Backspace Can Be Your Best Friend

Another writing post? Well, not really. More like musings wrapped up in a few words of caution topped off with a virtual bow.

Okay, I'm gonna tell you what I'm talking about now before you decide I've gone nuts.

On March 16th, a review was posted. Two days later, the author commented on the review. And again the next day. After several more comments from the author, and responses from the reviewer, other people jumped in. The review and the author's comments have now gone viral.

So would I have advised the author to have hit backspace rather than submit? Definitely. But there's several other people in the thread who should have done so as well. While reading through the comments, I noticed one from an anonymous poster claiming to be an agent. The 'agent' said he/she had manuscripts from several of the authors that had posted their opinions and would no longer consider them.

Could be just a random person, but personally, I wouldn't want to risk it.

Publishers, agents, and readers will google an author's name to learn more about them while considering their books. They might not find everything, but there's some stuff you really don't want them to see. Including malicious comments on a book blog that's getting a lot of attention. 

Seriously, this is my opinion–and my blog, so I get to express it –but write whatever you want. Go ahead and open that comment box and rant and rave and use the very nastiest names you know. Then take a deep breath, press SHIFT and the left arrow, selected whatever you've written and BACKSPACE…or DEL, whatever works for you.

I'm not going to claim perfection (today, we'll see how I feel tomorrow) but if I've learned anything about the internet, it's this: People have nothing but your words to judge you by. And they will judge you, so be very very careful not to say anything that you're not ready to stand by. Not just today or tomorrow, but for a long, long time.

Oh, and here's the post if you're curious: http://booksandpals.blogspot.com/2011/03/greek-seaman-jacqueline-howett.html

Must say, from what I've seen, the reviewer is one classy guy.