same time, If I'd known what I was in for, I doubt I would have signed my first contract. I try to keep that in mind when I talk to them. I answer direct questions as kindly but truthfully as I can without sending them off screaming into the night. Otherwise I don't volunteer a lot of info outside my blog (anyone who comes to my place knows or quickly learns I'm not going to shake pom poms and soft-sell publishing.) Maybe writers are meant to go through the problems of pursuing publication as they happen in order to learn how to cope with them and discover if they are suited to being a professional writer. I know the most successful writers out there are like you, Amie; the ones who educate themselves, see the biz as a job and find ways to deal with disappointment. (I am in awe of you going out with this guy, though. You couldn't pay me to date another writer.) I can actually sympathize with the guy — I was a housewife version of him when I sold my first two books. Back then there was no helpful internet, and since I didn’t know any published writers except a minister who had written a Little Golden Book, I had only Writer’s Market and Writer’s Digest to guide me (which didn’t help me get published, but almost resulted in me being a victim of Edit Ink, who advertised and had their phony agents also put ads in WD before they were all busted.)

It’s hard to know what to say to hopeful new writers. If I’d been told in advance what I was getting myself into, I don’t think I would have believed it — but at the same time, If I’d known what I was in for, I doubt I would have signed my first contract. I try to keep that in mind when I talk to them. I answer direct questions as kindly but truthfully as I can without sending them off screaming into the night. Otherwise I don’t volunteer a lot of info outside my blog (anyone who comes to my place knows or quickly learns I’m not going to shake pom poms and soft-sell publishing.)

Maybe writers are meant to go through the problems of pursuing publication as they happen in order to learn how to cope with them and discover if they are suited to being a professional writer. I know the most successful writers out there are like you, Amie; the ones who educate themselves, see the biz as a job and find ways to deal with disappointment.

(I am in awe of you going out with this guy, though. You couldn’t pay me to date another writer.)

]]> By: Dennie ~ http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8278 Dennie ~ Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:55:32 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8278 (that sounds a little meaner than I meant it) :doh: (that sounds a little meaner than I meant it) :doh:

]]> By: Dennie ~ http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8277 Dennie ~ Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:54:44 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8277 <I> miss the dreams which naivete protected</i> I remember those days :yes: boy was I green. Until I joined writers' group I didn't know a single person who had written a novel so I kinda fell into to people who kinda sorta knew. I don't know how I would have managed otherwise--though I am a google freak so I might have found the way eventually. Since then I have met some folks who couldn't find their ass in their pants--and it didn't have much to do w/ writing. If he has the stones to persist and follow through, it will work out. It's not your job to hand-hold him through the publishing world miss the dreams which naivete protected

I remember those days :yes: boy was I green.

Until I joined writers’ group I didn’t know a single person who had written a novel so I kinda fell into to people who kinda sorta knew. I don’t know how I would have managed otherwise–though I am a google freak so I might have found the way eventually. Since then I have met some folks who couldn’t find their ass in their pants–and it didn’t have much to do w/ writing. If he has the stones to persist and follow through, it will work out. It’s not your job to hand-hold him through the publishing world

]]> By: vanessa jaye http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8276 vanessa jaye Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:35:50 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8276 Well, I wouldn't have bust his balls.... er, bubble, but I definitely would have given it a firm rub. (hehehee) Just made him think a bit more realistically about where he wants to go and want he needs to do to get there. But, it was a date, not a tutorial, so... ditto what Charlene said. ::shrug:: Well, I wouldn’t have bust his balls…. er, bubble, but I definitely would have given it a firm rub. (hehehee)
Just made him think a bit more realistically about where he wants to go and want he needs to do to get there.

But, it was a date, not a tutorial, so… ditto what Charlene said. ::shrug::

]]> By: Amie http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8275 Amie Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:19:58 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8275 <i>Because do you want this guy calling you day and night to get your advice, followed by impassioned arguments about why you’re wrong?</i> OMG WORD!!!!!!!!!!!! :lmao: Because do you want this guy calling you day and night to get your advice, followed by impassioned arguments about why you’re wrong?

OMG WORD!!!!!!!!!!!! :lmao:

]]> By: Charlene Teglia http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8274 Charlene Teglia Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:14:06 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8274 I'd have kept my mouth shut, too. Because do you want this guy calling you day and night to get your advice, followed by impassioned arguments about why you're wrong? I think not! Yeah, maybe I'm old and cranky, but this sounds like the type of person you cannot tell a thing. I’d have kept my mouth shut, too. Because do you want this guy calling you day and night to get your advice, followed by impassioned arguments about why you’re wrong? I think not! Yeah, maybe I’m old and cranky, but this sounds like the type of person you cannot tell a thing.

]]> By: Amie http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8262 Amie Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:30:38 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8262 <i>You don’t have to bitchslap him around in Starbucks, </i> Pretty please? You don’t have to bitchslap him around in Starbucks,
Pretty please?

]]> By: Amie http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8261 Amie Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:29:59 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8261 <i>Don’t you miss those halcyon days when for a brief moment you thought your first novel was going to hit #1 on the NYT? </i> LOL Rene! Yeah, I do. I'll admit it. I used to DREAM about the call. Now I"m not sure I'll ever rewrite that first manuscript. Don’t you miss those halcyon days when for a brief moment you thought your first novel was going to hit #1 on the NYT?

LOL Rene! Yeah, I do. I’ll admit it. I used to DREAM about the call. Now I”m not sure I’ll ever rewrite that first manuscript.

]]> By: Amie http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8260 Amie Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:29:11 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8260 Thanks ya'll! Esp Bernard...you're spot on. PS i posted this yesterday thinking yesterday was Sunday....this holiday thing has got me ALL screwed up so consider this my Monday post :badgirl: Thanks ya’ll! Esp Bernard…you’re spot on.

PS i posted this yesterday thinking yesterday was Sunday….this holiday thing has got me ALL screwed up so consider this my Monday post :badgirl:

]]> By: BernardL http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/comment-page-1/#comment-8259 BernardL Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:27:54 +0000 http://southernfriedchicas.com/2009/01/03/so-you-say-you-dont-understand/#comment-8259 I think you did well, Amie. How the heck would you explain all that on a first date anyway. You enjoyed what you had for a first date in a long while; and as you stated, it gave you an interesting twist on a plot. If a relationship developed outside the writing subject, advice and revelation could come in gradual doses then. Self publishing is only good if you don't mind marketing yourself like a one act carnival barker, :) I think you did well, Amie. How the heck would you explain all that on a first date anyway. You enjoyed what you had for a first date in a long while; and as you stated, it gave you an interesting twist on a plot. If a relationship developed outside the writing subject, advice and revelation could come in gradual doses then. Self publishing is only good if you don’t mind marketing yourself like a one act carnival barker, :)

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