The only time I received flak for my writing was when I wrote for a so-called ‘huge’ travel publication in India, where I live. It was a market I was looking to break into. My mistake was a word count, higher than what they had asked. And it resulted in ridiculous editing by the magazine (at the hands of a sub-editor). Their editing resulted in some parts of the article being factually inaccurate. But the magazine refused to accept responsibility for their actions and instead chose to blame me saying my article was too long. They could have easily asked me to edit it and stick to the word count or asked me to ensure the facts were accurate in their edited piece. So I told the editor she was not being fair and that their mistakes had made my work appear shoddy and hence reflected badly on me as a writer. She chose to support her rookie sub-editor and that was the last I worked with them.
I did feel bad because being published in that magazine is considered prestigious and their payments too are good. But I didn’t see the point of working with an editor who has no faith on the writer. And hence had to give up some other assignments I had planned with them.
Now looking back, I feel instead of giving up on the other assignments ( which she has once commissioned and then post the first article decided would be on spec), I should have written an amazing article which would have her packing her bags to actually go there and made her realize that it was her sub-editor at fault! Sometimes wisdom comes very slowly though.. smiles..

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With magazines, folks have to really love or hate your article (or were mis-quoted) to bother writing in. Blogs create an easy environment for instantaneous feedback both positive and negative.

Personally, I leave comments to see if my Gravatar will one day appear. (I’m only half kidding. I enjoyed the post, but would really like to figure out what I’m doing wrong wiht this silly Gravatar.)

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What kind of message would that send to other writers? “Billy, your writing is head and shoulders above your peers. True, you’re only 12, but you’ve got styyyyyyle. Now, for your first job, we’d like to sit on this stool. Never mind the red and white circles around it, they’re just for decoration. That’s it – up on the stool, Billy! Could you maybe lean to your left a little? The cross hairs are only getting half your head. Much better! Okay, say “feedback!”

Ka-BLAM!!! “Oh, the humanity! Anyone else want to be famous?”

I just don’t think in those terms. It’s why I’m writing the occasional article for BNT and not selling cars. “Surely the Guardian doesn’t need that kind of attention,” opines Daniel, perhaps naively. But then, I’ve never had to sell a newspaper, either.

Tim, Ian, please don’t make me this kind of popular, please? I’ve always had a lot of respect for you guys and… what, payment for this article? Heh heh, no, that’s okay, you can keep it! Heh heh! Buy yourselves something nice! Don’t worry about me! Heh heh! Just don’t hurt me, okay? Heh! Big fan of anything you do! You’re A-Number-One in my book! Right-O! Thumbs up! Big fan!

…Chrystine, I’ll distract them while you make a break for it… Say, look over there, Tim! It’s Cedric with some pictures of Africa!

RUN!!! There’s a safe house I know at Rolf Potts’ blog! Tell them Eva sent you! It’s too late for me! I just got feedback that my writing’s contrived and smacks of effort! Save yourselves! AARGG… “… an unfunny hack and my philosophy’s juvenile… ” EYAAGH… “egotist with a receding hairline…” “…Bryson wannabe…” Remember me kindly!!! GHAAAA…

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I’ve been blissfully protected from bile, I can count on one hand the times I’ve received harsh feedback, and then, it just wasn’t that bad – once, a guy who agreed with me, essentially, but had racist undertones to his comment, once, a guy who blasted me for sidestepping an issue. But personally (and at many of the sites I frequent) I cultivate an atmosphere of respectful discourse. Oh yeah, once, a guy KICKED ME under the table in my writing class! True! True! He wasn’t even critiquing my writing, he was vehemently opposed to the political point of view I was expressing.

While I feel sympathetic to those who get blasted, I also think writers need to think long and hard about WHY they write, travel and otherwise. If they write seeking praise/fame/fortune, they’re doomed. Personal attacks notwithstanding, a writer who exposes their work to the public is sure to get some negative feedback at some point. If you can’t look at your writing and say, “Meh, whatever, I LOVE that piece,” then your work doesn’t belong in the public eye. The best answer for who the f*ck cares about your travel writing is “Who cares?”

Stepping off the soapbox now! Next, please?

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You’re right, the blame for this lies with the editors. I feel for Max – they shouldn’t have thrown him out there like that. But while I definitely don’t agree with some of the more vicious comments aimed at the kid (hilarious and finely-honed as some of them were), I do agree that Guardian readers had a right to be pissed off. I mean, let’s be honest: the blog was bad. It was shallow, predictable and unfunny. How were readers of one of the nation’s most respected papers expected to react, to an announcement that a 19-year-old kid would be keeping them updated on his drunken conquests and resulting hangovers over the next few months? (That being said, I hope Max does get back on the horse. Maybe on blogger, or a nice, supportive community like Matador! )

It’s such a shame because there are so many talented people out there, and this debacle will probably scare a lot of people off trying out someone new and untested. Youth doesn’t have to mean mindless, callow ignorance, either. Take Matador member “noellejt” for example – every time I read one of her blogs, I have to remind myself that she’s only 18.

As far as nasty commenters go, I’ve been lucky so far in my blogging endeavours. No particularly personal shots, just the odd person strenuously disagreeing with me. (Although there’s a nasty bit of race hatred on my recent MLK Jr. post over at World Hum… not sure how/if to respond to it.) I do think, though, that people blogging for money sometimes confuse their professional blogging with personal blogging – but when you are getting paid to write for a respected site, readers have a right to expect certain standards, and they have a right to express themselves if they don’t think those are being met. No excuse for personal attacks, but criticism is allowed and should even be encouraged. That’s what sets blogging, and indie online media generally, apart, right?

Anyhow. I’m rambling a little, so I’ll stop.

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Its the story of our lives. People tearing others down to make themselves feel better.

Within an industry such as travel writing, real slow travelers tear down travelers with less time/opportunity, writers with postgraduate English degrees tear down more organic writers, etc

Its amazing how elitist travel writers who’ve reached the ends of the earth and experienced the lows of humanity can still be.

If someone’s writing doesn’t draw and engage you, go find it somewhere else.

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Wish I had those opportunities…

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Long time listener, first time caller.

I thought this piece was really insightful. I agree that the debacle at the Guardian wasn’t Max’s fault or his dad’s. It was the editors, who (perhaps unwittingly) fed this kid to the wolves.

Nasty commentors often bring to mind a favorite quote of mine: “Many a man devoid of talent will say of someone full of talent, ‘If I could do that, I’d do it better.’”

I imagine many of these people spend their entire lives on the internet, zipping from blog to blog, just letting people know that they suck. What fulfilling lives they must lead.

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