Comments on: Professionalism

By: Lillian Feisty

Lillian Feisty — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:05:05 +0000

Awesome blog, Lauren.

I wonder if any of these people complaining have been to a major city in the last decade. Those outfits wouldn’t raise a brow in San Francisco.

By: R.G. Alexander

R.G. Alexander — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:12:30 +0000

Wonderful advice and I agree with everything you said. People are a little {understatement}too worried about the things that dont matter. As you said Lauren Dane, these ladies who I saw and thought were cute by the way, are characters/authors. Professionalism in the entertainment industry-which is what we are in as we write entertaining fiction {imo}-is a little different than professionalism in a boardroom. At least when it comes to dress code.

By: Shelley Munro

Shelley Munro — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:07:16 +0000

Shaking head. Less said the better, but this sort of kaffuffle doesn’t shed good light over the romance community.
Great post, Lauren.

By: Lorelei James

Lorelei James — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:36:52 +0000

Interesting discussion.

Where are the fashion police? Oh right, it appears certain people have crowned themselves as such and feel free to wield that billy club at will. It very much reminds me of high school and the “can you BELIEVE she wore that to prom?” mentality. This is just another reason why I”m not renewing my RWA dues. Now people feel entitled to belittle others in public forums because of their *clothing* choices? Where will it end?

If romance writers keep quibbling about shit like this they will never get the respect they deserve. You’d get laughed out of the room if you commented on so and so’s outfit at a mystery writers conference. Oh, and the whole costume thing hasn’t harmed the sci-fi fantasy community either.

Back to my hidey hole.

By: December Quinn/Stacia Kane

December Quinn/Stacia Kane — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:27:54 +0000

Oh, I didn’t mean everyone should do it. But Kenyon, for example, has a very specific image, and I think it would really disappoint the fans is she showed up in a plain suit.

By: Ciar Cullen

Ciar Cullen — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:12:23 +0000

Good for you, Lauren. I agree and blogged in a less serious and coherent fashion about that. One can be professional and have a personality. Those authors look adorable, and even if they didn’t, it wouldn’t be for me to say anything about it. THAT would be unprofessional, in my opinion, and also be a social faux pas. I thought it was interesting that Nora’s post stopped the conversation dead. Diversity is the spice of life, at RWA, on the bookshelves, and in every day situations. The older I get, the more trivial the…well, trivial stuff seems.

By: Holly

Holly — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:15:21 +0000

Maybe as a 24 year old, my view point is one sided, but those girls look just fine.
I have no idea how dressing like that actually offended people. If they were wearing anything more, they would have been covered from head to toe! As far as the swan hat goes, who cares, was it hurting you? No, I didn’t think so. It’s her choice, and that’s that. You don’t like it, she does, get over it!!!!
I’ve never been to a conference of any kind, and this makes me glad. Being new to the whole romance “thing” it’s a slight turn off that we can’t all act like adults. This shouldn’t feel like middle school where we write mean notes about people that aren’t like us.

I love your blog and your viewpoint about things

By: N.J. Walters

N.J. Walters — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:02:39 +0000

Excellent advice, Lauren. As always, your blog is informative and entertaining. You have a way with words. :-)

By: Collette

Collette — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:35:17 +0000

You know, I suppose this is one of the reasons I like you…you’ve got sense.

Sometimes, these “blow ups” strike me as being easy to resolve if everyone just had sense. I don’t think this one is quite like that (although there were a few comments, like the pedophilia one). I have been loving the discussion in the comments over at Smart Bitches. Really interesting. Gave me things to consider that I hadn’t. I’m in the whatever-floats-their-boat category myself.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:12:30 +0000

I feel for Nora Roberts because any time anything anywhere gets said about romance, she’s got to field it. Being the “spokeswoman” for romance has to be a huge pain in the butt for her so I get her general frustration, LOL. Then again, she’s like, “eh, whatever. It’s odd to me but do what you want”

Thank you, Christine!

Charli - I know, she’s just fabulous and it’s probably just me but I like it when people put a little theater into what they do.

December - I like to think there’s room for all sorts of personalities in romance. If dressing up or being theatrical isn’t your thing, that’s great too. But I think it’s fun when I see other people do it.

Bev - thanks!