Weird conversation

Last Saturday I was online chatting on ICQ with a fellow writer. During the convo, we touched the topic of writing, and she mentioned some things that I just don't know what to make of them. Here's how it went (more or less)... She: Did you hear from AQP? Me: Nope. My story didn't make it. She: I heard they're going to call for seconds. Me: Yep. The emails went out the next day the winners were announced. She: Did you get a second call? Me: Nope. She: I was afraid of that. Me: Whatcha mean? She: You've ruffled a few feathers. Me: Why do you say that? She: You went in and did some serious accusations, you know. Me: What are you talking about? She: Remember saying that the contest was a phony to get epublished writers to submit to them? Me: Whoa! That's not true. What I said was that I was fed up with epublishers' contests because already epublishing writers win more often than those who aren't published. And that's a fact. Okay, so experienced writers deliever better material. But hey, if you're already published by one epublisher, why be published by multiple ones? I'd understand if they wrote different genres. But the same genre - erotic romance? Oh pleeze... She: See? People are pissed off with you. Me: Who? She: Epublishers and writers. Me: Well, excuse me for exercising my freedom of speech. Besides, I don't think I said anything to piss anyone off. Gosh, they're really pissed off with me 'coz of that? She: It's also your whining. Me: Me? Whine? Since when? She: You complain too much about your writing, about how bad you are writing sex scenes, etc. Me: Look, I'm new at this. I'm trying to find my niche. So I'm not a good erotic romance writer. Okay. Scratch that one, and move on to the next genre. Isn't that a logical thing to do? Find what your forte is as a writer and stick to it? She: True. But the way you do complain. Many think you don't have what it takes to be in this business. Me: They're entitled to their own opinion, right? She: This negative attitude of yours has them giving you the cold shoulder. Me: OK, explain this one. She: You're constantly bitching about agents and publishers. Me: Sooo not true! I've never publicly attack them! So some writers need agents and publishers. I don't. I have goals that don't involve them. Or taking out more of my money to give to thirds. But that's just me. She: How about all that talk about self-publishing your stories if they're not accepted? Me: What about it? She: They don't like it. The idea of developing your craft is to be eventually accepted by a publisher. Me: I have nothing against improving myself as a writer. But I'm not kissing asses either. Publishers are in this for the money. So am I. I'm a businesswoman just like them. If I want things to happen, I see nothing wrong with self-publishing. Specially epublishing. Technology makes it very easy. She: It's just not done. The goal is to submit your work and have it accepted by a publisher. Me: Whatever. I'm not a snob. A good story is a good story. I don't care who publishes it. Besides being published by a NY publisher doesn't guarantee the story is good. So far I've read 2 novels from TOR's new line, TOR Romance. Those were suppossed to be romance novels? Where's the romance? I'm still trying to push myself to read the second one. So far the heroine and the hero can both drop dead, and I couldn't care less. See? Hit and misses, even by the biggies. She: I know that. Still you should cut out all that talk about self-publishing. Me: How about if I start my own epublishing company, eh? *lol* Except I won't accept submissions from previously epublished writers. Just new people. She: Please don't. Don't make them angrier. They already don't like you there. Tone down your attitude. Me: Oh, you see? Never tell me not to do something 'coz that's the first thing I'm gonna end up doing. *lol* I love challenges. *evil grin* She: Do what you think it's best. I'm telling you all this for your own good. Stop putting yourself down. Maybe you should stay away for a while. Me: Whatever. At this point I diconnected my ICQ without bothering to say good-bye. I usually don't let things bother me, but this one did. I've tried to ignore it, but it keeps popping in my head even after this long. Hmm...