The Day Angela Kulig Became Properly Disillusioned

I am not one to hate on people involved in traditional publishing. You know; agents, editors, writers, publishers--there are several reasons for that. 1.) We must always try to be professional 2.) I do interact with them many times in a professional environment. 3.) One day I hope to have a book for sale 75% off at the Walmart.

Oh these lofty, unobtainable goals.

That being said, this weekend I found myself PISSED OFF!

One of my favorite agents, the agent that up until this point I always thought would one day by MY agent. Said some really--what I consider--unprofessional things about self published writers. I have never self published any of my books--so, why should I take offense to this as I'm a real "indie" writer--whatever that is? I mean other than I have more self pub'd friends than I can shake an iPhone at; but the hypocrisy of it is outlandish.

It wasn't just the usual--I don't believe in self publishing blah blah. Oh no, it was a Self Published books are ranked lower than the gum I just scraped off the bottom of my shoe and far more irksome. What is even worse is this wasn't even in a work related context--she was complaining about stumbling upon them while shoping for books.

It is troubling that, as writers, we must always be professional. I see agents rag about people who didn't follow their guidelines, or offended them in some other way--by doing what is usually something very slight, every single day online. They talk about these people in rash, demeaning words--and I used to understand.

Only the double standard has become too much. If we say anything remotely negative about them we find ourselves painted as the jilted lover, and threatened with blacklisting. We are always in the wrong. Always. They are not held to the same standards.

I understand the need for agents. If everyone could do as good of a job as an agent--often times a whole agency, a team of editors, and an entire publishing company then they wouldn't have a fucking job. One day, I will look for one again. Only not this one. It doesn't matter that she has requested every single manuscript I ever queried. It doesn't matter that she requested revisions--and even rerevisions on two of my books.

All that matters is, I think she is a bit of a bitch and I don't think I'd like to work with her anyway.