JM ARLEN | AUTHORS BEHAVING BADLY

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  • čas přidán 12. 06. 2022
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Komentáře • 286

  • @katemacdonald3765
    @katemacdonald3765 Před rokem +555

    I'm a writer too. I spent 6 years on my first book, published it on a bit of a whim, and... it was not ready. Luckily, the first reviewers were all very kind. A lot of "love x and y but it really needed another round of edits" etc. And I LISTENED to them, and revised it, and now... Now I write a book every 3 months, have a team of people supporting and helping me, and have 17 books under my belt. None of this could have happened if I dug my heels in and yelled at people.

    • @Anonymama
      @Anonymama Před rokem +53

      I always wonder how people manage to write books in the span of a few wee months, it's really astonishing. Kudos to you!

    • @AllThisIsPointless
      @AllThisIsPointless Před rokem +36

      @@Anonymama I imagine it's at least somewhat easier when writing is your full time job and you have a team of editors and beta readers and whatnot, vs someone starting out who might be writing as a second job or hobby in their free time. Not to say that doing a whole novel in a few months isn't still really impressive, of course!

    • @i0xiaY
      @i0xiaY Před 6 měsíci +12

      @@Anonymamait might also depend on books length! perhaps they white shorter stories, but i also know people who just write really fast as well 🤔🤔

  • @SavageMinnow
    @SavageMinnow Před 2 lety +888

    This guy's strikes me as one of those authors who hires a ton of beta readers, And then just ignores everything they say or tries to argue with them.

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před 2 lety +80

      same

    • @ayajade6683
      @ayajade6683 Před rokem +64

      my friend was a beta for him he's like that often worse because he would find other places they would give critics to keep doing and another thing

    • @katie5998
      @katie5998 Před rokem

      @@ayajade6683 ew, what a freak

  • @EDDIELANE
    @EDDIELANE Před rokem +81

    Ra Ra Rasputin, writer of the best bear scene.

  • @Hibernation-Library
    @Hibernation-Library Před rokem +127

    "Should I be making fun of my five year old here?"
    Yes. Drag him.

  • @Blairverse
    @Blairverse Před rokem +310

    Rachel: Why are you bleeding, when writing?
    *Me a woman*: 🫠

  • @willowingwhispers2612
    @willowingwhispers2612 Před 2 lety +600

    *It wasn't the cold, it wasn't the changing seasons; it was something real*
    This is an actual sentence from the sample off Amazon. The only thing I could think of when I read this was: I'm sorry, but is the cold and changing seasons not "real"?

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před 2 lety +131

      I’m reading it now and I have underlined so many lines like this! There is NO WAY he employed a real editor

    • @kathleenschwab4645
      @kathleenschwab4645 Před rokem +48

      I think he spent most of those 7 years smoking weed in somebody's basement.

    • @Grayvorn
      @Grayvorn Před rokem +12

      One of those sentences that sounds good, until you think about it for half a second.

    • @sagew1312
      @sagew1312 Před 6 měsíci +9

      It gives off the same vibe as this quote by Jaden Smith:
      "How can mirrors be real if our eyes are not real?"

  • @veronicabaranowski6976
    @veronicabaranowski6976 Před rokem +353

    Advice for those with readers in the family - If you want them to read your book and use a pen name they don't know, give them the book as a gift and wait for them to read it. My mother said she read mine while waiting at the hospital and that she liked the characters. Was that review on goodreads? No, but I know she didn't say that because I'm her daughter. I told her after she gave me the review that I was the author.

    • @elizabethsmith955
      @elizabethsmith955 Před rokem +41

      I'm using this idea. I was already going to use a secret pen name and not tell anyone I know about it just in case they end up reading it by coincidence but I didn't even think about how then I could literally give it to them.

    • @katemurray8201
      @katemurray8201 Před rokem +22

      I would do that, but literally no one in my family likes to read. Which I honestly don’t mind so I don’t have to worry about them reading my work lol

    • @alexgagnon2144
      @alexgagnon2144 Před rokem +5

      Ohhh that's a nice idea! If only my family read in english :')

    • @montananerd8244
      @montananerd8244 Před rokem +6

      Well, now I will rave about the excellence of every book my kid buys, it would break my heart to unwittingly give him a negative review. I would suggest maybe just telling your parents - the joy of giving your child a compliment on that level of achievement is so amazing, pls don't take that from the supportive parents ♥

    • @beaq6755
      @beaq6755 Před 5 měsíci +6

      ​@montananerd8244 the sentiment is sweet but the purpose of this little deception is to get free reviews from easily accessible readers. Them knowing it's your work and not wanting to hurt your feelings negates the advantage of getting an honest free review and observation of honest reader's reaction in real time

  • @florescent4826
    @florescent4826 Před rokem +120

    My goodness, Rachel, did you even consider all the papercuts that poor man suffered?

  • @opalsandwhiteroses
    @opalsandwhiteroses Před 2 lety +335

    I remember this guy. He complained over on our sub too, r/selfpublish. Same childish behavior there as well. I remember reading his blurb and the look inside sample and giving him honest feedback. Eventually we had to remove the post because he was causing too much drama and being an ass.

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před 2 lety +80

      Omfg of course he’s a serial offender I should’ve known

    • @frightinthenightproduction4059
      @frightinthenightproduction4059 Před 2 lety +58

      Serial offender is putting it lightly ahahaha. He use to post daily on r/writers and somehow raised the stakes each time

  • @Shalaena
    @Shalaena Před rokem +279

    I've been working on my gaslamp series since NaNoWriMo 2014. Does that mean it's extra good? No, it means I got sidetracked by other projects a ton and went through years of depression where I didn't write anything. You can work on something for 10 years and it can still be garbage f you didn't research, learn, and improve. Time does not equal quality.

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před rokem +44

      THIS!!!

    • @MintyBingus
      @MintyBingus Před rokem +13

      Exactly this. I have a little passion project I started around 2017. It's gone through so many rewrites and plot changes and characters being added and renamed and removed and reorganized. It's still nowhere near finished because I started it as an overconfident 15 year old who wasn't great at character writing or plotting and now have to un-fuck everything.

    • @Shalaena
      @Shalaena Před rokem +9

      @@MintyBingus Unfucking teenage writing is a massive task, lol! Good luck! You got this!

    • @MintyBingus
      @MintyBingus Před rokem +11

      @@Shalaena IT REALLY IS, BUT I'M GETTING THROUGH IT!! Making these characters less "flat tropes taken from anime" and more "people who feel at least a little three dimensional"
      any time i get discouraged i just look at the compliments people give my newer characters and remind myself that my little babies from 6 years ago can be that good too

  • @McGinty84
    @McGinty84 Před rokem +57

    Lol I've had the one line taken from a review and used on a website before. To sum up I wrote "The book is well written however the second half degrades into claiming conspiracy theories are fact which makes you disbelieve the first half of the book."
    And the author took the "The book is well written" part and quoted it on his website.

  • @Virgo117
    @Virgo117 Před rokem +137

    I remember a friend of mine used to write, and they asked for feedback. I did provide four positive points and if they continue practicing they would improve more.
    Then I had a less positive thing to add.
    They grew angry and called my actions "nefarious"

    • @adrianghandtchi1562
      @adrianghandtchi1562 Před rokem +22

      It goes to show that they won’t make it far if they think too highly of themselves, they should not think poorly of themselves either.

    • @tiomela
      @tiomela Před rokem +20

      I read a friend's book. Gave them detailed feedback - with 80% of it being positive. Then they told everyone that I trashed their book. Ruined me for critique partners for me me.

    • @Virgo117
      @Virgo117 Před rokem +7

      @@tiomela Yeah that's unreasonably petty of them.

    • @elizabethsmith955
      @elizabethsmith955 Před rokem +8

      Dang. I have a friend who also writes. We talk about it a bunch and give each other lots of feedback. I can't imagine if one of us just blew up at the other about it 🤣

    • @moustik31
      @moustik31 Před rokem

      #Drama
      🙃

  • @ArtFreak17
    @ArtFreak17 Před rokem +29

    Mentioning bear scenes just had me me thinking about "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" by Stephen King. A pretty good Man (rather a lost little girl) vs Nature survival horror story. It's been a long time since I read it - but I loved how King did a good job painting a picture of The Woods' various threats from a child's eye. Bears are already pretty scary to an adult with tools of defense on hand... to a small child (fighting the elements and illness, too)? It might as well have been an eldritch horror.

  • @bebella9005
    @bebella9005 Před 2 lety +44

    "there you go, free advice! In capitalism???" I diedddddd

  • @0Lottee0
    @0Lottee0 Před 2 lety +186

    I understand how putting your heart into a passion project only for it to receive...middling reviews would feel real shitty, and I think artists of any medium can sympathize with that. But none of us are owed success by the simple merit of caring a whole lot and the amount of time put into a creation is not an indication of that things value. I genuinely think everyone should have pride in the work they've done, from every stick figure to the cringiest of middle school fanfics, but there's a big difference between having pride in putting yourself out there and just being entitled. Arlen didn't WANT feedback or critique, he wanted sales and to be praised for the ~sheer brilliance~ of his imagination. Most art communities are really welcoming and willing to help people make the best stuff they can with their current abilities. If Arlen had come to these people humble and in good faith I really think he'd be getting way more people genuinely willing to financially help out (patreon, kofi, buying a copy), even if his current book isn't particularly good.

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před 2 lety +25

      THIS ALL OF THIS

    • @moontokkym_art
      @moontokkym_art Před rokem +13

      Oh my god this. I'm an aspiring graphic novel author and each page takes around 100 hours of work, the medium in itself has a massively high time barrier of entry, and 2D animation is even worse in that respect yet we still critique animated series and comic books and graphic novels all the time... I'm really proud of how much I've achieved so far, and I'm stoked to keep going, but I know that the first pages kind of suck, and that's the point. I'm going to improve with experience, most people do.
      I have received some really good criticism, especially in terms of marketing (which I objectively suck at) that I am currently implementing and I hope it's really going to help me. Was it hard to swallow emotionally? Hell yes, especially because it comes from someone I'm close to and admire. Did the logic part of my brain immediately know they were right? Absolutely, that's why it kind of hurt. I get why he would want to react like that if this is the first time he's getting this sort of feedback on his baby in public, but this is not acceptable conduct for an author or any public professionnal.
      Separating critique of your work and personal attack is something that is a learned skill though, so I genuinely hope that JM can take time to step away and process this so that they don't end up a sad, bitter, self-righteous old man like Norman Boutin.
      (sorry for the long comment)

  • @KelsiReads
    @KelsiReads Před 2 lety +71

    At this point the initials JM are a red flag
    *edit: i just realized these are my husband's initials 😳

  • @gabbyabbott4965
    @gabbyabbott4965 Před 2 lety +287

    If I had a nickel for every time there was a JM on this channel, I’d have two nickels. Not a whole lot but it’s weird it happened more than once.

  • @Kingdomheatsox2
    @Kingdomheatsox2 Před rokem +7

    Five sales in the first week for a self published debate is genuinely pretty freaking good.

  • @TheWordN3rd
    @TheWordN3rd Před 2 lety +119

    I've seen authors put WAY more effort into trad pub (and even self pub) than he did and still face extreme discouragement. It's par for the course, by dude, and sometimes people just dislike your book...

    • @moustik31
      @moustik31 Před rokem +11

      Exactly. I have a friend, who has been published since she was 17 (we are 35 now). Over the years, her books have been aquired by more prestigious publishers but it hasnt translated into bigger sales.
      Eg. her last book was a middle grade story about girl playing soccer. The World Cup was this year (we are both French, it's a pretty big deal over here). Had they wanted to, her publisher could have EASILY create interest for her book. But instead, they did nothing.
      People think, that getting published is automatically a big thing but for writers like my friend, it has meant a lot of helplessness and sadness. Even when she herself came up with ideas to market her book, they didnt care enough to implement them.
      It all has been a very informative but depressing experience to watch unfold.

    • @TheWordN3rd
      @TheWordN3rd Před rokem +11

      @@moustik31 It is so hard for midlist authors rn. Publishers have abandoned them for the bigger catchier titles. And makes so little sense bc midlist is what provides pubs a stable bottom line.

    • @moustik31
      @moustik31 Před rokem +8

      @@TheWordN3rd I didnt know, it had a name but you are so right. Here, every September, around 600 books are released (and then some more are released in Spring), that's A LOT of books, that arent meeting their audience bec. said audience doesnt know they exist. What a sad state of affair.
      😕

  • @juliaduquette7927
    @juliaduquette7927 Před rokem +66

    Yeah I’m a writer in a lot of writer communities. There’s a lot of folks with a weird sense of entitlement. I wrote this thing so all of you peasants should worship me! And they never take feedback or try to improve. Big yikes!! Real authors take feedback serious and try to improve not whine, lol. I’d be the last person to say my writing is gold, I’m working on it daily and some days it’s kinda ok 😸. It’s like the quote, “if you have imposter syndrome, you are not an imposter. Imposters don’t know or worry about being imposters.” The clueless ones are cringey like this dude!

  • @Financiallyfreeauthor
    @Financiallyfreeauthor Před rokem +20

    He’s surprised the community is tough on writers? Is he brand new?
    Learning to take critique is an important but difficult skill. As an author myself it took many years of workshop classes before I could hear constructive criticism without breaking down.
    The entitlement and arrogance on this guy is something else! O.o

  • @lauraelaineallen21
    @lauraelaineallen21 Před rokem +14

    He could mean "raise" as in grow, or "raze" as in destroy. The text doesn't make it clear if this is a destructive or productive force.
    And at first, I was like, "well, to me, blurbs are the hardest things to write." but also you got to listen when people offer real suggestions. I had a query I sent out and got a rejection from an agent who basically said, "this sounds like every other fantasy on the shelf." and I went back and looked at my query... and yeah. The synopsis did sound like a list of basic fantasy tropes. I re-worked it, and have gotten four requests for manuscripts on the book. Looks like listening to people when they are trying to help... helps.

  • @GamerZombieCupcake
    @GamerZombieCupcake Před rokem +16

    I overreacted when you spoke about him giving one star to other authors and you said, "very Rasputin move." 😂 lost it.

  • @sianceinwenauthor
    @sianceinwenauthor Před 2 lety +91

    “If they were an author, he went and gave their books one star.”
    And this is why I do not review a book if I don’t think I can give it four or five stars. 🙊

    • @TheRonnieaj
      @TheRonnieaj Před 2 lety +29

      From an author, rate the book. If that puppy is a one-star, one star away. I’ve seen multiple reviews and DNFs of my books (and I really don’t read reviews if I can help it), saying they couldn’t get into them. And I feel bad, not because I think I’m the best author, but because I know it sucks to not be able to get into a book you’re interested in. Because I’m an adult. And as a romance writer, we sell books off our 1-stars, so I’m team 1-star all day. I don’t worry about review bombing, but I also try not to be an ass, so there’s that.

    • @sianceinwenauthor
      @sianceinwenauthor Před rokem +14

      @@TheRonnieaj, I’ve been targeted by an author in the past when I called them out for crappy behaviour and it was stressful AF. She literally PM’d me that she was going to report every video I posted on TikTok and if that didn’t work, she’d have her friends do it as well, along with threatening to sue me. I know nothing I said about her was defamation because I was speaking the truth but I still don’t want the headache of a lawsuit even if I’m in the right.
      I’m honestly shocked she didn’t stoop to review-bombing my books. Basically, I’m traumatized from that experience. 😅
      But yup…I have zero desire to leave any reviews 3 stars or below. I’m currently rage reading a book that I could happily 1-star if I didn’t have this stance but it’s an author in my genre and within my specific niche, so I absolutely will NOT be reviewing it lol! 😬

    • @eneyavorodecky
      @eneyavorodecky Před rokem +13

      @@sianceinwenauthor ooh, I would have had a field day with that. I hope you forwarded this to her publishing agency? Because that is such a behaviour I would gleefully make sure the first result on Google is her behaviour.

    • @sianceinwenauthor
      @sianceinwenauthor Před rokem +7

      @@eneyavorodecky, she threatened me with legal action and even though nothing I said about her was untrue, so I WOULD win a lawsuit, I also don't have the time and energy for a lawsuit.

    • @eneyavorodecky
      @eneyavorodecky Před rokem +4

      @@sianceinwenauthor oh my god, these people are bonkers.

  • @actuallyrubyleaf
    @actuallyrubyleaf Před rokem +18

    This guy gives off the exact same vibes as some dude who used to be _notorious_ on the Wattpad forums, back before Wattpad got rid of them. Mans was out there acting like his works were the pinnacle of high art, and he unironically believed the reason they were doing badly on there was because Wattpad hated originality and even saying you wanted something non-clichéd would get you hounded off the platform by bad boy romance fangirls with pitchforks. (I am not exaggerating here.) Dude was constantly insulting the userbase in the forums, made a grand announcement of leaving the platform and then stayed, and genuinely held the attitude of "critics are all A-holes who have no idea how to write themselves." I don't wanna drop the name but Wattpad veterans will remember, he and this dude should be besties or something.
    Amateur publishing spaces are wild, y'all.

  • @junebunchanumbers
    @junebunchanumbers Před rokem +97

    "That bear scene I wrote is the best bear scene any author has ever put to paper, ever, hands down no joke."
    Somebody hasn't read Marian Engel's Bear.

  • @AustereSquire
    @AustereSquire Před rokem +54

    I now want a compilation of all bear scenes in all books so that I can compare them and discover the best one.

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před rokem +5

      Same

    • @alisaurus4224
      @alisaurus4224 Před rokem +10

      The scene in Little House in the Big Woods where Ma smacks a bear on the ass and tells it to move because she thought (by lanternlight) that it was their cow leaning on the gate has to be in there

    • @MortMe0430
      @MortMe0430 Před rokem +3

      I want someone to dramatize in prose in their work that photo that's gone around of that big group of bears having a munch party with that huge pile of fallen apples (and them getting lit af if the apples were fermented like one commenter said). THAT would be the coolest bear scene, I bet.

    • @peachtea7269
      @peachtea7269 Před rokem +1

      @@alisaurus4224 seconded

    • @mars74929
      @mars74929 Před 6 měsíci

      act 3 scene 3 of the winter's tale by shakespeare has a character exit the scene with the stage direction "exit, pursued by bear" which is my personal favorite 😭😭😭😭😭

  • @VickiWeavil
    @VickiWeavil Před 2 lety +47

    Reality check -- time spent does not equal quality; no reader is required to like your work; most authors do not sell that many books; it takes time and (often) several books to achieve any sort of reader following... I could go on, but why bother with authors like this?

    • @alisaurus4224
      @alisaurus4224 Před rokem +6

      You clearly don’t grasp JM’s genius 😤 He worked SO HARD you guys

    • @KittenLynxARI
      @KittenLynxARI Před rokem +4

      This is something I am trying to come in terms with, especially with people not maybe liking my stuff. I am working on a short story series, and I'd be devastated if I acted like any of these people when/if I get negative feedback. But I am scared that it will happen regardless. It will take a moment, but I want to get there, eventually.

  • @generous1star943
    @generous1star943 Před 2 lety +64

    please do a whole series where you do graphic edits for horrible books hahahaha

  • @nancyjay790
    @nancyjay790 Před rokem +22

    Okay, first: I think your design made the cover hella more magical and enticing than the original.
    Second: Every time you sing, "Thank you for being a friend," you sound incredible.
    Happy Christmas 2022.

  • @thequai6056
    @thequai6056 Před rokem +44

    TBH, I know it's kinda old, but since there's a new show coming out about the Anne Rice book 'Interview With a Vampire', I'd kind of like to here how current audiences take to the book. I never could stomach her writing style, but the movie was one of my faves when I was a teen.

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před rokem +17

      I remember that movie! I watched it while very sick once in middle school and it felt like a complete mind fuck. I might eventually read it!

    • @alisaurus4224
      @alisaurus4224 Před rokem +10

      I read several of her vampire books years ago. I really enjoyed Interview but had diminishing returns with the sequels and stopped after three or four. I’ve been watching the new show & i love it!

    • @Romanticoutlaw
      @Romanticoutlaw Před rokem +7

      problem with Anne Rice is that she can write a beginning and an ending, but the middle of her books are an absolute slog. This is much less noticeable in Interview because it's the shortest, but as each book gets longer, they get harder and harder to plough through for the good parts. I think I got stuck partway through the third

    • @montananerd8244
      @montananerd8244 Před rokem +1

      Omg you made me remember that I was part of a Fandom once, lol I've been saying absolutely never. I read all the books, including the S&Mish ones, and even the one that somehow became a buddy cop movie 😂 I only watched a couple movies, not sure how many films she got. Tbh I did not care for her writing but my friends were obsessed & I finally just slogged thru til I got into the rhythm. It's easier than reading the Bible, so there's that lol. I was never even remotely goth and I rolled my eyes at vampire fantasies, but I did get embarrassingly into the lore and the increasingly ridiculous origin stories. Wow the summer of 92...what a blast from the past. Oh lol, I had just finished college, no wonder I was chain-reading trashy novels that summer. I had already come out but had not become very sex positive yet, I suppose reading essentially erotica nonstop for 3 months didn't hurt haha.

  • @OlgaSPN
    @OlgaSPN Před rokem +9

    "I can't get anyone to read it, not even my own family". Bro, that's like the pinnacle of anti-praise. It's like a reverse endorsement from someone on the level of Shakespeare xD It's the kind of thing authors have nightmares about - you pick up the book and here is that as a tagline on the front cover.
    Or... ha has a really shitty family. One of the two.

  • @Toast-com
    @Toast-com Před rokem +23

    As a writer, the title "Crystal Keepers," gives me so many cool ideas. But, like, c'mon, why'd JM have to go and make it a generic fantasy book?

    • @nightlizard8595
      @nightlizard8595 Před rokem +3

      He was going off in the comments about how it was supposed to be the next Lord of the Rings and no one could convince him otherwise

  • @VegemiteQueen1
    @VegemiteQueen1 Před rokem +17

    The poop story got me SO HARD I have never spat out a drink laughing before in my life.. Until this moment. I thank you for your service.

  • @LadyKittybug
    @LadyKittybug Před rokem +7

    Well he’s an author, paper cuts! DUH !
    Love you and your content, continue being sassy and smart!

  • @ivylilybasket
    @ivylilybasket Před 2 lety +24

    About your comment at 16:05 - the author actually made a "dare" on one of the sub-reddits with link to his book as a review copy. It was up only for 10 days or so, but nope, it wasn't a shady copy, it was straight from the author himself. I still have it on my disk somewhere.

  • @igtut1
    @igtut1 Před 2 lety +10

    It's on Kindle Unlimited right now if anyone is curious but doesn't want to directly pay him. (He still gets money, but you don't lose anything you didn't already spend.)

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před 2 lety +8

      I am actually reading it now by viewer request so review to come!

  • @phoebe8028
    @phoebe8028 Před rokem +9

    Watching this again because the author decided to inadvertently promo your channel. Love to see outrage marketing backfire so spectacularly.

  • @lightningstriking
    @lightningstriking Před rokem +16

    i read a lot of indie/self pub books on kindle unlimited, regardless of cover. i have read so many good ones. the cover is bad but it does look like one i would have given a chance regardless. if he'd just waited longer than a week for results, maybe we wouldn't be here.

    • @ReadswithRachel
      @ReadswithRachel  Před rokem +5

      This is true! I used to read a lot of indie KU books with bad covers long before starting a channel. I might’ve picked this up back then as well. I mean I read the entire Planet Urth series. I didn’t have high standards lol.

  • @Pipkiablo
    @Pipkiablo Před rokem +21

    I've gotten negative feedback on stuff I've written before. It makes me sad, as it would anybody, because no one wants to hear that something they put time and effort into was actually shit, but I also took that feedback and improved on it until I rarely get negative feedback anymore (though I haven't completely ruled out my readers being too polite to tell me it's bad |D ). It always baffles me when people react like this to valid criticism.

    • @moustik31
      @moustik31 Před rokem +1

      There is this myth, that writing comes to a select few people magically, when it's a creative craft like any other: practice and feedback make you better.
      I remember Dan Brown giving students recipes to write best-sellers and this being met by backlash. Pity. A lot of info on writing, plotting and characterisation is out there for people willing to learn.

  • @aromaladyellie
    @aromaladyellie Před rokem +3

    Your comment that he confused raze/raise reminds me of how much I wanna tear my hair out when someone says “queue the music” and they mean “cue”. Queue means to wait, cue is a thing happening.

    • @adorabell4253
      @adorabell4253 Před rokem +1

      They might mean queue as in kit the music in line. I queue up songs, not cue up songs. But if it’s the first one then ya , that’s weird.

  • @DesertKitsune
    @DesertKitsune Před 6 měsíci +3

    Nobody's going to talk about the farmer looking out at a valley of mountains? That also seems to be surrounded by high gorges? And is he saying that tectonic plates are sticking out of the *skin* of the Earth's *crust*? Sir, I'm going to need to see a topographical map immediately.

  • @KerriB
    @KerriB Před 6 měsíci +1

    "I can't get anyone to read it, even my family." **takes a deep breath**
    your. Family. Is. NOT. Your. Target. Audience. Omg, so many authors in writing groups have the same complaint and then when asked if their family reads, 9.99/10 the answer is no 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

  • @arp711
    @arp711 Před 2 lety +16

    JM = Jerking Myself. Also now I want to write a short story about a bear just to write a definitely better bear scene than his. I don't even have to read his, I can just have the bear walk down a road and take a poo and boom, better bear scene, guaranteed. Or maybe instead it'll be about bearded leather daddies. Definitely better bear scene.

  • @SergeiMosin
    @SergeiMosin Před rokem +2

    JM Arlen: *Exit from Goodreads, pursued by the best bear scene ever written*

  • @hl-river8580
    @hl-river8580 Před 2 lety +24

    this series of yours is FASCINATING thank u for bringing these to ppl's attention

  • @soapybagle
    @soapybagle Před 11 měsíci +1

    If only I had half the confidence that man has

  • @Yayatv
    @Yayatv Před rokem +1

    "The crying, I get, but bleeding." I'm cracking up! 😂🤣 I'm here for it! Subscribed!

  • @theoneandonlyldf
    @theoneandonlyldf Před rokem +6

    I've been binge watching all these videos recently, and you always manage to be the perfect balance of entertaining and informative! Love it.

  • @tesssully4250
    @tesssully4250 Před 2 lety +15

    This cover has only reminded me of a book I read back in middle school, Lost Road or Dead Road or something like that, idk it was green not blue but the vibe was so similar....figured I'd ask here since we are all book nerds 😅 also since this video is what NOT to read I thought I'd find an alternative 😅

  • @Erdnussbuttertoast
    @Erdnussbuttertoast Před rokem +4

    13:01 oh baby. 😂 the best bear scene any author has ever put to paper, ever, hands down no joke, is "Exit pursued by a bear"

  • @MortMe0430
    @MortMe0430 Před rokem +8

    Has this dude never been subjected to a peer review session for an English comp class in his life?? 'Cause that can be pretty infuriating / depressing, but you're still expected to respond with a modicum of civility. Doubly so if you're expecting to get paid for your work.

  • @jojibug4207
    @jojibug4207 Před rokem +1

    seven hells....I was in this thread lol...love this!

  • @KewlImp
    @KewlImp Před měsícem +2

    My first book, I self-edited, did the cover art. In its life, it has sold 11 copies over 4 years. No reviews.

  • @rosakatze5556
    @rosakatze5556 Před 2 lety +27

    The other day I started "The absolute book" by Elisabth Knox and picked up on some weird christian ideology. Not sure if it was actually that or a bad use of chrsistian mythology. So I was wondering if you had heard about this book? Might be a good one to review

  • @RinLockhart
    @RinLockhart Před rokem +2

    I screamed at the Rasputin comparison

  • @PurpleManatees
    @PurpleManatees Před 2 lety +5

    You are finally the first video that shows up on my CZcams front page 😭 a blessing

  • @hunniedpeaches
    @hunniedpeaches Před 2 lety +6

    The sass in this video is killing me 😂💗

  • @aliciagrice140
    @aliciagrice140 Před 2 lety +1

    This video brought me so much joy! Thanks for laughs!

  • @Tareltonlives
    @Tareltonlives Před rokem +6

    The premise isn't THAT bad, but this guy just feels like he refuses to edit, refuses to listen to criticism that isn't just praising him, and just can't deal with the idea of improving his writing. For me, the most discouraging bit about writing isn't the criticism, but simply being ignored. Corrections are important- it helps improve the product, the technique. He's deliberately refusing to improve as a writer.

  • @chrish4309
    @chrish4309 Před rokem

    Shakespeare's The Winters Tale, "Exit, pursued by a bear" is the best bear scene ever written.

  • @lua_ferraz
    @lua_ferraz Před 2 lety +7

    King D was the end of me 😂

  • @mrsiz218
    @mrsiz218 Před rokem +6

    I… I’m… I… I think I’m just speechless. ‘Extra spice, you don’t have to tip me’😅 and even the appearance of leaving a fake review is just bad. Seems to me that Amazon should have caught that and slammed him for it! OMG!

  • @katieb63
    @katieb63 Před rokem +2

    Lol, tastes like ash and sadness, that is all of my cooking. I've been informed the smoke detector is not a timer many times. Who knew 😂😂😂

  • @isaakvanast
    @isaakvanast Před rokem

    - Allegedly a Legit Review. I dropped my juicebox! Subscribed!

  • @Grayvorn
    @Grayvorn Před rokem

    More glorious craziness, thanks Rachel!

  • @JMIvie
    @JMIvie Před 2 lety +5

    *looks at my name* Maybe I need to consider a name change… 😂

  • @likepocketsjingling
    @likepocketsjingling Před rokem +2

    Switched to this one from your most recent video as the nephews are arriving from daycare soon, and due to his reaction on Twitter, a lot of the language on that is not vocab that I want them to be picking up XD
    Something that I noticed from his GoodReads profile is that - with the exception of the (deserved) reactions that he received once he began to show his arse - all of the negative reviews are respectful. Nobody's abusing him, and some people are really trying to be kind and helpful. I don't think that this writer belongs in publishing until he can learn to take concrit well - or even just accept that some people may simply just not like his book tbh.

  • @raysofmariehere6441
    @raysofmariehere6441 Před rokem +1

    Blood sweat and tears. Blood = paper cuts, probably

  • @poincianab12
    @poincianab12 Před rokem +1

    Finally watching this one..I'm getting Neverending Story, Narnia...vibes

  • @kimberlystewart8980
    @kimberlystewart8980 Před rokem +1

    I kno this is an old video, but did this man not know that an entire scene in Shakespeare ends with "exit, pursued by a bear".
    IT EVEN MOVES THE LINE OF ACTION ALONG. How can he top that?

  • @MasterZeus94
    @MasterZeus94 Před rokem +2

    This guy looks like a Walmart version of Krimson Rogue... (I'm so sorry for saying that, Kyle)

  • @jazzauthor
    @jazzauthor Před 2 lety +4

    Ash and sadness. You won the internet today.

  • @demh6214
    @demh6214 Před 3 měsíci +3

    just wanted to give a quick update on this guy: he is currently on the site Royal Road and has been throwing a massive tantrum (April 21 and 22, 2024) on the Royal Road reddit after getting an honest review from a prominent writer on the site. YIKES!

  • @LunaDarklore
    @LunaDarklore Před rokem +1

    I know I struggle to write, due to my disabilities.
    Damn, this author makes me feel better about my writing. lol

  • @AsheNightwind
    @AsheNightwind Před 4 měsíci

    Hello, enjoying your older videos and had to laugh at your question about “blood, sweat, and tears”.
    I’m teaching myself to sew by hand, since it helps me when I’m having a moment, and have knicked myself countless times while handling the pins and needles. So yes, there’s some blood in my work.
    XD

  • @saxbend
    @saxbend Před 27 dny

    This is why I cannot bring myself to self-publish. I fully understand that making people aware your self-published book even exists, never mind that it might be a book they would enjoy requires skills and ideas (and probably contacts and resources) that I simply do not have, and don't really have the desire to acquire. I can promise myself that I wouldn't go off the rails if I got into this situation but I know it would hurt and that's why I couldn't self-publish and put myself through that. I would much rather be rejected by agents and editors than have my book come out and flop due to my inability to market it.

  • @n7lyriumghost744
    @n7lyriumghost744 Před rokem +1

    He's currently been ranting about not getting enough good reviews and says he will be holding his new work hostage until he gets more positive reviews. Hope he holds his writing hostage, permanently. The more I read about his behavior, the worse it gets.

  • @NativeLadyBookWarrior
    @NativeLadyBookWarrior Před 2 lety +3

    LOL. "You're welcome for that dramatic retelling" 😂🙌🏾

  • @taylorgayhart9497
    @taylorgayhart9497 Před rokem

    “Is that too far? Should I be making fun of my 5 year old here? The lines blurry.” 🤣🤣🤣 dead!!!

  • @esbenm6544
    @esbenm6544 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I'm tempted to write a glowingly positive review, with the exception of the bear scene that I didn't care for. Just to see how he would react.

  • @heathersmith8549
    @heathersmith8549 Před rokem +1

    The book is currently $0.00 on kindle

  • @feenays2364
    @feenays2364 Před rokem +2

    This reminds me of the first novella I've even written in high school. I was still working on it as a senior in college, improving it as I studied the craft. However, do to a writing club laughing at me, I realized it was not meant to be, and that my first writing teacher was right...I was writing like a 12y. Three years later, I start a new story and found it remarkably better. I think authors have that first practice book as they learn, at least that's what I see looking back at my previous work. Perhaps this guy wanted his practice to be his best and was anxious for fame. I know I was in high school and college, but that just lead to arrogance in the end. I believe that was the down fall for him. If this guy tries again someday, I hope he has gained humility and patience.

  • @marilu3173
    @marilu3173 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I just realized this book vaguely reminds me of The Neverending Story by writer Michael Ende.

  • @P0rk_Sinigang
    @P0rk_Sinigang Před 6 měsíci +2

    I'm sorry, I know that I shouldn't judge, but I saw that thumbnail and thought, "Yeah, he looks like someone who'd throw a tantrum on Reddit."

  • @Polygonyall
    @Polygonyall Před rokem +4

    now i want to know what the bear scene is

  • @raphaellasaroukos3775

    One of the best things I’ve done (as an aspiring author) is start talking yo a friend about my book. His advice has been invaluable. The best thing you can do is get an outside perspective.

  • @samuelalexandermarkovnikov891
    @samuelalexandermarkovnikov891 Před 10 měsíci

    Well, obviously, we have to spill blood to sign the demonic contract to get our writing skills. The sweat and tears come afterwards.

  • @Nat-hc7pu
    @Nat-hc7pu Před 2 lety +11

    I do think he meant "raise" as in grow because the powers she's got is meant to counteract a sickness? But regardless the synopsis is ah... Not great to be polite! I keep laughing about KING DUKEmot. King duke! As you do! All the words in the English language you could have shoved together and you use two titles I just.
    Also I was writing this comment while I was still in the video (right after the raise comment) and you're just, "I'm gonna call him King D," so now I'm crying because I'm a CHILD sometimes.

    • @Nat-hc7pu
      @Nat-hc7pu Před 2 lety +2

      Oh no I kept watching and somehow it gets worse than King Duke I just.

  • @dirtydove
    @dirtydove Před rokem

    Also, I have a few projects I have been working on for a half a decade and even I, a green writer, do equate time with quality.
    (Half those years were spent napping and fucking around in my insecurities)
    There's so much to do to develop a hearty, well thought story. I do not even know half of it (thank you writers on yt). I'm never going to stop learning and rewriting to improve them.
    If that's what JM wrote in 7 years, then it seems like he did not bleed very much.
    PS. I love the your cover 💯%

    • @dirtydove
      @dirtydove Před rokem

      I meant to say do not* haha I'm embarrassed

  • @mikankitsune0440
    @mikankitsune0440 Před 7 měsíci

    All authors work hard and put a lot of time into their books. But, it takes a lot more effort to make that book even moderately successful.
    I was published at 17 and it did a number on me (publisher broke contract and did a bunch of other awful things), but gave me a lot of insight that pushed me to work harder, learn more, and to improve my writing in addition to my marketing skills.
    I tell a lot of aspiring authors that if they aren’t ready/willing to take criticism and hear people possibly shred their story to pieces that they should wait and workshop their manuscript before attempting to publish. Feedback is both necessary and also a very difficult thing to accept, but its part of life and this industry.

  • @Parker_DNDnerd
    @Parker_DNDnerd Před 6 měsíci

    I’m 16, and I’ve been writing since elementary school. I have one finished novel as of now, which celebrated its two year anniversary this NYE that just passed. While I am proud of my work, my sister has given a fair amount of criticism as well as praise, and I’m ALSO self aware enough to know it needs a HOST of revisions before I publish it. A couple chapters need rewriting, a character needs to be cut and another’s intro needs to be redone. I can know that and still be proud of my work. Please gods, fellow writers, make sure you accept your story’s problems with humility.

  • @motherbipsy960
    @motherbipsy960 Před rokem +1

    I know a dude who looks exactly like JM and can confirm, Ra-Ra-Rasputin.

  • @mcjordie
    @mcjordie Před 2 lety +2

    7:54 lol as soon as you said his name at the beginning I had this thought 😂

  • @onlyfrog
    @onlyfrog Před 6 měsíci

    that was honestly hilarious.

  • @seraphonica
    @seraphonica Před měsícem

    "Dukenot" is unwieldy, but can we talk about "King Duke-"? woof.

  • @strangementalitypaperYT
    @strangementalitypaperYT Před 6 měsíci

    Delusions of grandeur are the new imposter syndrome.

  • @danielbroome5690
    @danielbroome5690 Před rokem +2

    The perspective on the cover is wonky a bit, but the Font, Colours and the eyes are grabbing my attention pretty well.

  • @fukyomammason
    @fukyomammason Před 6 měsíci +3

    Rah, Rah, Rasputin
    Writer of poor fantasy
    It was a shame how he carried on

  • @isaakvanast
    @isaakvanast Před rokem

    "Even if you spend a bunch of time and money on something, sometimes that things still a piece of shit" - my Dad