An Open Letter to the Hotshots

This is not the time to crow over your successes.

Note: The following may not win me any fans, but I’m hoping you’ll take this in the spirit of which it’s intended.

To a “certain segment” of writers here:

You know who you are. At least I hope you do. If not, let me ILLUMINATE you: You’re the hotshots. The money-makers. You are the writers who just can’t help yourselves. You present us with story after story about your success on this platform and it’s gotten out of hand. No, more than that, it’s borderline insulting.

I don’t believe this is intentional but you might want to rethink how you “share” your success with the rest of us.

For one thing, it’s not necessary to shriek about your incredible earnings in a headline. I know you’re excited. I get it. I would be, too! But, perhaps you can work that enthusiasm into a story where the content is written in such a way that inspires us, rather than make us feel bad about ourselves. Or worse, doubt our acumen.

For the record, I do not. But other writers, especially the newbies, may indeed doubt themselves.

I’m struggling to understand what your motives are for continually rubbing our faces in the bullshit. Are we to celebrate with you? Are we to envy you? Are we to follow your lead?

Are we to learn from you?

What? Tell the rest of us. The rest of us who have been writing for years and have honed our craft but are barely eking out lunch money. I make do. I buy cheap wine in large quantities.

I just don’t get it. And I’ve tried. I’ve plowed through your work expecting to be hit over the head with some “Eureka!” moment, but it never happens.

It’s certainly not that you’re better than us. Maybe, you’re just luckier. Or younger. Yes, I believe that “age” is an issue, even here. As it is nearly everywhere, sadly.

I know something about that. I lost my job over two years ago due to a layoff and have not had a paying gig since. In spite of my years of experience in multiple genres…nada.

Yes, that rankles. Of course, it does.

In spite of the fact that as an award-winning writer and screenwriter, and now I’m going to brag here, in spite of the fact that my first short film out of the gate was awarded “Best Short” at the Pan African Film Festival in Cannes — no one will give me a shot. And that’s a big-ass festival, I’ll you. Submissions from all over the world.

I’m a longtime advertising and marketing writer, a newspaper features writer, a screenwriter, an essayist, a content creator and still…crickets.

And here’s why: I’m in my sixties and to many, that equates “old” and “done.” I’ll be damned if I’m either of those.

So I’ve been out of work for over two years. And now, in this desperate time when so many people have lost their jobs…people right here…and are scraping to get by, it is nearly unconscionable that you continue to crow about how much money you’re making!

If I believed, for a minute that I was alone in my thinking, I’d shut the hell up, as you should do. But the disturbing thing is I’m losing friends here. I’ve talked with several of my writing brothers and sisters who are ready to throw in the towel. Like me, they’re making chump change. And they’re beautiful writers with something to say.

And stories like the ones I referenced are largely responsible for their negative mindset.

I’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you’re trying to be helpful. Truly, I would.

And I realize that I sound like a broken record but as many times as I’ve written about this and received a ton of “Hell, yeahs!” from other writers here, you just go on and on and on.

Okay, I’ll bite: Tell us how you do it. REALLY tell us. That’s my challenge to whoever wants to accept it.

Write a story that documents, step by step, how and why you’re raking in the big bucks when people like myself are lucky to clear $85 during a pay period. And that’s a step up for me.

Pitiful, right? That’s what I think.

Understand that I don’t want to insult or embarrass you. That’s not my aim. But we’re all in deep shit right now and reading about your phenomenal earnings when so many Americans and people all over the world are wondering where their next mortgage or rent payment is coming from…or how they’re going to feed their families…is insensitive at best, and just plain stupid, at worst.

Some of you I follow and you’re probably super-nice people who mean no harm. But people, this is getting tedious. In fact, I just published a rant about this very topic in my publication, Rogues’ Gallery. And as I said, I don’t want to lose my friends here who I value and admire, because they’re despondent and just plain fed up.

That’s really the reason I’m writing this. I can take it. I can brush it off. But other writers cannot.

So if you have to brag, can you figure out a way to do it in a way that isn’t insulting? If you need a guide, read some of Kristi Keller’s stories. I will link to one, below where she talks about how to attain success as a freelancer.

She doesn’t go on ad infinitum about her own success, which she has obviously experienced. Instead, she tells us how to do it: It takes balls and brains.

Now that’s the kind of story I’ll take to heart.

Sincerely,

Sherry

P.S. If this pisses you off, please don’t blame Kristi. She knows nothing about this. Yet. Blame me, even though I have the best of intentions.

Sherry McGuinn is a slightly-twisted, longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and numerous other publications. Sherry’s manager is currently pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.

I hope you enjoyed this. If so, please check out the other stories below.

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Here’s Kristi’s:

And more from me: