I now understand why so many famous writers are jaded.

[Jeff Potts]

Just sayin'.

I'm beginning to realize just how many cliques and Cool Kid Clubs there are in the writing community. And I ain't in them.

I complained about this same issue elsewhere. I'd go into more detail if it didn't look like blatant and crass self-aggrandizement.

I'm a bit of a loner anyways. I've never needed (or really desired) a social group for support. That personality trait, however, is a bit of an impediment when it comes to promoting your book. That, and the fact that I'm too old to act like someone's annoying kid brother, trying for teenage social status.

It doesn't have to be like this. Unfortunately, this is what it's become.

 

[AHumbleWarrior]

And I thought I was the only one with those thoughts...

 

[Accord64]

I'm a bit of a loner anyways. I've never needed (or really desired) a social group for support.

Click to shrink...

I've found that writer groups tend to be a double-edged sword. Good at first, but after a while it becomes apparent that everyone is trying to help each other by trying to impose their own writing style/voice on each other.

I'm beginning to realize just how many cliques and Cool Kid Clubs there are in the writing community.

Click to shrink...

Sorry, but cool writers?

 

[quietspirit]

I'm a bit of a loner anyways

Click to shrink...

I understand this thought. I guess, I have always been a bit of a loner, myself.

I've found that writer groups tend to be a double-edged sword. Good at first, but after a while it becomes apparent that everyone is trying to help each other by trying to impose their own writing style/voice on each other.

Click to shrink...

I had that experience. Plus, one of the group appointed herself as our "leader". When she talked about a lady who had started our group for voicing how she felt about something we, as a group, chose to do. I felt uncomfortable. This went on for three meetings. I sent an email to the members and told them I was stepping away.

 

[Johne]

 

[Nicola]

Let's make one thing clear. This is not a writer's group or club. We don't do any of that teenage stuff to promote our own voice.
We do share hilarious cartoons and practice scathing wit. Writing may or may not go unnoticed.
I am deeply grateful for you people!

 

[Crawdad]

After only 1.5 months on Amazon, my first book just sold it's 10 millionth copy. I'm working on an acceptance speech for my next award. Sometimes it's hard to be humble, knowing I've become famous almost overnight and...beep, beep, beep, beep.

My alarm clock blasts me awake. My pleasant dream vanishes.

All this marketing/publishing is so new that I haven't yet realized the cliques, clubs, and cool kid clubs/groups. But it doesn't surprise me, and it makes sense when I read a book and ask myself "how in the world did this get published?" Ha! Right now I just know that I appreciate the questions, examples, experiences, and wisdom of the peeps on this site. I am loving being creative in writing, learning the craft, publishing, sharing, and rubbing shoulders with other authors along the way. I'm excited when I hear of other Christian author successes.

Thanks to all for answering my questions, sharing tips, etc.

For His glory.

 

[paulchernoch]

Again I saw that under the sun
the race is not to the swift,
nor the battle to the strong,
nor bread to the wise,
nor riches to the intelligent,
nor favor to those with knowledge,
but time and chance happen to them all.
For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them. (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12, ESV)

Six years ago, I reached a point in my software career where each job lasted less than the one before it. I hit bottom at four months before getting the boot. No savings, no retirement, three kids about to enter college. Younger programmers were swifter af their tasks. Age discrimination may have been a factor. Despite decades of experience and an MIT Physics degree, that parable from Ecclesiastes fit my life to a T.

It is always possible to stay in that place. Faith, prayer, perseverance and God’s grace pulled me out. I have now been at my current position for almost six years, the longest in my 35-year long career. In this role I designed and was the major coder for my lab‘s most successful project in its 10-year long existence, saving the company $800 million. To accomplish that, I drew on lessons learned from even the jobs I failed at.

Writing books poses the same sort of challenges. My writing has improved over the years, though I still sell few copies. I could not write those better books if I had not written the others. I still have no idea how to market my writing, but I learn new things all the time.

As a teen, I was an excellent writer for my age. It was effortless and enjoyable. When I finally got serious about it in my forties, I discovered how difficult the work of mastering the mustering of words is. In my estimation, it required more effort than getting that MIT Physics degree. Only my passion for it has kept me going, that and the hope, as yet unrealized, that I can express in words ideas that can bless many other people.

Most of the time I don’t mind being a loner. Most of the writing process is spent adrift on a sea of imagination. It is docking in port and unloading the cargo that causes me the most trouble. It can’t be done alone. You almost have to be bad at marketing to be a good writer. If you are too good at it, you probably have not been spending enough time practicing the writing part.

During the last few decades, if I had money for editors and ads, connections, and the other things that would help, I would have been distracted from the writing. I am finally to the place with my latest book where I believe I have accomplished something stellar and going the extra distance to market it makes sense. I plan to create a writers website finally, then pay for ads and try placing a few articles with online magazines to drum up interest. It has been important to acquire some humility and patience. And finish paying off the mortgage…

 

[Jeff Potts]

But it doesn't surprise me, and it makes sense when I read a book and ask myself "how in the world did this get published?"

Click to shrink...

I was whining about this same subject in a shall-not-be-named Discord channel.

It came about after a friend directed me to someone - we'll call him Buddy - who it "willing" to help me promote my book. After a brief conversation in Twitter DMs, Buddy requested I send my links in an e-mail. I knew, the moment Buddy said that, I was being shown the door. And here we are, a week later, no response whatsoever.

The thing is, I know that if I drop my friend's name, I'd get a reply. I won't do that because it's disrespectful to my friend.

This isn't the first time that this is happened. I've had reviewers request my book for the purposes of a review. After I provide them with one, they ghost me. And, in most of these instances, I didn't come to them. They came to me.

One reviewer, in particular, burns me the most as their spouse is a writer. It screams conflict of interest.

 

[Kazaza]

Just sayin'.

I'm beginning to realize just how many cliques and Cool Kid Clubs there are in the writing community. And I ain't in them.

Click to shrink...

Strangely enough, I was talking about this a couple of days ago with a non-writer. Sadly, the writing community has a clique of social support and you're either in it or not. It becomes apparent when they band together, and as crawdad said, some works get published and you're left wondering, how? It's horrible to be on the receiving end of this drivel, but, alas, we press on.

 

[Johne]

I'm beginning to realize just how many cliques and Cool Kid Clubs there are in the writing community. And I ain't in them.

Click to shrink...

I wonder if this is a personality thing, extroverts hanging together, introverts off to the side.

 

[Crawdad]

I was whining about this same subject in a shall-not-be-named Discord channel.

It came about after a friend directed me to someone - we'll call him Buddy - who it "willing" to help me promote my book. After a brief conversation in Twitter DMs, Buddy requested I send my links in an e-mail. I knew, the moment Buddy said that, I was being shown the door. And here we are, a week later, no response whatsoever.

The thing is, I know that if I drop my friend's name, I'd get a reply. I won't do that because it's disrespectful to my friend.

This isn't the first time that this is happened. I've had reviewers request my book for the purposes of a review. After I provide them with one, they ghost me. And, in most of these instances, I didn't come to them. They came to me.

One reviewer, in particular, burns me the most as their spouse is a writer. It screams conflict of interest.

Click to shrink...

Yep. Even in my limited experience thus far, I'm seeing this pattern. That's why I appreciate the open sharing of wisdom in this group.

 

[M. D. Boncher]

Strangely enough, I was talking about this a couple of days ago with a non-writer. Sadly, the writing community has a clique of social support and you're either in it or not. It becomes apparent when they band together, and as crawdad said, some works get published and you're left wondering, how? It's horrible to be on the receiving end of this drivel, but, alas, we press on.

Click to shrink...

What really burns my bacon is when a clique is also partially or completely in charge of a conference that hands out awards to their friends like hotcakes for what appears to be substandard work. I mean I get it with people being fans and all... but... when the same 4-6 people are winning constantly... ummm... is it really because they're that good, or is it because they're that connected?

On the other hand, I think having a small group of friends can be a really good thing to help support you as a writer. A bit of camaraderie can be a good thing. The problem begins when you get the "in crowd" treatments going on. That's the root of so much that is wrong in government and business. It starts naturally enough, but quickly goes rotten like spoiled fruit. Tis the nature of sinful humanity, so... whatchagonnado?