I’ve seen some things lately that I don’t really understand. Maybe someone can enlighten me?
I’ve seen quite a few discussions between writers that revolve around how much certain published writers stink. Ok, I get it. Their writing isn’t your cup of tea, but why get so upset about it? These people are obviously doing something right. If you don’t like them, then don’t read their stuff. I don’t get the bash fest. No one is forcing you to buy their books. They aren’t being unethical because they’ve sold their stories.
And let me clarify that this isn’t an I’m-above-talking-bad-about-people post because I’m not. I’m also not talking about having a negative opinion about a book. It’s more of the, “Man, they SUCK,” attitude that builds and builds that I don’t understand.
Are there authors who’s writing I don’t particularly like? Of course! Do I see stuff that stresses me out within their novels? You betcha. Do I stress about it? Nope.
Someone in the world is connecting to their story or they wouldn’t be selling books. If they were pulling the wool over people’s eyes and the people buying their books were ignorant, then they would have a moral obligation not to publish, but that’s not really the case.
Oh, and totally unrelated, but I made a Christmas cake tonight (Christmas sprinkles were all I could find in the cabinet). It was delicious!
I got here from AW. I think the hate thing is more of an intellectual exercise more than anything else. As writers I don’t think any of us can actually hate a book. I find it difficult to throw a book away actually. Stephen King has some harsh things to say about Twilight but that is just him ya know. He has had a very difficult childhood though he is rolling in dough now that doesn’t really make up for it. King has a hatred of all “sweet” literature because of his terrible poverty when he was young. I find myself hating someone who has always had others solve their problems for them, or some lady who is beautiful, well we are only human I guess. It is not a personal hatred. More like jealousy, why couldn’t that be me? I couldn’t leave the house when I was pregnant with my first ’cause there was no money for clothing, hubby said a few more months & I wouldn’t need it. Ha! I still sort of hate seeing pregnant women walking around with their fancy duds & ribbons & bows. Anyway, I think it all comes down to envy. I think anything that gets young people reading is great. Perhaps with this first taste of reading they will pick up another book and get started into the wonderful world that is literature.
Yeah, that makes sense. The green-eyed monster strikes again! And maybe I’ll be more bitter as time passes (I hope not), so I don’t want to pass judgement either. I just think people need to remind themselves that life isn’t fair and we should be happy for people who’ve been successful, even if we don’t really understand it.
And I totally feel you on the maternity thing! I wanted fancy maternity clothes so badly, but it wasn’t going to happen at the time. I also wanted a fancy nursery for my son, but we moved out of the country and his was pretty rigged up. I secretly despised all the cute, pregnant women. Especially the ones who weren’t swollen like a whale, too. Haha!
Oh, and like my husband’s father always says, “Just because you don’t have the biggest house in the neighborhood doesn’t mean you should knock the others down. Just build your own!” :)
I posted something very similar on my blog not long after I joined AW, and linked to another post by another member that was also similar. You’re definitely not alone on this. :)