Friday, May 25, 2007
Tinker, tinker, tinker, poke, poke, poke -- goes the RWA
GLOSSARY:
RWA - Romance Writers of America
RWR - Romance Writers' Report
PAN - Published Authors' Network
"Our proposal: Rather than having all members who write for particular publishers automatically become PAN-eligible, we are proposing that authors who can prove they have earned $2000.00 - in advance, in royalties, or a combination of the two - on one romance novel from any non-vanity, non-subsidy publisher shall be PAN-eligible."
So a piece in the latest RWR is apparently suggesting (not yet clear that this is fate accomplis) that ebook writers should prove they made $2000 from one title or lose PAN status. Currently you need only write for a recognised publisher but as soon as four epublishers made that list things started getting very busy in the back rooms, hmmm? Some "fair" (i.e. offset press-centric) changes in the wind, again.
Many ebook writers have made that, heck, make it every year. But it is the nature of the beast that this money is often made across several titles often at novella lengths (or one title over a pretty extended period). Ergo, new ebook writers will be disadvantaged, offset writers that haven't typed a word since the eighties will be fine. Perhaps a counter proposal would be that every PAN member would have to demonstrated they made $2000 from writing every year.
If you are going to stir, what is bad for the goose...
If the whole goal is to not endorse publishers that mostly pay peanuts this seems upside down. They should (if the must) change recognition and leave PAN alone.
For specific writers' comments see: Shades of Suspense : Creating Trouble in Paradise
RWA - Romance Writers of America
RWR - Romance Writers' Report
PAN - Published Authors' Network
"Our proposal: Rather than having all members who write for particular publishers automatically become PAN-eligible, we are proposing that authors who can prove they have earned $2000.00 - in advance, in royalties, or a combination of the two - on one romance novel from any non-vanity, non-subsidy publisher shall be PAN-eligible."
So a piece in the latest RWR is apparently suggesting (not yet clear that this is fate accomplis) that ebook writers should prove they made $2000 from one title or lose PAN status. Currently you need only write for a recognised publisher but as soon as four epublishers made that list things started getting very busy in the back rooms, hmmm? Some "fair" (i.e. offset press-centric) changes in the wind, again.
Many ebook writers have made that, heck, make it every year. But it is the nature of the beast that this money is often made across several titles often at novella lengths (or one title over a pretty extended period). Ergo, new ebook writers will be disadvantaged, offset writers that haven't typed a word since the eighties will be fine. Perhaps a counter proposal would be that every PAN member would have to demonstrated they made $2000 from writing every year.
If you are going to stir, what is bad for the goose...
If the whole goal is to not endorse publishers that mostly pay peanuts this seems upside down. They should (if the must) change recognition and leave PAN alone.
For specific writers' comments see: Shades of Suspense : Creating Trouble in Paradise
Labels: RWA
¶ posted at 5:44 PM by Emily Veinglory
Comments:
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Just reinforces my decision to let my membership expire. Absolutely no value added that I could discern. My reply to RWA: "...and the horse you rode in on."
This just seems like another way for them to disinclude epublished authors. I can't see why anyone would pay to be part of a group who seems to look down their nose at small press.
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