I posted a cover
of an upcoming release
on social media.
I explained
what some of the images
on the cover meant.
A writer in my niche
argued I was wrong
about one image.
(I wasn’t.)
She posted this
as the first comment
on my cover reveal.
I don’t know
what she was truly
trying to accomplish
but I viewed it as sabotage.
She was questioning my expertise,
something readers depend on,
trying to make me look
like a dumb a$$
and she made me feel bad
about a moment
that should have been happy.
She’s now on the I-can’t-trust list.
In contrast,
I saw a glaring error
on one of a buddy’s
promotional materials.
This would have cost her sales.
I sent her
a private message
pointing it out.
She thanked me.
Months later,
she repaid the favor
by heavily promoting
my next release.
Criticize allies
in private.