A double dose of fuckitol.

You know what? Fuck it. Fuck. It. All.

I'm writing what I want to write, and if it's not marketable, then it's not marketable and I'll write something else later that is. But I like this story, I believe in it, and I want to tell it.

I'm done reading the blogs and the endless repetition of trite advice, especially from people who's experience and accomplishments are far less than than their ability to mouth off on a blog and tell writers how tiresome and inferior they are. I'm tired of people who seem to have a lot of whining to do about how haaaaaaaard it is to do their job, how put upon and abused they are, and rarely have a good thing to say. Mostly, I'm tired of hearing it from people who seem to hate their jobs and take that hate out on the people who might want to work with them.

There are some awesome sources of advice and insight out there, and I'm going to be paying attention to those. Because there are blogs by really great people - writers, agents, editors, marketers - who not only genuinely love what they do but are eager to work with others to create great things. Those are the people who are worth my time.

I'm done with the idea of "gatekeepers". Agents and editors aren't gatekeepers, they're partners. Writers, agents, and editors all need to get this stamped on their foreheads. You shouldn't think of them as the guardians of some promised land who can open a magical door for you. Getting a book deal is not the end, it's the beginning of a whole other mountain to climb. Publishing is not a magical fairyland where all your dreams come true - it's a business like anything else.

There are certain things that partners or potential partners do and don't do. Making the other party feel like the very act of sending a query is an affront to your existence? Is not it. Arguing when an agent/editor hands down a polite "sorry, no"? Is not it.

But in the end, fuck it. I've got some writing to do.