Most writers have friends in the community. Most of them who live close to each other even post pictures of themselves during events, smiling and holding up books like the best of pals. The truth for some minorities and people from other countries outside the western world? It’s a lonely journey to the top, where most of us almost never get to go.
It’s probably very unpopular to discuss the warts of the writing community but some things need to be said. Established names edge out smaller name and emerging authors all the time, maybe even secretly loving their books just to say zilch about how good they really are. Periodically, you’ll get one of these guys hitting you up if only to ask you later on to signal boost their books (happened to me), but most of the bigger names know that name recognition sells books without begging for other authors to promote them, so they refrain from doing any transactional networking. However, as a fledgling author reliant on word of mouth to market my books, I have to do some bootlicking to ensure I get blurbs, social media mentions, and reviews to boost visibility, and it can all boil down to a painful ordeal that may ultimately repel many less-than-savvy new authors who shy away from the business side of book publishing.
It’s how the bigger names make sure that only they or their friends survive the arduous process of book marketing in today’s publishing landscape. Even when bigger names mentor fledgling authors, these fledgling authors can adopt this holier-than-thou outlook that makes them think they’ve made it for certain and can drop support for writers they never had any intentions of supporting to begin with. For example, I once exchanged messages and seemed friendly with an author who ended up with a big head on his shoulders after a Bram Stoker award nomination, and he subsequently dropped support of me on his socials after following back most of his peers for many years. He’s since dropped a lot of writers he used to follow to make his social media stats like the bigger names.
Which stinks like parmesan cheese…but it happens quite a lot. It is actually prototypical with most writers that they go from bootstrapper to snob once success rolls around. It isn’t quite surprising to find such behavior, whether it be in the horror community or elsewhere.
One author I know who everybody seems to love made sure to take me out of his socials, not only unfollowing me but making sure I no longer follow. In hindsight that’s great because I’d rather an author wipe me clean from his platform and not just create the illusion of me following them, but it begs consideration. What did I do to deserve that ‘ol hee-ho in the ass for seemingly no reason? The only indication? Because I’m getting ready to publish queer horror fiction next year (All Guts, All Glory), I must have become competition. Realize: I recall making congratulatory remark after another on this queer author’s posts and it didn’t matter in the end. It doesn’t mean somebody seems well-loved by the community that they’ll ultimately be nice people. FYI.
In fact, you’re much better off with a guy like me who’s honest to a fault, no matter what. This article is proof of that. You know where you stand, and you know that I’ll be nice for as long as someone appears to reciprocate or just do their thing. Truth is I am one of the most congratulatory and supportive writers around. Some guys just want to use you or make sure you hang around for engagements.
And when they’ve crossed into bigger markets and you’re cramping their style? They’ll hit the unfollow or block button, no matter how undeserved. That’s the thing about egos. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about corporate politics or the playground. Some people don’t grow up. And the bigger names will heap praise on an author for as long as said author’s following counts and book sales ascend the stratosphere, no matter how cringeworthy or douchey. They’ll roll out the red carpet even. Like attracts like.
It’s a lonely journey to the top of the mountain for some of us. For many white writers, other established names are backyard barbecue pals they have no problem signal-boosting. For authors like me they’ve never met in panels and cons, it’s whotheeffingfuckletyouinhere. Everybody talks about a community and what not, but it’s just a group of people who do similar things or have similar interests. Otherwise, they bring their bedside manners to the party without consideration or conscience. Fair warning to you all.
Me? I see books that pull me, and occasionally, I recommend titles. I, sometimes, play the game everyone does similarly, and get zero return for my investment. Because it’s true. The most outlandish and hateful truth about starting a career as a horror writer shouldn’t surprise. Expect no help and no love and be willing to give some despite that…because the truth is talent and ability are barely the foremost considerations in a writer’s success. Sometimes, it’s who is fortunate, and who is lucky enough to win the competition for popularity dictated by the vox populi.
ALARIC CABILING's OFFICIAL SITE 