Thanks, DU!

[Mythsaje]

It tears at my heart to see some people leaving the way they are. Yes, the devisiveness gets a little old sometimes, with the Hillary bashing, the Obama bashing, and (not very common at the moment) the Edwards bashing. And all the other bashing. Did someone actually call Kucinich a kook? Maybe not.

But seriously. I don't think he's our guy, unfortunately, but I wouldn't attack him. He seems a nice little fellow, and he's tuned in to what's going on. The world needs kooks too. Sometimes it's the kooks who break trail for the rest of us.

But that's neither here nor there. Edwards is my choice, which has pretty much prompted me to avoid posting in any of the pro-other candidates threads. Nor will I jump in and bash them. I'm not sure if that's an act of general wisdom, or simply because I don't see much point in wasting my time trying to convert someone who won't be converted.

Those who are on the fence, I can only strongly recommend Edwards. He's on the class war thing like gangbusters (how appropriate, eh) and we need someone like him taking on the corporatist sector. I don't think either of the other two front runners will do it. I'd like to be wrong, but I don't think I am.

Though I myself have taken a few breaks from posting here, I always return. I can't see myself throwing up my hands and walking away. This place helps keep me sane, and gives me an outlet for my thoughts about the real world and current events that I'm not sure I'd have anywhere else. I tried blogging briefly, but I'd already grown accustomed to the instant gratification of being either cheered or jeered by intelligent people rather than the broken-minded.

I wonder sometimes whether my overt political views might be hurting my career as a fiction author. I've heard a few whispers to that effect, but I trust my DU friends to make up the difference in the short term. Everybody knows a fantasy fan, right? The winter holiday (whatever you call it) is coming up and "Sword and Shadow," the first book in my Infinity: Prime series, would make a great gift for any of them. The sequel is already finished, and submitted, but I'm still waiting to see if it'll be accepted.

I just hope my political outspokenness doesn't cost me in the end.

These wonderful rants are cathartic, but they don't do much to pay for the dog kibble. And, believe me, we spend a LOT on dog kibble. Not as much as we might if we had bigger dogs, but...well, even our min-pin can eat a lot if you give her half a chance. She's still svelte, but not from lack of mooching on her part.

Anyway... I'm glad everyone liked "War!!!" and I want to thank everyone who helped to propel it to the top of the Greatest Page.

If you like my writing I implore you to consider purchasing a piece of my fiction. For those of you interested in a greener method of acquistion, all my books are also available in electronic format. Instant distribution that burns no fuel and only inconveniences a few electrons.

I could really use your help here. The only thing I've ever wanted to be is an author, but this political activism is just as important to me. I can't see sacrificing one for the other and ever being satisfied with the result.

Thanks again, DU.

Mythsaje
AKA Saje Williams
http://www.sajewilliams.com

[madokie]

1. Thank you

I never miss reading what you write even though I might not make a reply as sometimes good writing needs no outside comment other than a kick and a rec. You are a successful writer now and the rest will fall in place. I say good luck and its not that you need it but that it makes me feel good saying it.
Peace be with those who walk this earth with gentle footsteps and kindness of heart

[Mythsaje]

2. I appreciate the sentiment...

Particularly with how frustrated I've felt lately.

:)

[Wetzelbill]

3. I thought about it too

I've had some short stories and essays published, and co-wrote a short film. I'll be adapting a screenplay into a film, but I held off on it for years, I am worried about making it overtly political. It is about an Indian running for Congress, but it's more of a thriller than a political piece. The drama lies in the story, not the politics, but I have always been tempted to just go nuts on Bush and the Iraq War, because I'd be adapting it into the present time.

But my other writing, my book is coming along slow. I was worried about making things too political and too culturally oriented, but now not so much. I have a lot to say on other issues besides politics too. And I do have outlets for my political beliefs, such as I write columns from time to time for a few different places. I am not sure if I'll make a living at writing books of short stories and essays, and/or novels. My published work has been quite well-received, but I plan to write in a genre and style that, frankly, doesn't sell overly well. Certainly not James Patterson or Tom Clancy well. I think the best I could hope for is to make a living as good as Sherman Alexie, but that's pushing it. He is a major self-promoter, even if I wrote more frequently and almost as good, well, I am a more reclusive person. So money isn't a huge incentive for me. I'd like some, but I could handle being a poor artist with a day job. I plan on it.

Politics though, it can be touchy. The reason is that by revealing your politics you almost automatically piss off half the people out there. But in terms of people who read frequently, I think if you do good work and keep at it, things will take care of themselves. The quality of your work, especially, if you keep that quality consistent over several novels, will be the most important thing. Just keep promoting yourself and doing quality work. You'll do fine in that case.

[Mythsaje]

5. My fiction isn't particularly political, though some creeps in from time to time

It's not my style to preach in my fiction, so I don't. The characters themselves have a wide range of political views and that comes through. But since the very fundamental concept behind my work is that humanity is humanity, whatever form it takes, I tend to think it often "transcends the political."

I do want the level of success that would allow me to concentrate on writing. It is, as I said, all I've ever wanted to do. I could most certainly live without a day job, even though I don't really have anything against the one I have now. I'd just like the opportunity to focus a little better on what I want to do with my life.

[MessiahRp]

4. Thank you... :)

DU is too damn big and has too many opinions to ever hear a few and just leave.

Ask about Cindy Sheehan and you have giant groups of people on either side. Each candidate has their own followings and those who support someone has strong reasons to like their candidate and strong reasons why they dislike the others. There are hardcore liberals here and there are moderates (even some center-righties are here).

DU is about diversity and nothing makes this place look more functional IMO than diversity of opinions. Our government and our mainstream media has for too long lacked diverse opinions in our debates. DU offers us a respite from the echo chamber we hear on the news that's better than coming to a place where a vast collection of bright individuals bring their opinions and many times expertise to the table.

It offers us a place to see an issue from multiple angles and maybe open our eyes to concepts we never thought of before.

Leaving makes no sense. If you dislike an opinion towards your candidate, wait a few moments and someone will post something you like. It's the nature of such an eclectic group of people conversing in such a way.

I love DU. Even as I have a lot of loathe for what some Washington Democrats are doing this day, coming to this place definitely strengthens my Democratic values, informs me on a lot of news and issues I might not have heard of anywhere else and invigorates my spirited side when debating.

Am I wrong sometimes? We all are. But where else can you find people you agree with on most major issues yet find degrees of difference to debate over? These interactions help grow all of our knowledge bases on the issue at hand.

At that's why we are different with Freepers. They agree in lockstep and argue over the depth of the slanderous attacks they will use on us.

We agree on a variety of issues and argue over the finer points of detail on any individual issue or person.

Meaning, we get to the very bottom of it and our understanding of the world is far greater than our enemies.

DU is a prime example of why Democrats are fit to lead and Republicans are not.

We ask the questions about issues they have never scratched the surface on.

Thanks for sticking around. I look forward to reading and replying to your posts in the future.

No matter what angle they strike me at.

Rp

[Mythsaje]

6. Sometimes I get a little frustrated

and I definitely didn't need to be here when I was having all that trouble with my teeth, but in general I find this place uplifting and motivational. We need all these points of view, even the ones with which we disagree.

Simple as that.

[Norrin Radd]

7. Has it hurt China Mieville?

And many others before him? Stick to your guns -- er crossbows or rayguns, as it were. ;-)

[Mythsaje]

8. Guns, crossbows, elemental bolts, gauss needlers, laser pistols, blasters, and all of that...

My fantasy is a bit different from the mainstream.

;)

One reviewer has said that I have a talent for blending sci-fi, mythology, and the paranormal into a seamless whole.

[Norrin Radd]

9. Sounds cool, like the stuff from the New Worlds authors.

If you look at this recent article on Warren Ellis, he stated that he "trusts Greg Palast," and, if you've seen his recent run on the Thunderbolts comic, you'd think he is one of us, by how he ridicules the corporatist, neo-con biased news media, so you are not alone in wearing your politics on your sleeve.

http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/08/01/sdcc-44-things-said-at-the-spotlight-on-warren-ellis-panel/