Feeling Stuffy

I have been a bundle of emotions lately, many of which I have let flow on my true friends, despite the cell phone converge cutting off half my tirades. The truth is, I have run across my fair share of unsavory situations lately, and they are getting under my skin.

On Sunday I gave a ten minute speech about my non-fiction book at the library. I was among 7 other local authors. It was no big thing, just a handful of people who either really loved non-fiction or had nothing better to do on a Sunday.

I followed a “poet” who was un-freaking-believable. He started by rattling off the awards he had won and how many places he was published (he told us a few times later too) and how writing is all about marketing. He was the kind who threw in how prejudiced people are against blacks and how he has had to fight his way to where he is. He went on to say that he could tell any of the other authors how to sell our work, since most of us are not as smart as he is. I was eyeing my friend, Denis’, whose eyes were growing bigger as the speech went on (she is too nice to write a blog like this). He mixed up God and marketing and blacks and writing in such a way that I felt ill afterwards. Mostly because it made me take on a new layer of prejudice! What is being taught to the young blacks of today? Marketing outweighs talent and studying the craft?

The guy went on forever and then took his seat in the back, opened a magazine and did not listen to any of the other authors. Colin was in the back cussing up a blue streak while the girls were taking pictures of table legs and carpet stains with the new disposable cameras we had bought them.

I have been awed recently at the grubby-handed claw for power in my society. It seems to be getting confused with working hard and being appreciated for your labor. If someone does a good job, they are suddenly too big for their britches. Knock them down and show them a thing or two. But it is fine for those without the talent (see above) to rise and lead because they are just average folk. I swear I don’t get this. It is like those who like Bush because he is the type you could have a beer with, an average guy. I don’t want an ordinary guy in the oval office, I want an extraordinary one.

My friend, Andrea, had her second book, To Feel Stuff, come out recently. It is wonderful. Full of youthful angst, doubt and oddity. The characters, especially Chess, seems so realistic to me. A young guy who makes long disparate metaphors out of his feelings since he doesn’t have the appropriate words to describe them. And frankly, the paranormal stuff scared me a little bit.

However, since it is her second book, and her first did so well, it is time to take her down a notch, right? Though some critics see it for what it is, others try to bring her first book into the mix (Like the Red Panda). She has talent, and what is more, she works at what she does, without the silly preoccupation of marketing and sales. So here comes the untalented group (that is ALWAYS the case) that says, you are already up on top, so we need to take you down a bit. Though the joke is on them, since her fan base is not likely to read reviews and all the big reviewers "get" the book.

When are people going to be judged by what they do, rather than what people see them as?

Okay, yes, this whole blog is all about me and how pissed off I am at people who judge me, not by my work, but how much attention I get, or don’t get. I can see why writers can be such hermits. It is easier to not have to deal with people.

Tune in next time to see which mood I will be in then….