Saturday 13 December 2008

Small Rant

During the past year I feel like I have gotten to know some really cool, talented and generous writers and must admit that I'd begun to think that most writers were really cool, talented and generous. That is until the wonderful uber-agent Nathan Bransford ran a first paragraph competition and all the snarky anonymous (how cowardly is that) comments started to appear from people moaning about the finalists that Nathan had chosen. I hope it doesn't put him off running it again.

Don't forget you have until midnight GMT tonight to enter the Wolf Dude's Competition. Any back biting as to the winning entries are to be expected as it's all in the hands of teenagers and a 3 year old. :)

14 comments:

J.C. Tabler said...

I'll admit it Cate, A little spark of jealousy flares every time I read about an acceptance. Then again, I think a little competition and jealousy is natural in any profession/hobby where there are a limited number of spaces. Trust me, my happiness and good wishes outweigh any tiny green monster.

For some writers, though, I believe they get caught up. That youtube video about rejections phrases it perfectly. Some peopel honestly believe they are the best thing since sliced bread, that snow sizzles and melts when they walk on it. These aren't "community" people, they're "me" people.

But, hey, if you're not personally or professionally attached to the snarky writers, then don't sweat it.

By the way, congrats on everything this year! You've rocked our world!

Cate Gardner said...

My blog is as green as I get :)

Jeremy D Brooks said...

Yeah, that was kind of unexpected...Nathan's been good about cleaning all of the troll-droppings out of the thread, but sheesh...why all the bitterness about something that should be positive?

Katey said...

Yeah, that's super uncool. Something tells me a lot of those people are going to grow up and be really embarrassed about that, someday. (And some of them never will, but we can hope!)

I agree with JC that a little competition is healthy and keeps you from getting complacent (as in, okay, everyone in the world is submitting to this anthology, I'd better make this good). But that's not the same as this troll crap. Jealousy and bitterness seem like such a drag. Think of all the fun they're missing.

No, little green-eyed writers, you are not special little snowflakes. You are not entitled to anything. Work harder. (And get off my lawn!)

Aaron Polson said...

I've been wrestling with this issue (the snarkiness) for a while. The web is filled with dirty little trolls. (Loved the link, Jeremy)

Keep the "competition" healthy. Support each other. Positive vibes win out in the end. Those folks that get too wrapped up in the negativity, well...they won't last long.

And Cate, like J.C. said, you have rocked our world this year.

Jodi Lee (Morrighan) said...

Snark can be good sometimes. When you've edited as long as I have, and you've slushed as much crud as I have, you start to recognize names, styles, reactions to rejection, etc.

Reading an editor snark about the really insane things some writers do to sabotage their own careers, that's useful. Those go in my "don't do this" notes. ;)

Snarking because another writer got an acceptance? Bah. We all have our turns, if we deserve 'em. And if we're good l'il authors, we can rub elbows with Cate and hope her talent rubs off on us. ;)

And hey, I know someone that volunteers to first read for writers, and totally screws them over in her 'edits' and comments. Once, she suggested a complete re-write on an amazing story... the guy nearly fell for it.

Why? Because she's too scared to finish her own work and send it in - she might be rejected - so she sabotages everyone else.

That is sick.

Kimbra Kasch said...

I was a Ms. Snark fan - but this sounds more like sour grapes. Guess I'll have to pop over to NB's site and read those comments.

Fox Lee said...

If they're all such good writers, they shouldn't waste the time bitching. No one is going to win every contest much less strike the fancy of every editor. Throwing anonymous tantrums speaks of sour grapes.

Cate Gardner said...

LOL! Jeremy.

I'm not adverse to a bit of snark but not when it's directed at an individual/individuals - boo those people.

And Jodi - seriously. That is so mean.

Lina said...

Sadly there are idiots everywhere and jealousy is an all to tangible concept! I just look at it that if I'm doing something that makes people act like green little monsters I must be doing something right because why would they otherwise be jealous?! ;-)

R. Scott McCoy said...

It looks like al of the anonymous snarking has been removed.

I can't improve on what J.C. said.

Maybe someone should have a Snark contest and people could get it out of their systems.

Cate Gardner said...

Nathan's been removing the comments as they appear. If I was him I would be very, very annoyed.

Bobbie Metevier said...

I don't understand why writers get jelous of each other. I'm only ever in competition with myself.

This type of behavior especially sucks when writing in genre. I mean . . . it's already the underdog--hard to get an agent, hard to get a break.

Jamie Eyberg said...

I will be the first to admit that I use other writers as a guidepost for my own writing. But the problem with that is I don't write the same as everyone else. No one does. (If they did it would be called plagiarism) I am genuinely happy for everyone who gets into a market that I didn't. It gives me something to strive for and for all I know, my writing may have been up to par but the editor and I just had differences of opinion and that is okay too.