This is an odd question but over the last few weeks I've read about 3 terrible books (along with 5 or 6 great books) and I'm not sure how I feel about the fact they got published. They weren't good enough (bad sentences, bad paragraphs, bad plotting, bad writing) to be published and yet they were. Part of me takes heart at that because if something that bad got published it means there has to be a place for my novel somewhere. Another part was just distressed that the authors had gotten away with it and somehow played the system or knew somebody (or both) and managed to con a publishing company into publishing their book.

I know I seem a little harsh (which is why I'm not going to name the names of the authors or the books) but I read a lot and these books were actively bad. I can understand mediocrity, I can understand the author's reach exceeding their grasp, I can see a myriad of different ways that books can fail and still be published but bad everything just left me incredulous.

Normally I would not have finished the books but they were new books in genres that are becoming popular (cozy mystery, urban fantasy, historical mystery) and I wanted to do some research as to what readers are buying. Not that these are best sellers but they've done alright and are all going to have sequels. I don't know why it frustrates me so much, almost like I no longer know what my writing goal is anymore. It's always been to keep improving until such time as I can sell my work on a consistent basis (whether it becomes popular or not is another challenge that comes after that one) but then I see books like these and believe I am a better writer and yet I haven't reached that level.

I know there's a pretty substantial networking component to publishing and a lot of it comes down to who you know, but to see it made obvious just bums me out.

As to the Warren subject; in making him part of the inaugauration ceremony I think it can be perceived that Obama is if not advocating his position, normalizing that position and I do find that dangerous.

Obama could have a meeting with Rev. Warren and talk about this issue and I wouldn't mind that one bit, talking and keeping the channels of communication open are vital if minds are to be changed. However, that would not mean that President Obama was advocating Warren's position, all it would mean was that he was willing to listen, debate and agree to disagree. I would applaud Obama for that, but it is a reward and a validation to allow Rev. Warren to be part of the celebration ceremonies and I think that is an entirely different thing.

I believe in letting everyone have their say and I believe that when that happens the correct side usually wins (people are brighter than they're often given credit for but when all we see are the ignorant extremes on the news we tend to discredit the other side's intelligence).

My partner Eric really lost his temper over the Warren choice, claiming that he'd lost faith in Obama (he even took the Obama sign down from the lawn!)

I took the position that the man's trying to unite a very disparate America.  Sometimes that means making choices that I may not agree with, so I'm resisting the urge to condemn Obama because of Warren, the same way I've resisted the urge to punch Warren in the snoot.

Steve I know what you are talking about with some bad books being published and how on earth did they get published. I do think sometimes it's as much who you know, as it is, what you know.  I know sometimes it's even just random luck. I had heard one time, luck being described as  "preparation meeting opportunity" and I completely agree with it.

My advice is, keep honing your skill as a writer, never ever give up and keep submitting your work. If you feel any one of your writings is exceptional, submit it, ask for advice on what they are looking for if it doesn't get accepted. Wait a while and re-submit it, at a different time they may find it print worthy. Try writing short stories for magazines and submit those. If they get published, a ton of people will have seen your work and name and may contact you for additional work. Even if it's a magazine you don't read, look at a womans magazine as a writers challenge.

Contact the local newspaper and ask if they could do a story about yourself, maybe the angle being struggling writer following his dreams and to never give up. One time when I owned my toy store a lady came in and saw one of my bears and asked about it, I explained that I had made it. She was a reporter for our local paper and asked a month later if she could do an article about my work.

 It got picked up by the AP wire service and the magazine Ladies Home Journal contacted me and asked if I would mind them interviewing me for an article. I freaked out and said no.  But the moral of that story is, you never know who will be looking at your work if it does get printed in a newspaper or magazine. And a magazine may be easier to get your work in. 

Steve just NEVER give up, keep writing and never be afraid to do self promotion.  And ask someone on here that has had a book published , like Bruce, for advice. I would also find comfort knowing that J.K. Rowlings got rejection letters before her work went on and got published.

Thanks. I'm used to people not picking up on my being gay. I apparently operate under the gaydar.

Sounds to me like you're a normal person who hasn't adopted any gay mannerisms (interesting pun in that word, don't you think?).  Why on Earth WOULD people pick up you were gay, unless you "acted" gay? 

I had a very good friend in college who only years later came out, and everyone who knew him was just jaw-dropped at the revelation. And it's not that he was the full 180 degrees against the most commonly presumed stereotypes of gay men. He was an extremely funny 5'2" Mexican-American who drank more alcohol than five six footers combined and who enjoyed a good laugh more than anyone I've ever met, and he was nothing more or less than one of the guys.

I'm very happy to say that even after coming out, he remained that. I don't merely mean that he did not suddenly adopting outward "mannerisms," as Tom said, and he didn't! -- but that he was still fully accepted by his friends, a bunch of rowdy former frat boys.