by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
The only reason why this is even important is I’m working on a novel. I worry that my years of being both “delusional and stupid” on the Internet will come back to haunt me when I approach gatekeepers about maybe buying my novel. The novel itself is turning out to be really good.
My fear is that even if all things being equal the actual artistic work is good-to-great that gatekeepers will do due diligence on my Internet production and think I’m some sort of deranged crank.
This has already happened, several times, when people use the Internet Archive to look at this site as they do due diligence on me after I contact them in one way or another for help with the novel. They take one look at my content and think I’m just a kook.
It’s just annoying.
It shouldn’t matter if I’m a kook or not — if I produce art that is mainstream and people may want to buy, buy my novel on its merits, not on some strange idea that may have crossed my mind over the years. It’s all very, very frustrating.
But, in a sense, I can’t help who I am. To thyself be true, as they say. I tried to be “normal” about 25 years ago and it didn’t go too well. I will admit that I AM something of a kook — but, as the late Annie Shapiro said of me, I’m a “delusional jerk with a good heart.”
I don’t expect to ever be “professional” in the traditional sense ever again in my life, so I’d at least like to be judged by the metrics of a creative person, not some stuffy professional.
I have no idea if anyone will listen to my plea on this one.
