Don’t Settle For Anything Less Than The Very Best: #RebelliousWriting

“It’s just the way it is.”

People are being taught to say this about the content in the books being written for them. Cheap language, sex scenes, and poor writing.

It makes me sad – just because that’s the way it is right now doesn’t mean that it has to keep being that way. In fact, it shouldn’t keep being that way. If I have anything to say about it, it won’t keep being that way.

Nobody that I’ve talked to likes it or wants it. They’ll admit that they would prefer clean books. But… it’s just the way it is.

There’s nothing you can do about it.

We can’t make authors stop writing whatever they want.

It’s either that or stop reading books.

Right?

No. No, I think not. I agree that the situation is bad. I agree that most of what is out there is garbage and what isn’t has content I find troubling at least and dangerous at worst. I can’t make today’s popular writers do what I want and I won’t change their worldview by trashtalking their books. And I’m not telling you to stop reading… as long as you remember to keep thinking.

But things don’t have to be this way. That’s nothing more than a ridiculous lie that publishing houses would love for you to believe because it means that you will continue to buy whatever they tell you to.

I’m a writer. Some of you are writers.

We can change things.

We are the next generation of bestselling authors and I want to challenge you to do better for those who will read your books.

Saying “it’s just the way things are” is resignation, it’s saying that we can’t learn and grow and get better at our craft, it’s settling for less than the very best.

Don’t get complacent. As a reader. As a writer.

Don’t settle for anything less than the very best. You deserve it.

Start demanding what you deserve.

Be that person who is never satisfied. We have to keep striving to better and search relentlessly for true excellence. I think we’re all far too afraid of being a harsh critic and driving everyone crazy with our constant negativity. Stop that! Maybe you’ll get some hate, but I think we could change things if we would just being pushovers. Don’t let anything slip by you. Be the meanest critic of them all. Take notes. Look closer. Dig deeper. Don’t take a single thing for granted.

Who said you have to be embarrassed about having high expectations?

I have a question. If the readers don’t care for it, then why? Who is it helping? Who wants it to be this way? Who is pushing so hard for kids to be brainwashed into thinking this is normal?

Brainwashed into thinking that casual sex without consequences – physical and psychological – is normal? Into thinking that stupidity and lack of education is normal? Into thinking that copying whatever everyone else does is normal?

Into thinking that books full of this sort of trash is just… normal?

Because the truth is that it’s not okay. 

Bad decisions have consequences. Well-educated people don’t talk 5th graders mimicking the gangsters on TV. Following the herd will never take you where you want to be.

Dare to be different. Dare to change things.

Write honestly – but never forget to write well. 

Check out the website and use the hashtag #RebelliousWriting to share how you are rebelling against “just the way it is.”