Karma: the law of cause and effect. Or as Justin Timberlake so wisely and yet so funkily put it…
“What goes around, goes around, goes around,
comes all the way back around-yeah.”
{Dont mock me Crystal. Yes I quoted JT}
It’s a doctrine that spans the spiritual world. As you sow so shall you reap, to receive you must first give, etc etc. Basically it means be nice, try not to hurt or judge anyone, don’t just do things for people expecting something in return but because you want to and its right and it feels good. If you do this than good things will come back to you.
Sounds easy. But it isn’t always. I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the concept. Conversations that have recently come up pertaining to fair treatment, exclusion, hierarchies, stratums etc in the writing world have directed me to the unsavory underbelly of this-well of every really-career or community.
We’re only human. Of course we think of ourselves and how things affect us personally first and foremost. On the specific topic of being a writer, we are in it because we love it yes, but it is also a business we would like to succeed in.
Would I like to be successful? Yes of course I would. I would like people to enjoy the stories I’ve enjoyed telling, pay off my mountainous debts and bills, maybe even go on a vacation once in a while. That’s all really. I don’t need to be La Nora {although I wouldn’t turn it down}, I just want to do well.
Being where I am now, I cannot imagine not trying to help my fellow writers succeed. It’s a big banquet, more than enough to go around, and everyone deserves a plate. I do not understand why we have to quantify and box everything as better than, less important than. I do not understand why higher up on the path it gets harder and harder to turn around and give the other guy a hand up.
There are writer’s who follow the Pay it Forward code. I love them. Without them I would not have had a clue what I was doing after I wrote The End on the first draft of my manuscript. Authors like Eden Bradley, my fellow Novelty Girls, and many others on the Romance Divas forum. I have been blessed.
This is a business. We are here to entertain others, and the definition of what entertains and what is acceptable etc., changes regularly. But I think what has made this such a hot button topic, is acknowledgement. Everyone I know who is following their literary aspirations has sacrificed, struggled, and been amazingly courageous in order to make their dreams a reality. The only difference in most of these creative women/men is that they send their partial submissions in an email rather than through the Post. That is not enough of a difference to justify the snubs many of them have received. I may not be able to change the system that makes this true, but I can work on my little corner.
So I will promote other writers on my blog. I will rave about the stories I love, I will not rush to find fault with the works of others, and I will work on my jealous twitches every day lol. If I know an answer-which is still rare at this point-I will share it. And I will argue with any system, no matter how “practical” or “logical” it seems, that seeks to separate and exclude authors from each other and any kind of positive acknowledgement on the basis of finance or genre.
That’s just Good Karma.
May 29th, 2007 at 2:07 am
My dear, you have the best Karma out of anyone I know. And I agree that it’s awesome if writers give back to newbies. Certianly there are writers out there who would not make good mentors, but I’ve been lucky to have met some amazingly generous individuals so far.
May 29th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Amen Sistah! I know you’re having a less than flattering look at the operations of the writer’s community right now. Let me say this–Romance writers are some of the most supportive people I know. There are some writer communities that do not have the spirit of helpfulness that romance does.
And romance readers are loyal, absolutely loyal.
Perhaps it’s all those years that romance struggled to make itself heard in the writing community. How often did those early writers hear that they didn’t write “real” books?
Our history is one of struggle, perseverance and determination. I love being a part of that, albeit a small part.
May 29th, 2007 at 10:03 am
I think the pay it forward attitude is one of the most fundamental parts of writing. And there are many, many ways to pay it forward.
Maaannn…you quote JT and expect not to get harassed? That’s so sad. Tsk tsk. Don’t even try and bring the mmm-bop boys here or I will mock you until the end of time.
May 29th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Yeah, I’d totally hold you down for Crys to beat the boy-band-ness out of you
I believe in helping others. I also believe in knowing when you don’t know more than someone else, or when you’d make a lousy mentor. Me? I’m disorganized and I have a very short attention span. My poor mentee would end up in a file on the bottom of the pile on the bottom of the shelf in the kid’s playroom, y’know? That doesn’t mean I can’t pay it forward, I just have to find a different way to do it. Like NOT mentoring
May 29th, 2007 at 10:37 am
Feisty-I still have a lot of work to do in that department
Jen-I am proud to be here too, and I’ve never-in any of the multitude of careers I’ve had-found so many wonderful people. Its that very struggle romance has gone through that makes me surprised this is even an issue.
Crys-I agree about the PIF. However JT has struggled hard. Through Star Search, Mickey Mouse Club, Mmm-bop boy groups. LOL-cut the poor lil sexy thing some slack.:)
May 29th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Dayna,
Absolutely. I feel the same. There are so many ways to help others. From reviewing to blogging to simply saying Wahoo when someone does well.
Something as simple as an html code they dont know how to put on their blog-or-For example-I didnt even know how to format my Word Doc {blushing}. If it werent for people who are now teasing me lol I wouldnt have the first clue.
May 29th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Believe me, R.G., I’m glad you’ve shown up on Crystal’s radar. I used to be her whipping girl.
Oh wait, that was fun!
Hey! Cyrstal! Where’s MY fun now? *sniff*
She’s replaced me with an EC author.
May 29th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Jen, don’t worry. I can handle both of you. And RG is sooo fun to whip…I don’t care who her publisher is
May 29th, 2007 at 11:16 am
Wow. Thanks. LOL
I always wanted to be appreciated for my whip-able characteristics.
May 29th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Really? For R.G. I might become a switch.
What do you think, R.G.? Shall I bring a crop when we finally meet?
May 29th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Jen-don’t tease me
Okay-just so you know-Cookie has to watch lol and Crys has to say its okay.
May 29th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
No. Bad girls. Both of you. Punishment is forthcoming for even talking about such things…and it’ll be inventive, trust me.
May 29th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
We’re not bad. {Jen-quick-look angelic}
Look at that innocent face Crys! It would be bad karma {like how I tied that in?} to punish such a pure and blameless face.
May 29th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I wasn’t really looking to punish your face, sweetpea.
May 29th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
My bad. LOL
May 29th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
RG, I don’t think you need to worry about your Karam.
Me on the other hand? I might be in trouble lol. Like, Dayna, I’m not so organized. I’d make a lousy mentor/teacher I think. The other stuff y’all mentioned I can handle, but I have very little patience so…maybe not lol!
Now how on earth did RG’s lovely little topic turn into yet another whipping post? There must be something in the water around here. I need me some more of it.
May 29th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
If I only had a brain…that should say Karma of course. Unless Karam is hawt…
May 29th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
A wise man once said:
How do I get all the perks now for the good stuff I
willmight do later in life? It all depends on how nice you are to me after all, right?May 29th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Lori: I blame Jen.
Widower: *eyeroll*
May 29th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Puhleeze, hubby. You get your ‘good stuff’ on a near-daily basis. You’ve got me.
RG: seriously, there are days you’re going to wonder what you did that karma repaid you with us
Just don’t ask out loud, cuz someone will answer you.
Jen: You need Lisa to teach you how to use that crop before you start threatening other people with it.
Crystal: how is it that every post ends up with sexual innuendo (usually of the bdsm variety?) Is there something about the requirments of being a Novelty Girl I missed in one of your memos?
May 29th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Man, she is ALWAYS trying to blame me for this stuff. I’m innocent I tell you. I was framed.
And I’m preparing to beg Lisa for lessons. I am. I just have to get up the nerve.
May 29th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Oh what fun it is to hang out with the Novelty Girls (snicker).
I truly believe in karma. . . which is why I don’t mentor — that would be cruel and unusual punishment!
Now, ask me a question about video trailers or making CD labels, and I’ll tell you more than you ever wanted to know –
May 29th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Hey Erika, that’s why Crystal is my “mentor”. I LIKE cruel and unusual (the more unusual the better) punishment. And she likes to whip me into shape.
May 29th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Once again Crystal is looking for any and every reason to bring out her whip.
I say, why don’t we all turn the tables on her and play a little game call “whip the mistress.” How’s that for karma? LOL
But seriously, if I hadn’t found my critique partners when I began writing, I would NOT be where I am today.
I don’t know if I’d be a good mentor either, but I help out other writers any way I can.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Lyric: Been there, done that. Bought the t-shirt. Not going back. Thanks though. Nice of you to think of me.
And I only bring the whip out when ASKED. If you’ll scroll on up, you’ll see JEN was the one who brought up my mad mistressing skills. Not. My. Fault.
May 30th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Amen sweetie! What comes around definitely goes around.
And yeah, you have awesome karma. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Me, on the other hand, I’m going straight to hell.