Comments on: Scott of the Cathartic (Slushpile Interview Bonus Content) http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/ The Fundamentals of Our Publishing are Wrong Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:37:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Issendai http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/comment-page-1/#comment-1572 Issendai Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:13:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/#comment-1572 You, sir, are an evil, evil man.<br/><br/>And that's a whole lotta crazy in that there story. Did the guy truly think he'd never be caught? If you claim you're about to be published in one of the top magazines in your field, then--well, granted, only six people in the world actually read the magazine. But it's there on the newsstand for another several thousand people to pick up, leaf through, dogear, and drop. Wouldn't you think someone would notice that your story never showed up?<br/><br/>Methinks that not all of the "leaps of logic that didn't gel" were put in the story intentionally. It sounds like a systemic condition. You, sir, are an evil, evil man.

And that’s a whole lotta crazy in that there story. Did the guy truly think he’d never be caught? If you claim you’re about to be published in one of the top magazines in your field, then–well, granted, only six people in the world actually read the magazine. But it’s there on the newsstand for another several thousand people to pick up, leaf through, dogear, and drop. Wouldn’t you think someone would notice that your story never showed up?

Methinks that not all of the “leaps of logic that didn’t gel” were put in the story intentionally. It sounds like a systemic condition.

]]> By: Josephine Damian http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/comment-page-1/#comment-1571 Josephine Damian Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:58:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/#comment-1571 Hey Sean,<br/><br/>Not familiar at all with the SF scene anywere, let alone Austrailia, so that story was new to me.<br/><br/>A cautionary tale, indeed. Lots of very weird, psychologically disorded people in this world, and certainly online.<br/><br/>You never know when someone will come out from behind the computer and freak out. <br/><br/>Paul, I'm gonna look up that Proverbs verse now.<br/><br/>Josephine Hey Sean,

Not familiar at all with the SF scene anywere, let alone Austrailia, so that story was new to me.

A cautionary tale, indeed. Lots of very weird, psychologically disorded people in this world, and certainly online.

You never know when someone will come out from behind the computer and freak out.

Paul, I’m gonna look up that Proverbs verse now.

Josephine

]]> By: Paul Riddell http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/comment-page-1/#comment-1570 Paul Riddell Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:47:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/#comment-1570 Sigh. What is it about writing science fiction that causes wannabes to lie and lie blatantly about their upcoming and current "successes" like this? Is it because they know that nobody's going to call them on it, or that any number of other wannabes will rush out screaming about how any debunking is "unfair" or "counterproductive"? Are they already so deluded about how writing skiffy actually accomplishes anything that they have to protect their fragile self-esteem by lying even more? And who are they <i>really</i> lying to: friends and cohorts they want to impress, or themselves?<br/><br/>(Sorry: this was a serious hotbutton for me for years, and one of the biggest reasons why I'd rather get a hatchet, place my testicles on a good stout board, and play Whack-A-Mole for an hour than go to another science fiction convention so long as I live. Not only do you spend your time constantly bumping into Cat Piss Men who'll swear up and down that they've got a book or comic or movie/TV deal, but they'll follow you around if you respond in any fashion other than yelling "Fuck off, liar." I know individuals in Dallas fandom who've been lying to fellow congoers about how they're going to see their TV scripts on television "any day now", and the only thing that changes with their stories is the names of the television shows. I used to have fun with asking some of these characters how the scripts for <i>Babylon 5</i> and <i>Mercy Point</i> were coming along, just to watch them cry, but now it's better just to stay the hell out of range. Congoing is a beautiful example of Proverbs 26:11 in any case.) Sigh. What is it about writing science fiction that causes wannabes to lie and lie blatantly about their upcoming and current “successes” like this? Is it because they know that nobody’s going to call them on it, or that any number of other wannabes will rush out screaming about how any debunking is “unfair” or “counterproductive”? Are they already so deluded about how writing skiffy actually accomplishes anything that they have to protect their fragile self-esteem by lying even more? And who are they really lying to: friends and cohorts they want to impress, or themselves?

(Sorry: this was a serious hotbutton for me for years, and one of the biggest reasons why I’d rather get a hatchet, place my testicles on a good stout board, and play Whack-A-Mole for an hour than go to another science fiction convention so long as I live. Not only do you spend your time constantly bumping into Cat Piss Men who’ll swear up and down that they’ve got a book or comic or movie/TV deal, but they’ll follow you around if you respond in any fashion other than yelling “Fuck off, liar.” I know individuals in Dallas fandom who’ve been lying to fellow congoers about how they’re going to see their TV scripts on television “any day now”, and the only thing that changes with their stories is the names of the television shows. I used to have fun with asking some of these characters how the scripts for Babylon 5 and Mercy Point were coming along, just to watch them cry, but now it’s better just to stay the hell out of range. Congoing is a beautiful example of Proverbs 26:11 in any case.)

]]> By: Heather http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/comment-page-1/#comment-1569 Heather Wed, 04 Jul 2007 21:31:00 +0000 http://101reasonstostopwriting.com/2007/07/05/scott-of-the-cathartic-slushpile-interview-bonus-content/#comment-1569 I don't think I'll ever understand the lack of professionalism many people who are aspiring <i>professional</i> writers show. <br/><br/>If you want to do a job, act like it's a job. And don't show your ass. I don’t think I’ll ever understand the lack of professionalism many people who are aspiring professional writers show.

If you want to do a job, act like it’s a job. And don’t show your ass.

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