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“Oh, you’re a blogger. That’s cute. I’m actually serious about writing.” [And other condescending attitudes of fellow unpublished writers that make me want to kick them in the shins.]

Listen. I respect the fact that you stash all of your writing away from curious eyes, and that you’d rather keep it close to your chest than to share it with a random audience. What you choose to do with your own work is your business. 

But, please stop acting as if that makes you more professionally minded about writing than I am. Last time I checked, neither of us has been published yet.

If you do get published, I will be the first to congratulate you. If your writing ability surpasses mine, I will be the first to admit it, without envy, or resentment… but until that day comes, putting on airs about being a “serious” writer — even though no one has ever read your work — while subtly suggesting that I’m not serious about writing, because I blog, makes you come off as a pretentious douche. 

I write every day, the same as you. The difference being, that while we’re still at the same place professionally when it comes to writing (which is nowhere of importance), every day I have the opportunity to be read by thousands, maybe even millions of people. I appreciate being read by even one stranger, who finds my writing to be of interest. At best, it’s probably a few hundred motivated readers — who have become my familiar, respected peers and friends… but at least I’m putting myself out there. In public. Being read, and sometimes criticized. 

Maybe I don’t have enough confidence, or will, right now to really put my heart into the “getting published” game. I’m probably not going to make any money off of this blog, no matter how prolific or consistent I am with it…

But, why would you automatically assume that in sharing some of my work, learning my strengths and weaknesses as an artist — through the feedback of actual readers, and building a loyal body of readers and allies, that I’m at a disadvantage?

Why would you feel that you’ve earned the merit to judge me as lesser than you? Because when we’re really honest here, as “serious” as you claim to be about writing, what do you have to show for it?

Go fuck yourself. 

comments

81 notes

  1. birdsjustbirds said: In the bay area, we’d describe what you just did as “putting them on blast”
  2. midnightvalkyrie said: You go girl! Rant away :D
  3. keepingfocused reblogged this from ordinarywonder
  4. lovedly said: Bless this post.
  5. manfrommontreal said: I can only wish that this thimble of a man or woman had one tenth the courage and talent that you have shared with us all, blogging may not be every ones cup of tea, but damn the idiot that said this to you.
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