Ugh. Publishing writing is like lying naked

[LaraMN]

and having people walk around and point at your stretch marks, poke at your belly, and smirk at your small breasts or whatever miscellaneous imperfections you possess.
:scared:

Seriously, I never imagined what a thick skin I'd have to grow to handle the less-than-constructive criticism a few particularly nasty people enjoy flinging. I've done so much stepping back the last six months that I could probably jog a 5K in reverse.

On the plus-side, I still get to write for a living, there's mango sorbet in my freezer, and I've gone two solid months without getting a parking ticket OR backing into the garage door.
:D

[Deep13]

1. What did you write about? nt

[LaraMN]

4. A bunch of things

from journalistic-type stuff to humorous writings. I've been freelancing, but I have a half-time position that involves writing for a website and coordinating other contributors.

The website is funded by a non-profit; it's community-centered, and we get gigantic asshole complainers who whine and start debates about absolutely stupid shit and criticize EVERYTHING that's written for the site. It's just nuts. They're so nasty.

[RoyGBiv]

10. I feel your pain ...

My boss figured out I could string a few words together *and* had some HTML and CSS ability. Suddenly, I found myself in charge of our website development, which in reality means taking this garbage that reads like it was written by a person for whom learning English was only an afterthought and transforming it into something sensible.

Every paragraph I write is scrutinized by a minimum of a dozen people. They fight with each other, fight with me, argue with me over grammar rules, word choice, etc. "Should you really use the word "through" there? How about using "with" or "via." No, I have it, let's lose that whole sentence and put in a picture of a train tunnel."

This is not literature. It's basically technical writing -- succinct and boring.

Makes me crazy(-ier).

[LaraMN]

12. There's no better way to write than by committee.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

btdt!

[Deep13]

13. Some people will gripe about anything.

Anyway, I wish you well on that project.

[tigereye]

20. hey, good for you! Wondered what you were up to...

:thumbsup:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Lara!

Hey, nice to see you!

Long time, no see...

Sorry to hear the publishing world is being so rude!

I hope that you will very soon have much success, and that those rude people will STFU and go away!

:hug:

[LaraMN]

5. Nice to see you as well!

I figure it'll just be one of those "personal growth" experiences for me.
We can all benefit from those, right? :crazy:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. I thought you were in school...? hey will you share the mango sorbet?

:)

[LaraMN]

6. Done with school as of last December!

I'd be glad to share the sorbet. It's like eating a big, icy, creamy chunk of mango. SO yummy!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. dang! time flies. Congrats on finishing school and on the stay at home

job. :toast:

[LaraMN]

11. Thanks!

I have space at the offices of a firm I contract for, so I'm not at home a lot of the time. I can be when I need to, so that aspect is really nice.

What's new with you? :)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

14. meh...not much.

still watching too much TV and shooting off my mouth here. Good to see you. How are the kids? I miss your tales about Jack.

[LaraMN]

17. It's good tv show time right now, though!

It's the end of the summer re-runs!

Kids are good except the Oldest One, who seems to have developed male PMS, which is delightful.
Jack is doing well. He's currently obsessed with wearing a Super Mario costume and hiding small oblong rocks around the house.

[HopeHoops]

7. Can you recommend a decent agent (fiction)?

I've got several works and I've been very selective in sending them in. Well, too selective. Anyone you can recommend?

[LaraMN]

9. I'm no help there.

I'm not a book-writer, I'm a freelancer. I do ad/PR writing, journalistic/article pieces, blogging, etc.

Good luck, though! That's an exciting endeavor. I hope you find a publisher!

[HopeHoops]

15. That's sort of like finding a gas station selling premium for $.39/gal.

You have to go through an agent now, and that's only marginally better - maybe $.49/gal.

[LaraMN]

18. Ugh.

:(

[Call Me Wesley]

16. Strange, last time I was lying naked,

I was published. I had to get a lawyer to get the pics taken down. ;)

Good to see you and all my best for your career. Making a living out of writing is something that not many can achieve. :hi:

[LaraMN]

19. *Snort!*

Well, if I get desperate there's always that route to infamy, eh?

Thanks! :)