Raquel E

I am a writer in Houston, TX, who currently has four novels on the market.

"Mixed Emotions," "Girls' Night In: The Passion Party," and the upcoming 2009 release, "Tainted Relations" are solo projects. "Where Friendship Lies," "A Lover's Deceit," and the upcoming 2009 release "The Best Revenge" are books I've co-authored with my... more »

I am a writer in Houston, TX, who currently has four novels on the market.

"Mixed Emotions," "Girls' Night In: The Passion Party," and the upcoming 2009 release, "Tainted Relations" are solo projects. "Where Friendship Lies," "A Lover's Deceit," and the upcoming 2009 release "The Best Revenge" are books I've co-authored with my long-distance friend and amazing writer, Shawnte' Henderson, of Toledo, OH. She and I met online, combined efforts and styles, and forged ahead to write novels that are truly different than the norm. Though we have never met in the physical, she's been a true friend and writing associate. She and I will take a break in our partnership and will continue with a new three-book series in late 2010.

My website is www.prose-pros.com and I can be found on just about any social network (at least for short bursts of time). I have profiles on MySpace, ISeeColor, Facebook, BlackPlanet, Shelfari, and more. You should definitely look me up if you’re on those places, too.

WITH THAT ALL BEING SAID...

I've been kind of disheartened in the past with a lot of "social organizations" because they have become a series of "here's my stuff, buy my stuff, look at my stuff" gatherings where people do NOT ever share truly useful information.
No one ever says, "Here's some contact information for my literary agent...he's currently accepting queries," or "Here's a way to get a banner put in the New York Times for cheap." It's always some forwards, some reposts of crap you already get in your email inbox and a bunch of stuff that isn't helping ANYBODY get a step up…but the poster. I fear it's because we hate to think of ourselves actually allowing someone else to do better with our connections than we have. I guess no one wants to be the person that knows “Steven Spielberg” and has been trying to get him to read one of your scripts…only to pass on the connection and that person goes on to make a movie with him and win an Oscar. Sure, that might suck…but you have to recognize that maybe that wasn’t meant for you. Maybe you’re meant to work with Martin Scorsese or Spike Lee.

Granted, your profile should be all about "here's my stuff, see my stuff, buy my stuff." However, your friendships and connections should not be. Your connections should be about "how can we help each other?"

I had a writer friend who netted an agent. I never asked her for the agent’s name because I think she would rather have gone through a nuclear attack than to share the information with me. I asked a few “better-known” authors for assistance with some questions I had (when I was a newbie) and instead of responding to my question, (not even with a “Get outta my life, I don’t help others,” note), they subscribed me to their newsletters so I could keep up with their successes.
On the other side of the coin, there’ve been a few who have been helpful, who’ve taken the time to just do a little “above and beyond” type of assisting. It is those people I support, those people I pump up to this day and who will forever hold a place in my heart. The two most recognizable would be Kimberla Lawson Roby and Cathy Cash. Kimberla was open and welcoming, took my questions and gave me real-life answers that helped me abundantly. Cathy, a romance writer and editor, got hold of my books, read them, and spent her own money to ship them to an agent friend in New York (unbeknownst to me). Now, I write contemporary fiction for the most part, so her romance agent wasn't really able to help me, but the agent, in turn, upon returning my books, sent more connections I could try. I never EVEN MET or TALKED TO the woman, but she sent my books to an agent. She did it on the strength of helping another writer. That really moved me and I’ve been eternally grateful to her for showing me the true strength of networking and what helping another writer is all about. I wasn't used to that kind of assistance from people who had "made it".

IT IS IN THAT THREAD THAT I MUST SAY:

I love supporting others...and I love for others to support me...but I don't like ANY of my social networking profiles to serve as instant billboards for other people's projects. If we haven't even said hi to each other, how am I supposed to dedicate my space to your work? What if I don't like what you're speaking on? What if it's hate propaganda? What if I think it’s inappropriate for some people who visit my page? I would rather be given the chance to know YOU and know YOU are on the up & up before you link your stuff to me or my page.

If you review all my online pages, you'll see this is not personal and it’s not personal to this particular site. I will remove any comments that include flyers, widgets that automatically play their music, and all other things used to promote their works, pages, or websites (posted without permission). Please know that I do unto others in that accord. If we're effective networking associates, I'll automatically look at your work. You will likely do the same for me. To me, networking isn't using each other's pages as billboards. It's about making honest connections with people in a way that will mutually benefit both people involved.

Basically, what I am saying is that after you post your billboard on my page, do you then go to your own page and add info about my books on yours? This makes it not a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Obviously, as a writer, I do not have much time to read (trust me, I try...but I never get passed the first couple pages before life or writing projects get in the way)...but I do know a few readers...and if we're authentic associates...and I read your synopsis or teasers...if it's quality stuff, I will gladly pump you up.

So, let’s network, share information, and be friends. « less