Your writing is not your baby

This may be starting a shitstorm, but I'm uphill running into the shitstorm anyway, here goes. <br><br>Your writing is not your baby. I don't care how long it's taken to write it or how your life has been locked down for three years because of your novel. Your writing is not your baby. <br><br>If it was your baby, I'd feel sorry for you. If it was your baby, then you're a failed parent and failed writer, because you'd be neglecting both. And I don't particularly trust or want to read any book written by a failed parent. <br><br>Your real child is your real child. I don't care how heartbroken you were when your dog died, your dog wasn't and is not your child. If you have had a child that sadly has passed away, then that was your child. In a tragic world, the worst thing that can happen to you is to lose a child. But your dog? Sweetie your dog is your dog and, you know, however sad you are, your dog is not your child. <br><br>Your knitting? Your cooking? Your garden? These are not your children. Your creative pursuits are hobbies. Your book is your book and your hobby. Your garden is your garden and your hobby. Get over yourself.<br><br>Your writing is not your baby, it's your writing and it's your hobby. Like your knitting, your cooking, your gardening... they aren't your children. <br><br>Let's get real, you are not a failed parent because you wrote a book and cannot get a publisher. Failed parents are the ones who didn't feed their children, who didn't provide for their children, who didn't show love and support for their children. Failed parents are the ones who have damaged and hurt children. <br><br>A badly written book is just a badly written book. And you need to get over yourself. If you claim your book is your baby, what are you as a parent if you can't get that baby published? If you have problems with your book, if you are a failed writer, is that because you're a failed parent? Don't make claims about your book you cannot live up to, and don't tell me that the thing you wrote for fun your hobby your pastime is the same as my flesh and blood. It isn't. <br><br>You don't have a full time job? Your book is not your full time job. If it is your full time job, then it is just your work. If you're self employed and your book makes a profit, then it's your work. Get over yourself. Get over yourself! Why do I have to point this out repeatedly. <br><br>Why would I want to read a book written by someone who thinks that their book is their child? If I want to read a stupid book written by a cosseted idiot, I'd read something by Jonathan Franzen. I don't want to read a book written by a writer who pulls everything down to their level - 'This slop I wrote is as important to me as your flesh and blood!' Grow up, grow out of it. <br><br>Your writing is not your baby. It's not the same as your child. If your book is your child, then you are an idiot and I don't want to read your book.<br><br>Kids are not hobbies or pastimes or creative pursuits. They are life choices and full time commitments. And full time work. Your child is your child, they are not your book.<br><br>Your writing is not your baby. Get over yourself.