What would you do if an Author gave you negative advice?

Duende Knocking · Post by **Duende Knocking** » 10 Feb 2015, 01:41

Agreed complete that there are a lot of "officially published" books that are awful. I have read some that were so horrific and bizarre that I just had to keep going to find out what happened (significantly cheaper and safer than hallucinogenic drugs!), and I've read others that were just too painful to finish. Honestly I don't think that being accepted by a publishing house is any indication of quality, but I don't speak for the general public, which has a bias of "If you are self-published, you aren't good enough to get picked up by a publishing house".

Some self-published books are brilliant, while many books from big houses just...suck, to put it plainly. But unfortunately, that's the stigma that comes with it. Perhaps avoiding self-publishing for that reason only encourages the attitude, though I guess that's a risk an author will have to decide for themself.

(PS - Agreed on Nora Roberts. I once had a slow day at work and the only book around was one a fellow employee brought in, which was a Roberts. Staring at the wall ended up being more interesting.)

Katherine E Wall · Post by **Katherine E Wall** » 10 Feb 2015, 01:52

First, I am always amazed at how rude some people can be. It is unfortunate that there is this attitude with those who believe they are famous and better than others. I love real celebrities who accept they are no better nor worse than anyone else, they just excel at their jobs. I have met both.

Second, if you want to self-publish, then educate yourself, act like a professional. The one thing you have to remember is you are now responsible for every aspect of the book. This is difficult. Most of us are not so multi-talented that we can take an idea to a written piece, then edit it with a critical eye, design a book cover and market our product.

Therefore, if you choose to go this route, and it is a choice, you have to be the best in the areas you excel in and find the skilled people to help you in the areas you are weak in. Most importantly, you must be wise enough (and honest enough) to recognize which is which.

I won't argue with those who say self-publishing is narcissistic, because for some people it is.

I do think, though, you have to be honest with yourself about the reasons you choose this route. Before, during and after you make the decision, make sure you are educating yourself thoroughly.

nhgirl13 · Post by **nhgirl13** » 10 Feb 2015, 09:45

Negative advice is a form of criticism that for me helps me to be better. I take the negative and think about it and turn it into something positive, spark a little fire under me to make me better.

Braktooth · Post by **Braktooth** » 10 Feb 2015, 10:51

Katherine E Wall wrote: Second, if you want to self-publish, then educate yourself, act like a professional. The one thing you have to remember is you are now responsible for every aspect of the book. This is difficult. Most of us are not so multi-talented that we can take an idea to a written piece, then edit it with a critical eye, design a book cover and market our product.

Therefore, if you choose to go this route, and it is a choice, you have to be the best in the areas you excel in and find the skilled people to help you in the areas you are weak in. Most importantly, you must be wise enough (and honest enough) to recognize which is which.

That's excellent advice. I think it's important to remember that while your book is important to you, it's your baby, to people in the business it's just one more potential source of income. So, you can't take that attitude as insulting, and you have to remember to present work in such a way that they can see a value in it.

zeldas_lullaby · Post by **zeldas_lullaby** » 10 Feb 2015, 14:03

All good points. I like the concept of celebrities who don't have overblown egos, but who acknowledge that they're more-or-less no better or worse than anyone else. Of course, that made me think of Robin Williams, and then I got sad.

I loved your comment, nhgirl.

And what you were saying, KWall, about acting like a professional, you're right. Professionalism is important. If, say, someone attacked my self-published books, it would be heinously unprofessional for me to engage them in verbal combat. (Of course, I've seen published authors do this on Amazon under an assumed name.) I know that's not the kind of professionalism you referenced, but that's what it made me think of.

Duende? You hear me about Nora Roberts!! HA HA. Made me laugh.

ejcogan · Post by **ejcogan** » 11 Feb 2015, 12:04

I would have handed them their book back and told them to have a nice day! I know it's hard to not take things like that personally, but the author knows nothing about you or your writing so I would take it with a grain of salt and keep on keepin' on! You can do whatever you put your mind to and if writing is your dream then do it no matter what anyone says!

moderntimes · Post by **moderntimes** » 11 Feb 2015, 12:14

As I've said, I review mystery books and so I've read plenty of bad ones that were professionally published.

But as was said, it's a business. Look at all the bad movies that cost millions to make, and they are awful. And bad TV shows. This however doesn't alter the fact that it's far preferable to find a real publisher for your book and to get paid real dollars for it, even if the payout isn't huge.

lady_charlie · Post by **lady_charlie** » 13 Feb 2015, 18:58

Just write.

Don't listen to the silly old thing who was probably just grumpy or maybe already disillusioned with the process.

THWilliams82 · Post by **THWilliams82** » 14 Feb 2015, 18:43

I hear your points and I understand where you are coming from. I have been self publishing my own novel and by putting money into it, I am talking small amounts of it. I guess it comes down to making steps every day towards success. I feel like getting my book out there is the best thing for my overall goal. It is disheartening to get knocked back over and over by publishers (as I was when I started sending it to them), that I feel being pro-active is the best course for me.

I have a love for writing and am working on several more at the moment. I guess I personally feel that this is the beginning of my 'career' as a writer. Also, coming from a personal training background, I have had to pay money to be able to get clients by running my own business. To me the end justifies the means.

Obviously there will be people who pour money into self publishing and get nowhere but I guess this is true in life in many areas. Ask any billionaire about their journey to success and most of them were knocked down as low as they can go or became bankrupt before reaching where they are today. It's the drive to succeed and continue on that allowed them to reach their goals.

Sorry if my post is a bit too philosophical.

CataclysmicKnight · Post by **CataclysmicKnight** » 14 Feb 2015, 19:39

I've never attempted to become published, but I have attempted to get a game published, and I'd assume they're quite similar. I'll tell you the same thing I tell myself - if all that matters is the success and the publishing, you're doing it wrong, not that that's what you're saying or thinking at all. I just mean: writing is a passion, and while the dream is to make at least enough to live on to do it full time, there are all sorts of ways to hit that goal, not just the mainstream "write a book, find a publisher, sit back and make money" method.

-- February 14th, 2015, 7:40 pm --

Also, you know what they say about opinions... That advice was simply a much more arrogant, obvious one

Eckhart Aurelius Hughes · Post by **Scott** » 14 Feb 2015, 19:42

Regarding the author's advice in the example in the original post, I think the author's advice would have been true--albeit rudely given--20 years ago. But the advice is not outdated and untrue, and growing more to the opposite every day. I have elaborated my opinions on the matter in my article Are Big Book Publishers Going The Way Of Newspapers?

The author in the example's opinion is probably tainted by the fact that she was picked up by an old school publisher. Similarly, as in the past, we all probably noticed that journalists who still worked for old school paper newspapers during their downfall were a lot more likely to defend the old school newspaper industry, criticize the new online alternatives and claim that there was and would be no huge long-term trend towards much more decentralized, indie-driven digital industry for news and journalism.

amy_bakeroo · Post by **amy_bakeroo** » 14 Feb 2015, 20:45

sometimes the best advice is the kind the tough love kind, but there's a fine line between tough love and just plain rude... or maybe she was trying to throw off the compatition?

IlonaLove04 · Post by **IlonaLove04** » 17 Feb 2015, 20:12

My advice is to not give up on your dream no matter who tells you that it isn't with it or that it's impossible. If Walt Disney gave up there wouldn't be a Disney World and we all know how well that's turnes out. Believe in yourself and make your dream happen. It may not be easy but in the long run it will be worth it. Good luck!

denigco · Post by **denigco** » 18 Feb 2015, 08:22

If an author gave me a negative advice, then my respect for that author will be lost. They shared their thoughts to the world through writing. And as a writer, they should know the limits of what they can or they cannot write, even though it is a free will, still, there are boundaries. But regarding the negative advice the author has given me, I would do the opposite thing to prove them wrong. Who knows? Maybe they just said those advices to help us think further of what we really want.