Writers! (not really a rant, but... yeah)
Jul. 30th, 2010 08:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ostarellaI've been involved in a "discussion" on a writers' forum regarding contests. And it's similar in vein to a couple other discussions I've gotten into there and other places. And it's really quite dis-illusioning.
For many, many years I've looked on authors as somehow being more... open-minded. More willing to look at things from different POVs and think about stuff. Almost an ethereal type of thing, because, you know - they're creative people.
I'm quickly learning, after having "spoken" with published authors on these forums, that I was being very Polly-Anna-ish.
Authors, and seemingly especially those who are published and successful, are some of the most bombastic, rude, egotistical, double-talking bunch of morons you could assemble in one room.
Not all of them. But depending on which area of writing one is discussing, they can be so sure they're right that no matter what sort of logic you toss at them, they will ignore it and repeat what they've already stated. And no matter how many times these same people say "What works for one won't work for another" and "There are no rules!" - if you don't agree with their opinion, they will then try to disparage you (not your opinion, but you as a person) as being ill-informed or 'wet behind the ears'. How dare someone question anyone who has been writing for decades and (GASP) published?!?!
Like, having a kidlit published will make you God...
So yeah, I don't post much on those any more. Having basically been told that I can't research things because I'm not published, that I can't have valid opinions because I haven't been writing for decades, and that I can't ask writing-related questions because someone might get offended - yeah, I don't need whatever these people are peddling. There are other forums that are much less concerned with egos and more with actual writing stuff and I'm sticking with those.
Gawd...
For many, many years I've looked on authors as somehow being more... open-minded. More willing to look at things from different POVs and think about stuff. Almost an ethereal type of thing, because, you know - they're creative people.
I'm quickly learning, after having "spoken" with published authors on these forums, that I was being very Polly-Anna-ish.
Authors, and seemingly especially those who are published and successful, are some of the most bombastic, rude, egotistical, double-talking bunch of morons you could assemble in one room.
Not all of them. But depending on which area of writing one is discussing, they can be so sure they're right that no matter what sort of logic you toss at them, they will ignore it and repeat what they've already stated. And no matter how many times these same people say "What works for one won't work for another" and "There are no rules!" - if you don't agree with their opinion, they will then try to disparage you (not your opinion, but you as a person) as being ill-informed or 'wet behind the ears'. How dare someone question anyone who has been writing for decades and (GASP) published?!?!
Like, having a kidlit published will make you God...
So yeah, I don't post much on those any more. Having basically been told that I can't research things because I'm not published, that I can't have valid opinions because I haven't been writing for decades, and that I can't ask writing-related questions because someone might get offended - yeah, I don't need whatever these people are peddling. There are other forums that are much less concerned with egos and more with actual writing stuff and I'm sticking with those.
Gawd...
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no subject
Date: 2010-07-30 07:00 pm (UTC)That'll happen about the time pigs fly...
I hate the one true way crap.
Oh yeah. And esp after spouting this "what works for one..." stuff. Just words.
I actually could put up with it better if they weren't so condescending about it. One fella, in response to something I said, mentioned sarcastically how "the young always knew better" - shut him up good when I told him how old I was and thus what a stupid remark that was.
Gawd...