Friends?

I don't know about ya'll, but one thing I have learned since putting pen to pad is that I have the most unsupportive bunch of friends. Its sad. Or maybe its a reciprical thing. Did I forget to support some event, or give you a call. I am bad about returning calls. Anyway, when I started writing, I wanted to sit on my work, hide and protect it from those ever lurking copyright thieves. I didn't have $1500 for an editor at the time, nor was I going to pay someone that much just to give me an opinion. I had no contacts with the literary world. So I requested the aid of my very well educated, always reading fiction, friends.

At first, I figured my work just sucked and noone wanted to hurt my feelings. But then, I sucked it up and sent samples to agents and publishers. All very positive feedback (thought they didn't take me on-I still had some work to do). So, when I hinted around, asked a few questions, I started to realize that the friend group just hadn't bothered to read it. Huh? Something I birthed into creation wasn't worth your fifteen minutes? After I have sat at how many kids b-day parties, and bought how many graduation gifts? dang....

Solution: If I am drowning, I sure hope a stranger is nearby, cause if I have to wait on my friends, Ima goner. I began posting to Yahoo groups. I know - some one will steal it, your ideas aren't protected, yada yada yada. At the end of the day, it was worth the risk, just to get an opinion. Not only did I get opinions, but folks offered critiques, writing suggestions, reading choices, etc... I found out about writing competitions, submitted and was accepted for my first published short story. People shared similar concerns and experiences. I interacted online with published authors, who gave much needed encouragement. I gained the courage to blog - haven't yet had the gumption to post a picture, just yet- still thinkin on that-that's a whole nutha self esteem thing....

So, while my friends are still holding the first draft of a multiedited, soon to be published work, my life is moving forward. I wish I had a more supportive group, but, that has been the story of my life. In the meantime, my site has been viewed by more folks than I could ever imagine, most of whom don't know me from Adam. And the poetry posted at Ghetto Soul has over 2500 views in just over a month. I feel good. And thankful. So much so, that I won't even continue to comment on my sorry bunch of friends who will probably confront me about this post when they finally read it in, say, another 9 months.....