Do you remember the first time you stood up in front of the sign that said “You have to be this tall to ride this ride”? That amazing feeling that you were now all growed up?
No?
Eh, me neither, of course I don’t recall most of yesterday so that tells you something about my memory. Anyway the line has been running through my mind because it seems that if you are an author – once you grow tall enough – all bets are off.
But if you are still too short, if you don’t reach that line, then regardless of your actions you are suppose to get a free pass. Even better if you are too small of a fish we throw you back AND you get to eat the big fish if you catch them.
Doesn’t seem right to me. I am the first person to say I am not the nicest people in the world. In fact I have never ever claimed to be. So maybe I don’t get the nice girl code and I need someone to explain it to me. Slowly in small words.
Is there a dollar amount an author needs to hit in sales that make her a free for all? Do you have to have X number of fangrrls? Or maybe it is in the number of books you contract?
Someone needs to tell me this super sekret rules. Is it that sucessful author x is too big to care what newbie author x thinks? Bam has pretty much stopped reviewing but she was ok with reviewing JR Ward. Why? Of course I think she should review anyone and am not saying I think she shouldn’t have reviewed Ward.
Unknown e-book author Rene Lyons has no issue dishing it out on JR Ward or comparing her writing to the bestselling author. On the blog Bookbinge Casee talks about Ward’s character Blay being maybe gay (whole other post for another time, but I still don’t get why that would be a big deal since Blay is ‘growing’ up and it happens but whatev). Rene sez:
Clearly, Ward has lost whatever grip she might have still had on reality.
I really get a kick out of the whole “messenger” thing. We, as writers, think up our characters no matter how real they might seem to us. I swear she’s gotten seriosuly creepy the deeper she dives into her little fantasy world.
Holly, can you imagine if went all Ward with my Templars? You’d come here and put your foot up my ass and kick me back to reality! lolol
Now this is her opinion. Her right to say. “I” do have issue with it because of her past behavior but whatever, she is a big girl and can dish on whoever she wants. But me being me, I did comment on it, oddly enough on topic (unlike others) with the post and addressed another comment and also said:
And geeze rene isn’t it about time you get over the bitter and trying to compare yourself to ward?
Bitchy? Sure, why not. Deserved? OMG yes. Now all is well and good but the thing that I thought odd was the following comment by Zeek. She sez to me:
Nice slamdance on Rene. Real nice.
I don’t get it. Why is it ok for Rene to “slamdance” JR Ward but if she is called on it that is teh mean?
So I ask you kind readers, help a girl out, just how does a blogger know what authors are A’OK to slamdance and which ones we shouldn’t? When did calling someone on an action they really did a ‘slamdance’? And while we are at it… what the fuck IS a slamdance?
enquiring bloggers wanna know…
Hey, The Dishing Diva, I’d almost forgotten her. I think she’s on my list of Authors Behaving like Fuckwits.
I think it would have been different if she’d slam-dunked Ward, as herself originally, cuz ya know, J.R. Ward does have some crazy RFGs. I think the problem came when she tried to pretend she was someone else, whilst slam-dunking her. Those damned IP stats always get you in the end.
BTW, was she really trying to compare herself to Ward? I mean…. really?
Is it about how tall you are? I think it’s about who you know. Not trying to put words in anyone’s mouth here, but it appears to me that Rene’s friends are taking exception to you being, to quote you, bitchy. I don’t think it’s a question of how successful Rene is. It’s more about her personal relationship with those bloggers. Which brings me back to my belief that personal relationships do affect our opinion of an author’s work. Most times it’s not even intentional (at least I hope so) but bias does exist where personal relationships exist and it shows in comments and reviews alike.
Who won on Oct. 16/07 with Jill Shalvis? thanks.
*Cough* Our side now has visual proof
hmmm that is something to ponder rosie…
Is there a line for people? I recently had an author I really like ask me what I thought of her upcoming book. I told her. She is even still speaking to me *g*.
Do we all have to like the same books, things and people or we can’t be friends?
Really though I have seen this in more than just Rene, like I said Bam reviewed Ward. And I loveseses bam like a fat kid loveseses cake. She will also review LKH. What makes THOSE authors ok to ‘pick’ on?
I am not saying I would change my comment, I wouldn’t, but I am just all sorts of crazy like that.
Oh. Erm. I just stopped reviewing ’cause I haven’t had time to read anything. Can’t review when you haven’t read nuthin’.
And truthfully, I just got lazy.
Those multi-paged rants? Takes a lot of energy. Energy I no longer have because of stupid school and stupid day-job.
*sigh*
But I will always make time for JR Ward, man. I lurve her.
Long answer: It seems to me, and this is true of any celebrity- even authors, that they are loved and praised on their way up, but once they hit the top they just become easy-to-aim-at targets. People seem addicted to the feelings of falling in love with an author’s work and then tearing them back down just because they are so well loved. It’s just not cool to like someone who is popular. I suppose it’s a kind of weird snobbery.
A good rule of thumb would be to ask yourself if you would ever say these same things directly to that author.
Short answer: If they are too big to ever visit your blog or to ever be likely to care AT ALL what you say on your blog, then they are canon fodder.
BTW, the Bamster and I SOOOOOOOOO do not agree on LKH but we still wuvses each other anyway.
Totally. I’m soooooo going to introduce myself to JR Ward at the RWA next year. ha ha.
I never post anything I wouldn’t (and prolly have) said to the person…
Ooops – commented on the wrong post!
As for this one – well, I don’t really slam dance any author – but then that’s just me – not that I don’t think some should be called on the carpet on occasion. But I don’t get involved in it for the most part. It takes away from my reading time
Robyn L – I’ll be posting the contest winners later today.
Sybil, I just have to say this again incase you didn’t see my comment on BB. My issue with Blay being gay is NOT b/c I don’t think a gay character belongs in the series. My problem is that after the cluster that was Butch and V, how is she going to write a gay character while staying true to said character?
JRW built up the relationship with Butch and V over the course of four books. Then she wrapped up that relationship in about 10 pages. I felt cheated. I think she will cheat her readers by trying to write a gay character b/c she’s going to be too concerned with the reception from readers that are “uncomfortable” with a gay man in a romance.
As for Rene, I wasn’t around when she was posting as someone else. All I can say is that if you have the balls to say something directly to someone, more power to you. Why shouldn’t you say what you think?
Holy Shit Sybil – you’ve awakened Ferfe now!
Just up and about for an hour – tonight I’ll bring popcorn 😉
I’ve started LU now and it’s sucked me in – I think in the end, she would do a great romance between two men but I would want that angst that V has been suffering (he’s just met Jane so I’m not sure how things progress). I think (my opinion) that she remained true to Butch – he wasn’t gay. Sure, there are homoerotic signs everywhere but I didn’t see that when we first met Butch (and I ached for him). I was kind of hoping that maybe V was bi or gay and would end up mating to a male – wouldn’t that shock the hell out of everyone in the Brotherhood but I’m happy to read what’s coming. So far, I’m enjoying this book much more than Butch’s and I was his fangirl (he was ripped off ;))
I’ll be honest with you guys and I know Sybil will still love me, but I have always found it weird that Ward is the messenger. Hey, I’m okay with it if it is her method. I wish I was a friggin’ messenger of something Harry Potterish for the sheer cash!!
As long as I get a great love story with great sex I’m all good in the hood. Cast spells, call upon the weather gods, dance naked in the moonlight, whatever, just write a great book and I’ll buy it.
AND (I’m longwinded today) you are a mega star when people start bringing up your crazy and wanting to tear you down.
If only I could make my crazy bring in some cash. I would be filthy rich!!
Finally, I think your problem hit when you commented on a blog (and I LOVE the Bookbinge Ladies) where there is a friendship with an author. But then you are a smart cookie so I know you know that.
CindyS (should be sleeping – Sybil, did you steal my mojo?)
Easy answer… if the blogger is an author… NO authors are okay to slamdance. Because no matter what the reasoning, it looks bad.
Period.
Readers can pretty much say whatever they want. Doesn’t necessarily mean I think readers should go attack whoever they want~there’s always a way to say something that isn’t going to come off as a huge insult. Well, unless you’re meaning to insult. Doesn’t mean I think everybody should be Miz Nice Girl either. It’s possible to voice opinions without getting insulting.
But if readers do get inflammatory and insulting, it’s not going to hurt them. They don’t rely on the buying public. In addition, when you’re an author, you gotta remember the industry professionals out there that just might be lurking on the blog.
While reader blogs might have editors or other industry professionals, like agents, drop by and lurk on their blog, that editor isn’t there looking at a potential author.
But if you’re a pubbed author… different story. This isn’t a news flash. Editors do read blogs. They lurk on message boards. You go around making a huge ass of yourself online, don’t expect them to get all that interested in you. Because if you make a huge ass of yourself online, they are going to wonder if you’re a potential problem child. Nobody likes dealing with a problem child. Since there are always plenty of authors, it’s not a far stretch to imagine some editor deciding you’re not worth the potential trouble.
For authors, when it comes to online stuff… you gotta be professional. This is a job. For pete’s sake and for the ten zillionth time. Whatever your gripe is, if it isn’t something that belongs in any professional setting, it doesn’t belong in your writing job either. If you wouldn’t go and insult co-workers in front of customers, other co-workers, bosses… then don’t do it to other authors. You make yourself look bad in front of readers, in front of other authors, and other industry pros.
However, if you are the type that thinks it’s okay to insult co-workers, your boss, whoever, to anybody and everybody within hearing range, nothing I just said is going to make a difference. Maybe this will. It makes you look bad to readers. Looking bad to readers can cost you money.