Always Be Professional

Writing, like anything else, is a business, and a lot of time it’s not what you know, but who you know. So why ruin it with an unprofessional attitude? Agents and editors will talk, the grapevine will get around, and you’ll be shut down, forced to start your own magazine online to publish your own stories. This is akin to publishing tales on your blog, which anyone can do. With all the competition, why make it harder for yourself? And, if you’re schizophrenic, but you’re a Christian who goes to church because it helps you manage your illness, act like it’s helping you manage it. You’re supposed to be doing better, not putting people down. It’s not all right to go off online if you’re 100% healthy, either.

 

Some horror authors will tell you, “Go ahead and say it, you’re a horror writer,” but when you lose the magazine publication because you ran your mouth about the editor, you’ll know they’re wrong. Mess with the editor of a magazine who published your story? Burn your house down before you do that, it’s smarter (I, of course, am not telling anyone to burn down their house; it’s a metaphor). Besides, going off on the Internet is so chicken. It’s virtual guts. Anyone can hide behind their computer and mess with people (or put up hate videos).

 

Once the word’s out about spreading your hate, it’s hard to get anyone in the business to trust you again. And why should a editor with a legitimate book company? Or an agent? Or anyone.

 

Sometimes, it’s more important to grow up than to get even. On the Internet, the fight could last forever, instead of your career.