Warnings for Writers

Here’s some information from one broken down loser–me.

I entered a novel writing contest set up by the National Writers Association in the Spring of 2009. Guess what? I’ve been informed they didn’t get any entry worthy of first prize. Yes, I paid to enter. I forget what the prize was, but I can look it up. I’ve heard of this stuff before. Makes you feel like you won, but they didn’t feel like giving you the money or publishing your book. I’ve got other feelings too–not nice ones.

I’ve told you folks before about Writers’ Cafe crashing on Super Bowl Sunday, when the Giants last won, and to back your stuff up–no need to babble on about that again, like I just did.

Right now I’m so paranoid I’m thinking about putting everything I’ve written in a two thousand page book and having it sent to be copyrighted at the copyright office. On the other hand, only a lunatic would steal anything I’ve written. But there are lunatics out there, aren’t there?

Let me tell you about StoryMash. I posted a few things there–very good things–then found out that I can’t edit or delete the stuff. You know, you might have trouble selling something you’ve written if it’s carved in stone on an Internet writing site. So, be careful about that. Triond and Associated Content allow you to delete or edit what you’ve posted. This, in my opinion, is only proper, even if you get paid ten cents. One of the problems with StoryMash is that they have an option where you can post something you’ve written especialy for the site in just ten minutes. Would it surprise you if you later found a lot of typos that should be fixed? Trouble is, you can’t fix them, so it can make you appear illiterate. I’m not sure you can edit or delete work on webook.

So, ladies, be carefull of posting those naked pictures–keep doing it, sure–but hope and pray they are only viewed on another continent, and not by your boss, or husband, boyfriend, minister, or all of the above–if you care. Wait a minute, I’ve lost track of what I was saying. I sure hope I can edit this.