“And then you’ll attract critics and reviewers, many of whom are professionals at envy. Not only will they be certain of your incompetence, they will analyze and broadcast it.” — The Writer’s Book of Wisdom-101 Rules for Mastering Your Craft by Steven Taylor Goldsberry.

This week enlightened me. In my experience, I understand people either respect me or hate me. No in-betweens. Yes, I think it fair to call me a prima donna. If General Patton can admit it, so can I.

When I tell people I’m done with something, I mean what I say. I’m not coming back and I keep my word. I also mean this when I speak about certain people. If I don’t want anything to do with you, don’t go looking for me to start drama. And for some reason, they can’t handle this. Seriously, if you hate me so much, why seek me out?
Today a poster from a writing board ranted on an article I wrote. I have no idea what she said because I deleted it. I know rage posting when I see it. All this happened after I told the board my intentions to leave, did, and thought so it ends.

Talk about guessing wrong.

My wife told me the farewell post got ugly. But, funny thing, I wasn’t interested. I knew certain people would attack realizing I was gone, egging it on, trumpeting “You’ll be back!” like Mister from the Color Purple.

Not happening.

I guess a certain someone couldn’t handle my lack of response and me getting the last word-thus the rage post. At the time of this writing and editing, I’ve deleted ten posts from her so far. Eleven, twelve, thirteen…

What’s this article’s point, you ask? Don’t post in rage. It proves you have no control, and it also proves who has the upper hand. And it ain’t you. If one person moved on, I suggest you do the same. Not a timeless gem I know, but common sense comes free.
The other? Get used to it. Writers attract people like this.

Don’t try to understand it, don’t try to dissect it, and don’t try to deal with it. You ignore it. Even if you prove your case with fact, someone will say you went about it wrong. Bring the facts to light, and they’ll hate you for it. God help you if a known professional backs you on something. It turns into feeding time for sharks on the Atkins diet. Not pretty.

It’s the attention they want. Deny it, and they’ll scream. Boy will they scream.

Fourteen, fifteen…

I think I have experience on this now. And there you go.