Quote:
Originally Posted by Catlady
I don't know if it's a sad story or just a strange story. That she is a romance author seems to be tangential; it's a little hard for me to imagine that this kind of writers' group is especially bullying. Maybe she interpreted honest criticism as bullying?
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I have a friend writing period romance--the usual, Austen-era stuff. And I've been shocked at the outrageous bullying that goes on in that area of writing. I mean...I know that writer-bullying exists. I'm hardly naïve; I've been in writing and critique groups, after all.
But I was surprised at the amount of abuse that could be heaped over something nitpicky. I saw one writer get dragged over the coals--wrongly, mind you--over a detail about tacking up and driving a horse in a cart. This was their seminar group leader, a published author. Didn't know that she was talking to someone with bona fide expertise in the area.
My friend didn't speak up, because there were other aspects in play and it was too risky--but the seminar leader was
totally and completely wrong and made my friend seem like an
idiot. I was not happy about it. I actually wanted to write to Writer's Digest, or whatever (legit) company it was, that hosted it, but she insisted I not. I saw the emails and group messages, though--nasty beyond belief.
Hitch