What an exciting time to be on YWO forums. Currently I've got a few people upset because of what I said about Psychology as a science (my degree in it apparently means nothing).

I've got another guy upset because I started a post with a theory that those who are obsessed with SD manipulation and chart position are probably not submitting work to real life publishers. It was a question and I got answers from various people.

I've said such contentious things in the past like "English degrees kill more writers than they make".

I said "author advisers are not worth the money" - and had an argument with an author adviser. (I still despise that profession by the way.)

I've said "agents are not as busy as they claim". How daring of me! How I have besmirched that noble profession!

I've even talked at length about things you can do with your work (get it illustrated, write a screenplay, make a toy, etc) and had to defend that (against someone who knew nothing about licensing).

It really does make me wonder ... why does anyone care what I think about these topics? Does it affect your day, your life in the slightest? Am I perhaps insulting your profession?

Perhaps you are worried I am leading people astray!

For those of you who might be led astray ... remember to think for yourselves. Don't accept any idea just because the person presenting it claims some authority. Do your own research. Test the idea against other ideas. We have the web - use it. Don't just swallow what I say -- see if it matches with evidence in the world. See if you can find information that contradicts what I say. Remember: you are the one who will live with whatever decision you make from ideas presented to you, not me. SO, think for yourselves.

On to writing/editing/publishing. The question I would have asked of me is this "If you've worked in publishing for so long and work as a writer then why don't you have your own original fiction published? Huh? Mr Big I'm-a-writer? Tell us."

No one has asked this of me. The answer of course is that I have published an immense amount of licensed books (Disney et al), have written a lot of marketing copy, sales copy, advertisements and so on ... but that is not highly regarded by publishers. The only thing that matters is the quality of the story you are presenting. The piece I have up on YWO I think is pretty good -- but I can see where it can be better. Perhaps it will be published. It has a better chance than other stuff I have written.

I do hold back harsh truths on these forums because I would never ever want to discourage anyone from continuing to write. This site is meant to be a nurturing, safe and helpful place. To thrash out with reality serves no purpose. If people ask me direct questions about topics I will give the direct answer however.

I do make passing comments about various topics and I never lie. This in my real life has lead to me telling an advertising company I worked with that they should drop one of their clients because "they were evil". It has led to me losing a job because I refused to lie to an author about royalty statements. I have caused problems at another place that produced a million plastic toys for a hamburger company and had (I laugh here) a "green policy". My passing comment? "Your green policy is a joke because it is obvious what this company does".

I have refused to water down ethical standard documents. I referred to a book that was being pushed on my company by Disney as "a terrible book and a terrible waste of money" -- I was proven right, by the way.

Places I have worked have profited enormously from following my advice. People I have worked with have profited. I've pulled at least twenty I-have-no-credentials-but-I-am-a-good-writer people into companies I've worked for and helped push off their careers. I actively promote illustrators I've met to various places I get to work.

My advice of course has not always been followed and I am wrong from time to time. I have said things will fail and they didn't. I chosen paths that haven't succeeded. However, on a general assessment, I'm right a lot more than I'm wrong and I do have the publishing record to show it.

So ... I say the things I say because I do think they are right and I do really want to help people to write better. I care enough to get into debates when people step away from the question (English degrees kill more writers than they make) and step toward ad hominem attacks (I present opinions as facts). My caring over that has a limit too. Usually a few posts back and forth and then I'm bored.

I feel like I have been attacked a few times because perhaps I am viewed as an authority because of my publishing background. Sometimes in a spiteful thought I think some people are jealous. Sometimes I realise I have shredded a comfy dream they are holding close to their heart. Other times people are up for forum fighting and off we go.
Other times people have excellent debates and discuss all manner of things and a lot of people contribute and its just beautiful.

That is what I really want. I'd love it if you think I am wrong for you to write "I think this is wrong because of x". I'm always open to more information and great discussion. I love talking with people and finding out what they think and why they think it.

The advice of mine you should always follow? When I tell you to delete "stubbornly, stupidly, crazily, sexily, etc" out of your work - do it! :-)

At the end of this long post the point I am getting to is that I love the vibrant YWO community. I am so very happy I joined this site. I want this to continue and I really don't want to get bogged down in angry fighting over things that really are not important.

I suppose I should finish with a question so this isn't just a personal message out there... hmm ...

What was the first story you remember writing?

Mine was a first-person diary perspective of a car that was stolen, used in a bank robbery and then repainted and dumped in a wrecking yard. The whole class clapped when I read it out and I got walked to another class to read it for them. I still get quite emotional when I remember it.

:-)

With sincerest respect and good wishes to everyone on YWO.
Mat

There is a move in the world to avoid strong flavours and strong opinions.

This is wrong.

Even if I don't agree with some of your points or your tone, your posts stimulate discussion (fact) and that is far more useful than twenty emoticons or a public flounce (opinion).

oh and...

A big box of cherries that no longer wanted to be red but ended up fighting over alternative colours. They all lived happily ever after just before I heard my mum calling me for my tea.
"Suck it up, say thank you and move on."

[ to be honest, while I thank you for your insight, I feel from the way you write on the message boards that you are arrogant, egotistical and unyielding.]

This has been proven wrong, by fact, not opinion. I took Matt to task over his close association of Angelscribe to a point he was making, as did others, what followed was a gracious apology by Matt. I think that leaves your opinion of Matts character without fact to substantiate it.

In answer to other posts on Matts character Iwould say this:

Contributers here should take a step back and remember how we all valued Mat's opinion and facts when he first arrived. Both were a revelation to us.

Matt is a professional writer and editor, he is not used to mincing his words or wrapping them up in cotton wool, he would not be successful if he did. In his work he has to post his credits. It therefore is second nature to do so when talking to us. But, don't just see these, see what else he says. In this peice alone he tells us when he got it wrong, too.

The way he writes is how rejections and acceptances (though the latter is my opinion as I haven't had any to be able to evidence this as fact) will come across. Editors and agents don't mince their words. They tell it how it is. That can be painful, I know that for a fact.

You may argue, them, telling it how it is, is only as they see it. But then, what other way is there? So! You may say, their words are only their opinion. Right! But, is it of value, then? Well that is up to you, do you take on board their proffessional opinion, or do you go with your amatuer ego and ignore them? I would argue the same goes for Matt. If you value the opinion and facts Matt posts here, then accept that he shoots them straight from the hip and think of it as preparation for the wording of your future rejections.

On the amatuer ego point: You may of course believe totally in your work and send it to many other editors/agents hoping you find one that agrees with you and sees your wonderful work as you do. Good! That will mean you have taken on board advice Matt has given, when he told us multiple submissions are something we can do, and not to believe the speal put out by agents that this is not acceptable. (he may not have said it as nicely as that) The point is HE told us. And, he substantiated it by telling us that agents and publishers put this out to deter you from multiple submissions in case you are good and they miss picking up on you.

From other contributions I have made, my saying here about opinions, may lead you to say, 'take your own advice!' It is well known I have paid expensively for what I now know are opinions. Well, I came to know that several hundreds of pounds, too late! Matt gives opinions and facts and presents them in a, 'I know', way. That is because he does! Cherry pick what you all want from what he gives, but don't shoot the messenger!

BenKelly! You always make me laugh! Was that after you picked them or before?

Matthew, in an increasingly wishy-washy, politically correct world I don't have a problem with someone who has strong opinions and stands by them. (Party on, Bardot!) Yes, there will always be those who are overly influenced by the views of others but they must learn to descriminate. If we are not careful we will moderate ourselves out of debate and free speech.

My story was about a herd of wild horses - the only thing I ever wrote about as a child - and I thought it was brilliant. I was at school in England at the time and the teacher thought it bizarre to have named one animal after another - my fiery stallion was called Wildcat - and put it down to my being French. Perhaps that is the case as the habit has stayed with me, my two Welsh ponies are called Hawkwind and Pendragon.

Now they are truly wise words.

The ABC Checklist for New Writers

Visit my website: Lorraine Mace

What do I think? People should spell Mathew's name correctly.

First thing I remember writing was my own take on the Mr Men books onto booklets made out of writing paper folded so the picture of the 'Man' in my story appeared on the front. I hope not to be sued for breach of copyright.
K