omg, these people are wearing me out. so many fragile egos, thin-skins, and self proclaimed bastards just being even more bastardly (jd, you know of whom i speak).

i swear, sometimes it's just not worth it. i mean, who the hell do these people think they are? are their novels stocked on big chain bookstore shelves? do they have a long list of paying publication credits? no, most don't. and that's exactly why they're submitting to us and other nonpaying markets. yet they are writing divas with egos bigger than muhammed ali's.

half can't follow written instructions, the other half wanna tell us why we're snotty bitches. if you have to tell me how successful you are, then i know you're really not. those who brag the most usually have the least.

stacy and i do this for fun, we do it because we know there's a lot of hidden talent out there, we do it because so many other publications are snobby and clickish and only want pretty stories wrapped up neatly in shiny ribbon. we see the beauty hidden beneath ugliness, we like to feel uncomfortable, and we know just how much talent it takes to accomplish such stories. when we started these two ventures, i had no idea the level of abuse we'd be subjected to. i had no idea how petty people could be. how hateful.

excuse me for ranting about the negative, because in all honesty, it isn't all negative. we do receive nice letters where authors say, "thanks so much for your editorial comments. you were right on target and after revising i was able to place my story elsewhere."

these letters make me happy. i'm thrilled to help someone with their writing, and play a small (very small) role in their success. it's nice validation.

but sometimes the bad is so bad that's it's difficult to focus on the good. i'm tired of people fucking with me. if you're gonna bring it, you'd better have all of your ducks in a row. i keep just about EVERYTHING and if you want to accuse me of sending snotty comments, then you'd better be able to show me the original message, because i can guarantee you that i still have it and will gladly throw it back in your face.

we make NO MONEY from this whatsoever. as a matter of fact, it usually costs stacy and i money from our own pockets to do it. jesus christ, we're two people. we sort through hundreds of submissions all by ourselves. we're only human and yeah, sometimes we miss something or make a mistake.

so if you want to accuse me of being a bitch, guess what? a bitch i will be.

i wish i could say i feel better now, but i just don't.

this entry will probably be removed in a couple of days, i just had to get it out!