Drunk in Public

Blogs are a writer’s platform. On this stage, we create the persona that wins viewers, creates a loyal network, and makes a name for ourselves. Hopefully a good name.

Courtesy and an awareness of your surroundings are paramount in the posts. If a misunderstanding, harsh critiques, and rejections send you into a tailspin, your path will be just that, an endless loop going nowhere.

Complaining or public ranting is an emotional outlet for your feelings. But it is a self-inflicted and mostly fatal wound. Don’t do it. Agents, editors, and publishers can read. They watch sites like Query Tracker and AbsoluteWrite forums. If you leave a comment on their blog blasting their rejection of your query, it will get their attention. And not in a good way.

If I need to rant, my two bestest buddies, Charity and Marcy, are there for me as I am for them. Or I go kick the dog, which usually does not end well.

My point is everyone needs to let off steam. No argument. But this is not the venue. Exposing yourself in public is not cool.

First, it is rude. Second, you learn nothing. Education comes from mistakes. How you handle rejections says a lot about whether you are open for growth. Shutting down to suck your thumb and complain gets you bupkis, zip, zero.

Learn from rejections and harsh critiques. A public display paints you as an amateur.

Lastly, public fussing gets you more rejections. Might as well dump your mss and quit now, because buck-o, you have a long row to hoe if you think this business is easy on the mind. Not everyone will love your book. No matter how well you write, how intriguing your storyline, someone will hate it. Guarantee.

Rejections are in your future, whether agents, editors, critique partners, or publishers do the deed. Or your readers.