Reminder to self:

In the upcoming months, I’m certain there will be plenty of times that I will need to remind myself that:

1. I should think before responding to a review.
1. Even if it’s not of my book.
2. Especially if it’s on a blog, and responding (even to a positive review) might kill the conversation, because then it runs the danger of becoming about me instead of my book.
2. I should think three ten times before responding on a message board.
1. Even if it’s not about me or my book.
2. Especially if it’s about me or my book. Then make that fifty, and maybe seek help first.
3. Many people won’t like my book.
1. For reasons that might not make sense to me.
2. For reasons that do make sense to me.
3. For reasons that might have to do with other books more than about mine.
4. For no reason at all.
5. For a lot of reasons.
6. Nothing I say will change those reasons. But it may add to them.
4. Many people will make assumptions about me and/or my values because of the books.
1. Some of them will be right.
2. Some of them will be wrong.
3. Some of them will confuse me with my characters.
4. Some won’t stop to consider that something in a book might be a deliberate step away from myself.
5. Some won’t stop to consider that whatever assumption they make is based on their interpretation of the novel, which, as pointed out very often on many message boards and blogs, has nothing to do with and/or conflicts with author intent.
6. Those assumptions, based on the books, have nothing to do with who I am.
5. My books aren’t perfect.
1. I know, it’s a shock.
2. No, it’s not really that surprising.
3. I probably shouldn’t talk about why they aren’t. Just say, “Yes, I fucked up”, and move on.
4. I probably shouldn’t say ‘fucked up’ anywhere but my blog.
6. I need to adjust my line item formatting in the style sheets to include letters in the sub-lists.
1. Because the second one is ugly.
2. And outline form is nice.