Being told by an author who made millions of dollars from writing, that my dream to do something similar is laughable, ill-advised, and ‘impossible’ - makes me fucking angry. Initially, it broke me, now I am angry. And the more succesful I get as an author, the angrier I get because, as I found out, it is fucking possible. Yet, I so very nearly gave up. I am angry, not specifically at Liz, (though to be honest, I am a little bit), but more at the culture that has developed within our creative communities. The culture wherein, those who have successfully made their craft their profession, feel obliged to tell those who are trying to do the same that it is unlikely they will ever succeed. It isn’t helpful. It is cruel.