Dear Author...

I wrote this on my timeline last night.
"Dear Authors, grow the fuck up. Seriously. Do we have to go through this rant, again? I guess it is. Do we all want our manuscript to be the next big thing? Fuck yes! But, writing is a business. If you can't donate the time and money to succeed, don't do it! Sure, we want everything for nothing. But, what do we learn? Nothing. I had yet another author unfriend me (hold on, let me go cry in a corner) okay, I'm done, because my freelancer and myself wouldn't drop what we were doing and help him look for a publisher and other things. Writing is also like a job. If you can't do the work that's needed, than get off your lazy ass and get another job. The emails that come through "Do you know what publisher is accepting?" Sure, we've all been new and not sure of the process. But, don't tell me you've been doing this for 50+ years and ask me that question. It sickens me on how some of y'all take advantage of others. I hardly ask for advice. I'm more so, giving than receiving. One unfriended me because I refused to buy his sticken book. "If you can't shell out the $4.99..." Oh I can, just not to someone I've pulled favors for to get what you needed done. Especially in this world, be careful. Be very careful on the feet that you step on. I'm not saying I'm anyone. But, when you tell me you need people in your corner, and I have accessibility to those people, remember that, when you decided to throw a hissy fit and act like you were better than everyone else. Because my freelancer does charge extra for whiny idiots and she is extremely selective on who she works with. It boils down to if you're not willing to do it, well don't count on someone else to do it for you. I'm not saying that in a bad way. Everyone knows I'm willing to do it, and I'll be the first one there to help. I would never ask of someone for something that I can't do or won't do myself. (Except draw, because I'm a horrible artist, then yes, I rely on people heavily for that)"

I've held numerous jobs. I've held numerous different jobs in different fields. The Artist world is unlike none other. That I will admit. Whether you write, edit, draw, photography, market, whatever the case may be. You all work together. If one person ain't happy, guess what? The rest of the line is at a complete standstill. This is the only one very rarely can you have someone come in the middle of the operation and pick up with very little training.

Dear Authors/Writers
Yes, times are tight. But, don't go around lying. It will be discovered. (I'll have a blog mentioned for each one later on going into greater detail about the services.)

The first topic, publishers...
If you haven't written the book don't ask, "Do you know which publisher is accepting?" Unless you're a noob. Stupid questions like that are acceptable in the beginning. However! Not! And I mean NOT NOT NOT if you say you've been doing it for 50+ years. Then you should know the gas is on the right and the brake is on the left. (In America, anyways) The publishing world is no different. Publishers want to see finished work. Not a chapter! Imagine how the author world would be if that happened. Everyone writes one  chapter and starts sending it off. Sigh.

Editors...
Not all editors are the same. Editing takes time. Congrats! You wrote a book. Writing was your hobby. And do you think all and any hobbies are free? No, you have to pay to keep them going. Also, think of it like a business. Would you work where you're working if they didn't pay you? No! Would you write a book if you were asked, but you wouldn't be paid? No. Why would the editors do what you're not willing to do?

Cover designs...
I have several great cover design professionals I go to. I've seen (and been quoted $$$$ for one cover) covers are expensive, unless you know someone. My freelancer charges $25 and she lets you keep the copyright to the picture. She customizes the picture to how you want it. I've seen stock images selling for $100 on upward. Stock? So how many other people have bought the same design?

Screenplays...
We'll get into that blog later. If you only have a chapter written of your book, you're not ready for this yet.

Marketing...
If you don't have a traditional publisher, then you're marketing yourself. Don't rely on anyone else to do it for you. So you wrote a chapter? Great for you. It captures the readers attention. Good for you. Now, what? Yawn, they want more and you have writer's block.

Haters/Jealousy...
This is the most important one. Not everyone can write/draw the same way. I'm probably the one who has more haters than most. I'm not just saying that. I can prove it. From the first word on the paper, I can have a 75K-120K word manuscript done in roughly a week. I put the time, dedication, and work into the manuscript. I've had people tell me, "Well my work is quality not quantity." Okay, *shrugs*. Have you read my work? That's what an editor is for. Duh? And, if you haven't read my work, how do you know there's no quality? I'm not going to say it's called having talent. My talent, and my talent alone, is being able to do that. You may not be able to type that fast. So, if you get 1K words in a week/day that's an accomplishment for you. And that's a great accomplishment! You set your own goals. I set mine.

Time frame...
We each have our own. If I wanted to, I could have a book from first word, edit, cover completed in a month. I don't. (Or I would have a lot more books out there, already) Don't throw a party for a book that still has a year left. Or that you just started. Unless, you're like me, (which several of you are), if this is your first book, chill out.

Goals...
We each set our own goals. Never mock someone for what they're capable of. If you've been doing this for any amount of time, you'll see everyone does things differently. They work at their own speeds. If someone finished a book, how do you know they didn't spend the last two years working on it? (Unless they tell you) But, we each have our own goals. My goal for 2013 is to write 20 books. (It was 30 but, life got in the way)
Will all 20 be out? Hell, nah! It's my own personal goal.

Work...
All authors aren't going to like each other's work. Not a problem. In fact, I've only read one other author's work. I tried reading another's, I just couldn't get into it. So, I try to get out of when one says, wanna read my work? I'm like, eh. No matter if it's my cup of tea or not. I'm not trying to be mean, but yes, I'm in front of my computer 24/7 I don't have an e-reader and I prefer actual books. I don't have the attention span to read a book on the screen.

Bragging...
Get over it. Your book does NOT need to be a book. Would you like to see it in book form? Yes. But, get the book written first and then go from there. I don't care what knowledge, or experience you have, if it's not written, I don't want to hear about it.

Guts/morale...
I at least have the guts, (yes, I know it's the internet), to confront you about something. Don't unfriend me and then go on your wall. Word does travel and you make enemies that way. Writing is like acting. It's very cut throat. I let most things go. I will make posts as the one above. But, that's because it's happened so often that it's not directed at one person directly.

I've made a lot of great friends through this profession. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I've also met a lot of haters. More haters than good people. Some people are on their 5th year still writing their first work. That's fine. They're working on it. They haven't given up.

Liars...
Don't tell another you have something and you don't. Yes, the authorworld is vastly large. Yes, great chances are you don't know everyone. However!!!! It doesn't mean that word doesn't travel. The only reason I haven't met a few of my author friends is because of distance. The other percentage, yeah, too much drama for me.

Drama...
You think the acting/modeling world has drama? Try the authorworld! It's all that and more! I don't look for drama, it comes and finds me. I try my best to use the block feature as much as I can. It's a great feature. I don't care what anyone says about me. I have so many people who hate me, I lost count years ago.

I'm the most nonpolitical correct author out there. I will speak what I see. I will speak the truth. Whether writing becomes my career or not, who cares. It's a passion. It's a hobby. I'm enjoying it. I don't belittle you on what you enjoy, why belittle me?

Support...
The authorworld is again, the most cut throat profession. Everyone wants to see you fail and very few are standing beside you. It's like high school online. You have to weed through the ones who talk behind your back.

Reality...
You're not going to make $$$$$ with your first manuscript. Not everyone is going to like your work. (I think I kinda covered that in a previous blog) Like any other profession, when you're kicked down, you have to stand up, brush yourself off, and start again. Do you think the first actor who didn't get his first big break called it quits? No! And neither should you. If it's what you're really passionate about. People can tell in your work if you are or aren't. (No matter if you can do a chapter in an hour or several months)

Okay, I've got other things to do. :) Hope everyone has a fantastic Sunday!