The Writer's Manifesto

By Brian Bloomfield

Ok, I have received many reviews from my manifesto, and it was generally well received. But, there were a few people who asked me, "How dare you!?!". Ok, that's a fair question. A good one too, therefore I will answer it.

I'm not trying to force my opinion on anyone else, nor did I, at any point in my manifesto, say I didn't respect the efforts of up-and-coming authors. What I did was show my lack of respect and faith in people who have no respect for writing as a craft. And the ironic thing is, the people who told me not to whine and not to force my opinion onto other people, what exactly did you think you were doing by flaming me? Logically discussing any and all arguments against my manifesto? Hardly.

So go ahead. Level a forest printing my manifesto, stack the copies around a gas truck, and hit the switch. Burn, baby, burn. I really don't care. I gave my opinion, and I was heard. That's the only thing I care about. You may say that if you hear me that I should afford you the same courtesy. Not if you show no respect for writing by writing a sugar-coated story at 2 in the morning, or if half of said fic looks like your finger took tango lessons on the shift and 1 keys on your keyboard. This is writing, damn it! Not poker or a drinking contest where you can mess around endlessly. Go back to pre-school if you feel the need to write garbage.

Now, about up-and-coming authors. Many who read my manifesto must have missed the line in which I said "If you really do try, I applaud you for developing your skill." And I do too. When I look back at my early stuff I recoiled in horror and asked myself, "I wrote this?". If you really are trying, that's great. But there is quite a difference between trying to learn to develop characters in a short story and sending a one-track-mind Sonic on a mission for coffee. You know the difference, as do I. I'm not saying writing shouldn't be fun, but I really can't see the fun in writing 5,000 coffee stories. It boggles my mind.

So I hope I answered your questions in one form or another. I am fully ready to receive another round of flaming for this. But I really don't care. I'm still not apologizing for writing any of this.

And I still will be heard.