Writer Protection Program

Is there a Writer Protection Program?

If there isn't, there should be. It would be modeled after the Federal Witness Protection Program and would allow writers to relocate and change their identities when they do something that they know will embarrass if not humiliate them and subject them to endless ridicule.

Like consenting to having a photograph published in a parental magazine. A photograph in which the writer is pretending to be a knight and is using a cardboard tube left over from wrapping paper as a lance.

If you're a parent and live in Chicagoland, the likelihood is that you have at some point in your life picked up a copy of Chicago Parent. It's a freebie and it's found pretty much everywhere in Chicagoland. You can find stacks of them at my son's daycare.

Well, the editors at Chicago Parent apPARENTy liked an essay I submitted to them about my son (aka The Toddler) and his love of jousting. So much so that it looks like the essay will be published in next month's issue. That's all pretty cool. Anytime you get published it makes you feel good. The part that has me squirming a bit is that the editors didn't want to publish the essay without a photograph. And not just your average, ordinary author mugshot. They wanted an action photograph, something that would lift the words from the essay and bring it to life. They wanted a picture of me jousting with my son. 

Oh, dear. The price we as writers pay to see our words in print. 

So next month you will likely see this writer seeking a place to bury his head in shame. A knight without courage, dignity or honor. 

Comments

[Bethany]

No way are you going into hiding... you SON IS GOING TO LOVE IT! And so will you. Eventually. When you can laugh at it.