tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post5444632052535539880..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: It's Not You, It's Meh - Kelly McCaughrainUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-34097809018966643382019-05-12T10:35:18.407+01:002019-05-12T10:35:18.407+01:00Thanks Susan, I think you're right, and I love...Thanks Susan, I think you're right, and I love talking to writers about this, but I find that to non-writers it really comes as a surprise and then you assume that they're thinking you must be the worst writer ever because you got rejected! Maybe that's just me being paranoid. I love your Dad's saying, I'm going to use that! Kelly McCaughrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00394786612163256164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-59073550724204143652019-05-12T10:33:29.577+01:002019-05-12T10:33:29.577+01:00Absolutely, Anne. And what are the compensations f...Absolutely, Anne. And what are the compensations for such a stressful job? Cos it's not money!Kelly McCaughrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00394786612163256164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-65533201955635651602019-05-11T14:46:53.686+01:002019-05-11T14:46:53.686+01:00There's a good point here, but I think I'v...There's a good point here, but I think I've never tweeted, FB'd, blogged about it simply because it never occurred to me that it was news to anybody.<br /><br />I've often been asked in schools if I've ever had anything rejected and I'm happy to tell them that, yes, loads of stuff. As my old Dad used to put it, "You don't win a coconut every shy." I thought that was a given.Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-1863680786866595792019-05-11T13:19:37.668+01:002019-05-11T13:19:37.668+01:00I think 'stark raving mad publicity machines&#...I think 'stark raving mad publicity machines' is such a good way to put it! I definitely think that things need to change - it is really unhealthy for writers and illustrators and creatives. So many brilliant writers I know are suffering from stress and burnout and anxiety and depression because of this inbuilt contradiction - they have to project themselves as successes and promote themselves as brilliant, whilst worrying about the rent or mortgage and whether they will get another contract. It just isn't fair or right.Anne Boothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17160915179685300264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-63284637427129810282019-05-11T11:28:07.434+01:002019-05-11T11:28:07.434+01:00That's so interesting, Anne. I do agree writer...That's so interesting, Anne. I do agree writers are quite eager to discuss their rejections with their writer friends. I certainly find it easier than with non-writers, who don't really understand how things work. <br />And I agree, the publishing industry is probably not helping. I can understand a publisher being nervous about this, and I don't think I'd post stuff like this on my 'professional' blog on my website or anything for just that reason. But if we all did absolutely everything our publshers wanted we'd all be stark raving mad publicity machines. You have to look after your mental health too. Maybe all the publicity about writers incomes these days will help to promote a more open and honest atmosphere about other things too. And I think for lots of isolated writers especially, talking online and feeling supported by other writers online is very important. It's a tricky one though. Kelly McCaughrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00394786612163256164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-62178823642519132462019-05-11T11:20:09.226+01:002019-05-11T11:20:09.226+01:00Thanks Sheila! LOL, not sure how I'd feel abou...Thanks Sheila! LOL, not sure how I'd feel about having my words printed on loo paper! Kelly McCaughrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00394786612163256164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-89145564212595095092019-05-11T10:49:47.345+01:002019-05-11T10:49:47.345+01:00I do agree with you, but I don't think that th...I do agree with you, but I don't think that this covering up of failure is coming from writers - whenever I meet with writers we are eager to talk about and share problems and I would personally love to do what you say. I think it is coming from the industry. I have been specifically warned off , by a publishing professional, about sharing on social media the fact that my work had been rejected because apparently publishers get nervous about this (and I'm not talking about naming publishers - I'm talking about being seen as an author others didn't want). I showed the publishing professional a post I had written specifically on this subject for my blog - about all the rejections I have had and, exactly as you say, how I don't expect all my books to get accepted - and they said that my post would be fine were I JK Rowling and established, but that PR and marketing get very nervous about the whiff of failure from someone who is NOT an established big name recalling a rocky beginning. The publishing professional admitted that this wasn't good, but they wanted to warn me that publishers don't like to feel that they have invested in an author others turned down, and so I didn't publish my post. I know this sounds ridiculous , as publishers must know the truth, but according to the advice I got, it is all about marketing and spin. I think this may link with the former post - authors and publishers have to get together more and talk about our experience - if we aren't being paid enough and aren't allowed to talk about the reality of our jobs then there is a problem.Anne Boothhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17160915179685300264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-29054967338392110742019-05-11T10:39:23.522+01:002019-05-11T10:39:23.522+01:00Spot on.Sooooo insightful. So many writers won'...Spot on.Sooooo insightful. So many writers won't get a chance to read this - there should be wallpaper with it on; loo paper; the backs of cereal boxes. Then a lot of us would feel a whole lot better. Or at least, less inferior.Sheila cnoreply@blogger.com