blog flog: 30 January 2005

[pith]

Link: http://www.eridine.com/blog/2005_01_01_archive.html#110710474390143887
Title: "Done"
Date: 30 January 2005


Okay. So maybe it's not really snark-worthy. But I feel like snarking, and so I shall! It's a short entry, so I'm quoting the whole thing. Laurell's words in bold.


"Ding, dong the witch is dead."
Which witch? Anita? Merry? You? Oh, sorry. None of you (in both the singular and plural meanings) are deep enough to actually be a witch. This must be one of her sad attempts at "cultural context" (see below). On the bright side, at least she didn't do like she normally does in the books, and follow it up with "That's from The Wizard of Oz, don't you know."

The book is done. I think that says it all.
No, it isn't. No, it doesn't. The manuscript, such as it is, is done. Until it's bound, it's not a book. And considering how quickly she's pumping these "books" out nowadays, I don't think it's "done" by a long shot. Maybe if it had a few solid months of editing, continuity control, YAABI checking, etc.

My new goal in life is a hot bath, a lavender scented candle,
No comment. Really. Whatever I could say here wouldn't be nice.

a book that I didn't have to write,
Okay. Officially irked. "HAVE to write"? Sorry, lady. There are millions of us who LOVE to write. Who would be thrilled to have a publishing contract. You don't "have" to write. You're in a privileged position. Yes, I bitch about my characters, as poor harpergrey knows all too well, but I never ever consider writing a chore. When it becomes a chore, I'll stop. If Laurell thinks it's a chore, maybe she should stop and go work at a sextoy store or something.

and some music that I haven't lived with for the last few months.
Again. You have choices, you damn woman! Download something new. Actually leave your damn house and buy a CD. Oh, sorry. Would that take you out of your precious news-free, no-children-please-thx zone?

"Drink up me' hearties, yo-ho!"
Allow me a fangirl moment, please.

Yo, whore: hands off my Johnny. Stop trying to be culturally cool, culturally relevant. It didn't work well for Anne Rice, did it? No. So back off. It's not endearing you to anyone. What's next? Is she going to wear a Legolas T-shirt on tour? Will Jean-Claude have been a pirate in his sordid past? Oy.

Oh, yeah, a movie outside the house that isn't "G" rated.
Funny. Given her books, I would have thought everything in her collection would have been rated X or higher.

Comments

[freyalorelei.livejournal.com]

What gets me is when people actually complain about the length of time in between new AB/MG books, when she's pumping out one or the other every six months. I suppose if you're used to ghost-written Sweet Valley Highs you'd expect a book a month. LKH is only one author, and I consider it miraculous that she can indeed produce in such sheer volume.

Also, I do kind of understand the "have to write" business. When you're on a deadline and you're being pressed to produce X number of pages in Y months, writing can indeed be difficult. Not that I wouldn't kill to be in her place, but I do understand what she means. You can enjoy writing, and enjoy the outcome without loving every single step of the process.

If she's expecting sympathy for it, though, then she's a moron, because she kinda did choose this profession. "Oh poor baby, you're being paid frillions to write two phenomenally popular series! I totally feel for you!" Except, you know, NOT.

[harpergrey.livejournal.com]

Yup. You guys have pretty much said it. As a struggling writer, I can in no way feel sympathetic towards one who is already wildly successful (and -- in my humble opinion -- less and less deserving of that success with each new novel). I've noticed that she seems to want sympathy for just about everything. Quite irksome, really.

-- Harps ;)

PS: Pith, you know I love listening to you bitch about your characters! (Besides, you listen to me bitch about mine... *g*)

[frabjously.livejournal.com]

*sobs in corner* Don't ruin Johnny by making Anita sleep with him... Please.

*rocks back and forth*

/fangirlism

[catmagnet2003.livejournal.com]

I had a strange thought while reading your comment. I too am among those feeling disapointed with the turn of events. However I wonder if we would feel this way if things had not changed so drasticly in the Anita series? Considering the content of her blog, I think I would still feel bitter. But then I can't say for sure. Anyone else have an opinion about this? Because I would hate to think I'm just a freak. Which I am.

Most of the time.

[harpergrey.livejournal.com]

Well, I know that I personally would probably be more willing to defend LKH (and ignore the blatant stupidity and arrogance of her blog entries) if her writing hadn't deteriorated so badly. It would be one thing if she'd been awful from the beginning, but I liked the earlier books -- and I'm reasonably sure most of the others here did as well. I think we're always more nasty towards something (or someone) that has disappointed us.

And you're not a freak! Or at least, not the only freak. ;)