HI @NiveusLepus! 👋
How's tricks? Have you been taking care of yourself while showing up so beautifully for others, too?
@MLClark I’m doing my best too, but sometimes I do feel a little weary. ^_^. How are you my dear and sacred friend?
"Weary" is an interesting phase of the heart, no? 🤗
When we come out of weariness, what a gift of gratitude we get from ensuing joy!
But the weariness has to be lived through first.
I'm looking forward to catching up on the rest of your writing later this week, and so heartened that you've found the time for creative practice amid so much else.
Just wanted you to know that you were in my thoughts today, and that I'm always hoping things are hopping along beautifully for you. 💛
@MLClark It is a great blessing to be thought of by you. In truth I can say much the same, every time I sit down to work, or check in on Coso.
You are a source of consistent joy in my life, and care. ^_^
I’ve got some doozy comments… One even had “I’m not a misogynist but…”
It’s fascinating!
@NiveusLepus @MLClark
OMG Bun are you kidding me???? 😂 😂 I am so sorry you had to endure that nonsense. Not worth a moment of your time.
@janallmac @MLClark One of the first people I ever showed any of my written work too said “Your writing doesn’t need an editor, it needs a priest.”
To date, I’ve written 23 novels, one was published traditionally, went independent, published six more and took best seller in my category.
Prayer changes things, I guess ^_^
I’m quite comfortable with the idea many will never give my work a chance, and not everyone will get it.
That’s not going to keep me from shining ^_^
The first time I sold an SF story, to Lightspeed, I was so excited and posted to LJ about it in a public post. Big mistake.
Out of the woodwork came a rando who needed me to know that publishing via an online journal wasn't REALLY publishing, and that my tidally locked planet was stupid, and my alien species was, too.
Random critics come into our lives at such strange moments in their own. To go out of one's way to shit on a stranger's first sale is... something else!
@MLClark @janallmac They must be hurting terribly to manifest so much outward negativity.
I hope they find the healing they need to not feel so much anger all the time.
@MLClark @janallmac As to your “Planet being stupid” etc…
“There are more things in the heavens and the earth that can be dreamt of in your philosophies” Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
If it can be dreamed it can be. There is so much more to the universe than we often give it credit for.
I had a similar response to stories published in Analog, which had some really vicious forums for a while.
One story built on a NASA proof-of-concept I'd read about, with respect to magnetic-driven propulsion. The commenter thought it was the kind of crap that only a "female" writer would dream up.
Another story started with a references to the Filles du roi, which is part of Canadian settler history. A commenter complained about having to read about "prostitutes".
@MLClark @NiveusLepus @janallmac that sucks but I'm not surprised. That element is still around, which is one reason why I think my work hasn't taken off...I write a lot of character-driven stuff and I know at least one "writer" who regularly sneers at what he calls "litteracheer." And character-driven fiction.
*clutches pearls*
Characters?! Oh my!
Joyce, you have struggled mightily to find an audience in a world that hands them eagerly to some but without rhyme or reason.
I for one am thankful for your insights, and your ongoing processing of what this frustrating struggle has been like for you on a personal level.
I will never stop reading your reflections on the grinding, estranging fickleness of our industry. So--you have one reader here, for sure!
@MLClark @NiveusLepus @janallmac thank you so much! I appreciate it.