Monday, March 7, 2011

#YAMafia--Not Exactly the Corleones


I was in Cleveland this weekend attending the launch party for Lisa and Laura Roecker's book, The Liar Society (Yes, it was that awesome.), so I missed the brou-ha-ha (always wanted to use that) over this thing called the YA Mafia.

I've got to admit, the first time I read that hashtag I snort-laughed because I got this instant image of Libba Bray grabbing Maureen Johnson, planting one on her and growling, "I know it was you, Fredo."

Because it is just that ridiculous.

So what exactly is this YA Mafia? As far as I understand, it's a group of established YA writers who promote each other's books, hand out blurbs like candy on Halloween to fellow insiders, and meangirl authors on the rise or those who negatively review their books on goodreads. Am I right? I'm not exactly sure, because I didn't have the time to read through all the tweets and blogposts this morning BECAUSE I WAS WRITING.

Which is what those accused of being part of this conspiracy were probably doing. Because that's what writers spend 95% of their time doing. The other 5% is spent frantically trying to hold together the other aspects of our lives--cleaning the house, tending the family, taking a shower just often enough so we don't offend. If these mafioso--with all their deadlines, promotional responsibilities, and speaking engagements--have time to orchestrate high level harassment, I want to know how they do it! (Hey--now that's an idea for a SCBWI seminar!)

I'm not denying there are drama queens, jerks, and vindictive people in this industry. However, for the time I've been a participant in the YA community, I haven't seen many. I have seen a lot of kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness, though.

Once you've given yourself over to paranoia, it keeps growing until it evolves into narcissism. I know because I've allowed this to happen to me.

Okay, here's a by now standard Loretta analogy/story (I promise I have a point): I signed up for my very first yoga class in January. I'm a yoga kind of gal, but I always practiced at home to a DVD because I was absolutely terrified to be in a room where everyone would pass judgment on my ass while I bent in half for downward dog. And what if I started sweating? Farted? Split my yoga pants? Don't laugh. These were real fears for me.

On the first day of class I considered grabbing my yoga mat and running like hell. When we started our breathing exercises I was convinced everyone was secretly laughing at my "Om." But you know what? NO ONE was paying the least bit of attention to me, because these were true students of yoga. Their focus was on the practice of the art. It wasn't that I was beneath notice, it was that their job was to make themselves better. And if everyone in the class thought that way, we'd ALL improve.

Now let's hope the next hashtag getting all the attention will be #amwriting. Because that's what we should all be doing.

(That said, if Libba, Maureen, Holly, et al., want to sabotage me, I would LOVE it because I'd get more blog followers. And it would fuel my embarrassingly detailed Jason Bourne fantasies. But that's another blog post altogether...)

9 comments:

  1. I think this statement pretty much sums of my feelings...

    I'm not denying there are drama queens, jerks, and vindictive people in this industry. However, for the time I've been a participant in the YA community, I haven't seen many. I have seen a lot of kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness, though

    I also think there is a clique mentality with some YA groups and authors. I mean, we write about high school, which is full of cliques...it kinda makes sense.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I should be editing, but here I am. ;)

    As a non-Twitterer MG gal, I missed out on all this, too. Love what you have to say here. How was that launch party??? So thrilled for LiLa.

    ReplyDelete
  3. love this post so much! i totally agree with you--isn't it more important to be writing an awesome book rather than worrying about the supposed YAMafia? still, ive decided to stop doing critical reviews on my blog from now on. i just dont want to offend anyone...and i AM a writer above all else :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post! I'm dying over this whole YA Mafia thing. I mean, seriously?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Haha YA Mafia? That's ridic. Too much drama!

    Also, congrats on your yoga class! I love my self-defense class too. No one passes judgment. We're all in this together. Unlike the YA Mafia, workout classes are pretty drama-free in my experience :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh this is so true! It reminds me of being in high school when you were positive everyone would remember that you wore the *gasp* same shirt two weeks ago, but really everyone else was walking around freaking that you would notice that they *gasp* rewore the same jeans that week! It's really, really ridiculous when you lay it all out like this.

    Had SOOOOO much fun this weekend. When can we do that again???

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the analogy. And, I can't freaking believe you were self conscious in a yoga class, woman! I'm so glad you got over your fear. It is so much better in person!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this post, and I totally have avoided a public yoga class for the reasons you mentioned LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I posted a comment and then accidentally clicked away. I'm sure it was profound, too, but can be summed up like so: Yes. Absolutely. You are spot-on, as always, Loretta!

    And as an aside, I can't imagine that poor Libba, with her two broken elbows, is able to grab anyone right now. But the image is funny nevertheless!

    ReplyDelete