Einstein’s theory – everything is relative.
Not exactly. The core of that action. The truth of that action happened – the rock dropped from a moving train. The perceptions may be different, viewed from different angles, but the fact that it dropped, that little pesky kernel of truth, that remains constant.
So why should I not tell the truth as I see it? Because if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all. Usually, I would agree, but if something is staring you in the face, and worse, by remaining silent, others may be wronged, you may just have a moral obligation to piss someone… anyone… everyone… off.
#1
My first negative review was with a woman who has zero integrity when it comes to entering contests. She entered a contest with a book that didn’t fit the subject matter at all. Not even vaguely by some strange association. Then, because the contest had no checks and balances, she knew it was a popularity contest. She proceeded to get all her ‘followers’ to upvote her book. None of this would have been a problem if a book, a very well-written book, by an honest to God author, would have remained undiscovered, unrecognized, unheralded. All because of a popularity contest. So I opened my mouth. Don’t regret it one bit because that book that deserved to be recognized, was.
#2
When writers are truthful with each other it can lead to a cat fight. I chose a side and offered to read the book. The book sucked. The other author was probably right even though I’m sure his book sucked too. Two sucky authors fighting over reviews. Okay, I passed writing a review on this one because if you don’t have anything nice to say…
But now I’ve learned, someone needs to have the balls to tell you it sucks. Someone did it to me and the world didn’t end. Instead, I got to improve and how many of those chances do you let slip by in your life? Too many. You know how hard it is to find people who won’t bullshit you for the sake of being nice? Not hard at all. It’s called a circle jerk. Don’t be a part of circle jerk.
#3
I had an author HOUND me to read a book. It sucked. It’s one of the worst things I’ve ever seen with zero editing. Why? Why would you put yourself out there knowing you didn’t do the bare minimum of what you needed to do to make a story readable? You deserve every negative review you get or no one to look at it until you make it readable. And those who do defend it, they’re just doing it to be nice, they’re afraid someone won’t be nice to them in return because if we’re all just nice to each other then everything will be fine. And that’s wrong because you’ll never get better, you’ll never improve. And that is something worth striving toward.
#4
I collaborated with a group, I thought, but it was more like a couple of people poured a ton of effort and the rest took. Took everything. In the end they took even my will to go on working with anyone else, ever. And one of them wrote a book. And it wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t sucked. If it wasn’t a blatant attempt to rip someone off as if they didn’t have a choice to present it in another way or make it better. Oh, come on, she was only charging a dollar. And? You’re stealing a dollar that should go to someone who writes things that doesn’t rip people off. You’re stealing money from someone who deserves that dollar.
Look, stories are fundamental to our lives. Stories ARE our LIVES. I’m learning that way late, but better late than never, right?
Your story may be that I’m humble, gracious, and always giving. Your story may be I’m not a user, I have nothing to gain. Your story may be that the FBI has a caseworker just for me and if someone marks my email as spam… I can’t even finish this sentence because I can’t make it make sense… and that’s a good thing. Your story may be the rules apply to everyone but me. Your story may be that I’m always dependable, on-time, and honor every commitment. Your story may be I’m an expert and will make money with that. Your story may be that it doesn’t matter what this person wrote as long as they’re paying me to promote it. Your story may be that if X, Y, Z happened and even if I wasn’t involved I’m going to take full credit.
Does any of that apply to me? Yes! My story is FULL OF SHIT! Everyone’s story is! I imagine it’s very stressful to associate with someone who might unravel your stories. That’s why you should choose carefully who you tell your stories to. That’s why your ‘friends’ are who they are.
