Think twice.
Think twice when you say something on your blog. Especially if you're trying to be controversial, ironic, or counter to prevailing wisdom. Make sure you understand how your words might be interpreted, and then make sure you're okay with that.
Successful agents, think twice about your jaded perspective on the publishing industry and how difficult it is for you to find material you want to publish. Often the best artists are the most sensitive. This is as true for writers as it is for other art forms. Do you really want to discourage the best writers from getting their material to you, by feeding into their fears and insecurities?
Published authors, think twice about your cynical commentary about what it's like to "make it." I know you think you're giving us a reality check. I know you think you're being clever. I know you think you're giving us tough love. But really, you're just puking all over our dreams. Telling us they're either unattainable or not worth it. Is that really what you want to do?
As-yet un-agented authors, think twice about what advice you give. I think many of us have insights on the craft and process of writing, and maybe even into some parts of the business side. When you get right down to it, though, we're still un-agented and so the one thing we are not qualified to talk too much about is how to get an agent or what agents like/dislike. We may think we've learned a lot and that we want to share that with others, and there's a safe way to do that, but we need to be careful about misleading others in our same position by speaking with too much authority about something we only know second- or third-hand.
Okay, that's a bit more of a rant than I usually like, but I'm in a weird spot right now with my writing (for reasons entirely separate from these issues) and I felt like just growling for a bit.
Next time, peace, love, and applesauce.
.Nevets.
