Let’s work backwards and start with the ugly. I’m taking a page from Penelope’s book and deconstructing my connections. Over the past year, I’ve weaned myself away from blogger and review sites that thrive on negativity. The internet can be that way - like a hit and run. It’s so easy to deliver a low blow anonymously.
I stopped watching the Nightly News years ago. I’m not an isolationist, I read like crazy, but the last thing I need is to have my mind filled with awful images and end of the world scenarios.
My father is a man who believes we should all be held accountable. He’s right, we should be accountable for our actions, but as a result he didn’t shelter me from any ugliness. What I desperately needed was the freedom to be a child, with a child’s innocent view of the world. When my kids were small, I went out of my way to allow them a childhood. I didn’t want them to lie in bed, awake all night, listening for the sound of jackboots on the stairs.
Back to the internet…low blows. Not my cup of tea. I cut my links to sites that deliver them six-eight months ago. The world is cruel enough. At times the behavior of authors and book bloggers reminds me of playground bullies or the old ‘slam books’ in middle school. Nastiness, back-biting and back-stabbing simply for the sake of nastiness. I’m not scolding, I’m just not participating. Never did before, why should I do so now? Life is way too short and time is too precious to waste energy on any of that.
The good - I’ve found some amazing resources for authors who are serious about this brave new world of publishing. Check my links under Resources for Writers - The Passive Voice, Holly Lisle, Dean Wesley Smith, L. M. May, Soul of a word, Stormwolf, and The Shatzkin Files. I have a number of links to people who educate me, teach me about my craft and speculate about the future of the industry. They don’t have to even know I exist for me to pay attention. I learn from these people. Never turn down a chance to learn about your craft. We all know less than we think.
The other good - e-publishing gives us the grand opportunity to write short stories and novellas. My husband recently uploaded an article to his Kindle, really nothing more than a long article, by Jon Krakauer, Three Cups of Deceit, How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way. I grew up reading short stories, but until this brand new age of e-publishing arrived, I feared they’d gone the way of the dodo bird. Short stories are riding a wave of resurgence thanks to e-publishing!
The bad - Coming out of the grocery store today, I met a man who said, “Excuse me, I’m so sorry to bother you, I’m really embarrassed about this, but I don’t have money for gas. Can you give me a couple bucks? I’m so sorry.”
He was dressed in clean clothes, he was the decent sort, and I knew he was telling me the truth. He looked utterly humiliated to have to ask for gas money. I gave him money for gas and food. I just can’t stand it. So many people who never ever imagined they’d be homeless are now on the streets.
P.S. The Sweet - A dear friend said to me this week, “My head is filled with stories, so many stories it would take a hundred lifetimes to write them.” What a wonderful thing. So is mine. Wow. I think a lot of authors I know feel full to overflowing. Man, I need a few more lives!
No, it’s not about that itch you can’t scratch.
