Comments on: How to be an asshat, literary edition http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html thoughts and opinions by author s. andrew swann Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:14:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Genrewonk » Crazy Authors Continued. . . http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-12653 Genrewonk » Crazy Authors Continued. . . Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:20:18 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-12653 [...] reviews having been helpful. [Because when authors ask their fans to game the system on Amazon, it never goes badly.] This will bump the nicer reviews ahead of the bad reviews and maybe the nastiness will stop. [...] [...] reviews having been helpful. [Because when authors ask their fans to game the system on Amazon, it never goes badly.] This will bump the nicer reviews ahead of the bad reviews and maybe the nastiness will stop. [...]

]]> By: Genrewonk: thoughts and opinions by author S. Andrew Swann » Blog Archive » 2008 Asshat Countdown #4: Authors behaving badly http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-2408 Genrewonk: thoughts and opinions by author S. Andrew Swann » Blog Archive » 2008 Asshat Countdown #4: Authors behaving badly Sun, 28 Dec 2008 12:43:20 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-2408 [...] One prevalent characteristic of the most entertaining asshats is the tendency to have pathologically extreme reactions to perceived slights that end up being more destructive to the asshat in question than their intended target.  Not just foot in mouth, but foot, leg, and torso in an ever-diminishing spiral that vanishes into an alternate universe of asshattery.  A quintessential example of the suicide bomber school of internet intimidation would be author Victoria Laurie, who graced this blog back in late August. [...] [...] One prevalent characteristic of the most entertaining asshats is the tendency to have pathologically extreme reactions to perceived slights that end up being more destructive to the asshat in question than their intended target.  Not just foot in mouth, but foot, leg, and torso in an ever-diminishing spiral that vanishes into an alternate universe of asshattery.  A quintessential example of the suicide bomber school of internet intimidation would be author Victoria Laurie, who graced this blog back in late August. [...]

]]> By: Genrewonk » Blog Archive » How to Handle Bad Reviews http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-820 Genrewonk » Blog Archive » How to Handle Bad Reviews Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:28:24 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-820 [...] are a lot of authors who could take a tip from this book trailer. (Thanks to the Smart Bitches) Close this [...] [...] are a lot of authors who could take a tip from this book trailer. (Thanks to the Smart Bitches) Close this [...]

]]> By: ChariDee (let's be real, my name is Charity) http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-596 ChariDee (let's be real, my name is Charity) Sun, 24 Aug 2008 02:20:15 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-596 Yes, I'd really like a comment from the editor about the cyber stalker accusation. I'd also like an explanation as how me saying to the effect of (since i cannot remember my exact phrasing) "This is Charity XXXXXX and I run the book review blog site novel reads..." means I did not leave my name, only a blog address. Yes, I’d really like a comment from the editor about the cyber stalker accusation. I’d also like an explanation as how me saying to the effect of (since i cannot remember my exact phrasing) “This is Charity XXXXXX and I run the book review blog site novel reads…” means I did not leave my name, only a blog address.

]]> By: S Andrew Swann http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-559 S Andrew Swann Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:36:54 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-559 I strongly suspect that her editor, or her editor's minions, gave her a little chat. I don't know the legalities of the situation, but in both cases she was using her editor to back up her loony comments. Said editor might not be too keen on being linked to this. Said editor's publisher and/or legal team, even less so. I strongly suspect that her editor, or her editor’s minions, gave her a little chat. I don’t know the legalities of the situation, but in both cases she was using her editor to back up her loony comments. Said editor might not be too keen on being linked to this. Said editor’s publisher and/or legal team, even less so.

]]> By: Jane http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-555 Jane Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:47:47 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-555 It's libel. Slander is spoken. Libel is written. Why be so mouthy on the blog, though, only to delete it within hours of posting it? That's one thing I'll never really understand. It’s libel. Slander is spoken. Libel is written.

Why be so mouthy on the blog, though, only to delete it within hours of posting it? That’s one thing I’ll never really understand.

]]> By: ChariDee (let's be real, my name is Charity) http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-553 ChariDee (let's be real, my name is Charity) Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:25:42 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-553 Thank you SO much for your post! It's been intense the couple of days (and that's putting it mildly) however, I feel so much better reading all of these great comments. I just got home from work, and I'm catching up on things (nope, didn't know I was called out until 30 minutes ago) LOL But a post will be forthcoming about all of this. I haven't slept since I received the letter yesterday, no, I'm not kidding, I COULD NOT SLEEP last night. But I won't lie down and take it either :) Again, thank you so much. It is because of bloggers and readers, like you and the Ja(y)ne's that I'm not a blubbering idiot right now! Thank you SO much for your post! It’s been intense the couple of days (and that’s putting it mildly) however, I feel so much better reading all of these great comments.

I just got home from work, and I’m catching up on things (nope, didn’t know I was called out until 30 minutes ago) LOL But a post will be forthcoming about all of this.

I haven’t slept since I received the letter yesterday, no, I’m not kidding, I COULD NOT SLEEP last night. But I won’t lie down and take it either :)

Again, thank you so much. It is because of bloggers and readers, like you and the Ja(y)ne’s that I’m not a blubbering idiot right now!

]]> By: Devon Ellington http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-552 Devon Ellington Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:49:25 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-552 PS I agree completely that trying to censor someone for disliking/critcising her work is waaaay out of line. Part of putting your work out there is dealing with negative responses. PS I agree completely that trying to censor someone for disliking/critcising her work is waaaay out of line.

Part of putting your work out there is dealing with negative responses.

]]> By: Devon Ellington http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-551 Devon Ellington Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:48:06 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-551 The silliest part is it would never have been an issue if she'd just done what she wished as she wrote the book and not bragged about attacking someone on her blog. She'd have had the satisfaction of revenge without turning it into this silly tornado and bringing all sorts of trouble down on herself and others. Sometimes, you have to learn to keep your mouth shut, and learn when to put something in a private diary and when to put it on a public blog. Also, as I mentioned on NOVEL READS, when a writer does the work properly, the character evolves into an individual separate from the inspiration, so the final character in the final draft might have been extraordinarily different than the person she intended to attack. Again, it wouldn't have been an issue. But she created a problem when there was no need. Keep the drama on the page. Life is tough enough. Well, as I've said a million times, when you put yourself out there, be prepared for people not to like you. That was certainly served up this time around. The silliest part is it would never have been an issue if she’d just done what she wished as she wrote the book and not bragged about attacking someone on her blog.

She’d have had the satisfaction of revenge without turning it into this silly tornado and bringing all sorts of trouble down on herself and others.

Sometimes, you have to learn to keep your mouth shut, and learn when to put something in a private diary and when to put it on a public blog.

Also, as I mentioned on NOVEL READS, when a writer does the work properly, the character evolves into an individual separate from the inspiration, so the final character in the final draft might have been extraordinarily different than the person she intended to attack. Again, it wouldn’t have been an issue.

But she created a problem when there was no need.

Keep the drama on the page. Life is tough enough.

Well, as I’ve said a million times, when you put yourself out there, be prepared for people not to like you. That was certainly served up this time around.

]]> By: S Andrew Swann http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-550 S Andrew Swann Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:59:19 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-550 What gets me riled up, more so than just the rank stupidity of foaming at the mouth when someone critiques your work (unfortunately it seems a common problem)... It's this pernicious-- dare I say evil-- idea that you can use IP law as a legal club to stifle speech you just don't happen to like. What gets me riled up, more so than just the rank stupidity of foaming at the mouth when someone critiques your work (unfortunately it seems a common problem)… It’s this pernicious– dare I say evil– idea that you can use IP law as a legal club to stifle speech you just don’t happen to like.

]]> By: steve buchheit http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-549 steve buchheit Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:10:17 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-549 These days my head finds the desk all by itself. I'll resist the many jokes about how being a "Psychic and Author" she couldn't see this coming which probably means she isn't good at either. Oh damn, one got in. I guess I should have foreseen that. Damn, there's another. So, she has an editor who had never heard about Tuckerization and thinks it's a great idea (instead of "we're going to get sued because she's not doing it well"), and a lawyer who doesn't know Fair Use (well, to be fair, some SF editors recently also made that mistake). She's getting great advice there. These days my head finds the desk all by itself.

I’ll resist the many jokes about how being a “Psychic and Author” she couldn’t see this coming which probably means she isn’t good at either. Oh damn, one got in. I guess I should have foreseen that. Damn, there’s another.

So, she has an editor who had never heard about Tuckerization and thinks it’s a great idea (instead of “we’re going to get sued because she’s not doing it well”), and a lawyer who doesn’t know Fair Use (well, to be fair, some SF editors recently also made that mistake). She’s getting great advice there.

]]> By: michelle http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-548 michelle Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:31:36 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-548 And even more amusing - at the VERY bottom of the page she mentions that she won't allow anyone to directly copy or duplicate any part of her website as she has it copyright protected. So instead of copying and pasting the sentence, I've paraphrased it. I'm also stating here that I'm giving her credit for that sentence that I did not directly copy or duplicate. :) And even more amusing – at the VERY bottom of the page she mentions that she won’t allow anyone to directly copy or duplicate any part of her website as she has it copyright protected. So instead of copying and pasting the sentence, I’ve paraphrased it. I’m also stating here that I’m giving her credit for that sentence that I did not directly copy or duplicate. :)

]]> By: michelle http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-547 michelle Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:26:49 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-547 At the bottom of her main page she has a letter to her readers. At the end she talks about book how negative book reviews keep her up at night. Now I just find that funny as hell. At the bottom of her main page she has a letter to her readers. At the end she talks about book how negative book reviews keep her up at night.

Now I just find that funny as hell.

]]> By: Hellifino http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-546 Hellifino Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:17:37 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-546 Honestly, there are some authors who should be banned from the internet. Like those who can no longer see well enough to drive a car. Clearly VL can no longer think straight enough to post a blog. Honestly, there are some authors who should be banned from the internet. Like those who can no longer see well enough to drive a car. Clearly VL can no longer think straight enough to post a blog.

]]> By: michelle http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2008/08/how-to-be-an-asshat-literary-edition.html#comment-544 michelle Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:40:13 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=378#comment-544 Wow. She might just get "Queen of the Asshats" status. Considering she advertises herself as a "Psychic and Author", one would think she could use her psychic powers to see that she's just killed her career as an author. :) Wow. She might just get “Queen of the Asshats” status. Considering she advertises herself as a “Psychic and Author”, one would think she could use her psychic powers to see that she’s just killed her career as an author. :)

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