Comments on: The Digital Age and RWA: A Call for Change http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/ Epublished and Small Press Authors' Network Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:43:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Liza Curtis Black http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-830 Liza Curtis Black Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:09:13 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-830 As a newly published writer at an electronic press I really was naive about the RWA stance on e-publishing. As far as the $1,000 advance to writers goes--I find that mind boggling. I was published five days ago. My royalties are currently on pace to exceed $1,000 in a month. While the trade paperback industry is one I hope to break into, I cannot fathom WHY with the growth of the industry RWA would fail to back epublishing. I have been a voracious reader in this market for years. In the last 24 months I have cut the purchase of my tradepaperbacks by 75%. Most of my free coin goes to electronic books. Amazon carries the trend with Kindle. Ignoring that fact is nothing if not backward thinking. As a newly published writer at an electronic press I really was naive about the RWA stance on e-publishing. As far as the $1,000 advance to writers goes–I find that mind boggling. I was published five days ago. My royalties are currently on pace to exceed $1,000 in a month. While the trade paperback industry is one I hope to break into, I cannot fathom WHY with the growth of the industry RWA would fail to back epublishing. I have been a voracious reader in this market for years. In the last 24 months I have cut the purchase of my tradepaperbacks by 75%. Most of my free coin goes to electronic books. Amazon carries the trend with Kindle. Ignoring that fact is nothing if not backward thinking.

]]> By: romancewritersforchange.com » Blog Archive » Articles on ESPAN-RWA http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-825 romancewritersforchange.com » Blog Archive » Articles on ESPAN-RWA Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:45:06 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-825 [...] Deidre Knight, Agent and Author addresses recent issues and discussions that cropped up among RWA members. The Digital Age and RWA: Call for Action [...] [...] Deidre Knight, Agent and Author addresses recent issues and discussions that cropped up among RWA members. The Digital Age and RWA: Call for Action [...]

]]> By: Sarah McNeal http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-767 Sarah McNeal Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:57:36 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-767 I really appreciate your well worded article. My local chapter of RWA supports epub authors. Now RWA should start listening to the authors that support it or become the dinasaur it is destined to be if it doesn't keep up with our changing world. Thank you so much Deidre for supporting epubbed authors. Sarah J. McNeal I really appreciate your well worded article. My local chapter of RWA supports epub authors. Now RWA should start listening to the authors that support it or become the dinasaur it is destined to be if it doesn’t keep up with our changing world.
Thank you so much Deidre for supporting epubbed authors.
Sarah J. McNeal

]]> By: The E-Book Debate | Sarah Tormey Blog http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-761 The E-Book Debate | Sarah Tormey Blog Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:31:50 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-761 [...] about e-books and their place in world of romance novels. I was especially impressed by Deidre Knight’s blog post on the issue.  Deidre’s blog entry specifically addresses RWA’s stance on e-books.  I [...] [...] about e-books and their place in world of romance novels. I was especially impressed by Deidre Knight’s blog post on the issue.  Deidre’s blog entry specifically addresses RWA’s stance on e-books.  I [...]

]]> By: The Saga Continues http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-712 The Saga Continues Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:08:00 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-712 [...] you missed the post that really flipped the ebook world into high gear, check out Deidre Knight’s post in response to RWA President Dianne Pershing’s column in the Romance Writer Report [...] [...] you missed the post that really flipped the ebook world into high gear, check out Deidre Knight’s post in response to RWA President Dianne Pershing’s column in the Romance Writer Report [...]

]]> By: Tymber Dalton http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-707 Tymber Dalton Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:17:56 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-707 Ironically, today I just received my Romance Writers Report from the RWA where they're calling for people to run for board positions. If you want to run for President-Elect, among other requirements, you have to have a minimum of five published novels, and "...contracted to publish at least one romance novel with an RWA-eligible publisher, as defined within RWA policy..." (page 8, 2009 RWR) Um, exclusionary much? So basically they can keep defining the rules to exclude a goodly chunk of e-published novelists, EVEN IF those novelists are making more money than an author published with an "eligible" publisher. Someone correct me if I'm reading that wrong, because it seems to me it's going to be nearly impossible for the membership to get the rules changed regarding e-publishing unless they start leaving in great numbers and stating WHY they're leaving. Ironically, today I just received my Romance Writers Report from the RWA where they’re calling for people to run for board positions.

If you want to run for President-Elect, among other requirements, you have to have a minimum of five published novels, and “…contracted to publish at least one romance novel with an RWA-eligible publisher, as defined within RWA policy…” (page 8, 2009 RWR)

Um, exclusionary much? So basically they can keep defining the rules to exclude a goodly chunk of e-published novelists, EVEN IF those novelists are making more money than an author published with an “eligible” publisher.

Someone correct me if I’m reading that wrong, because it seems to me it’s going to be nearly impossible for the membership to get the rules changed regarding e-publishing unless they start leaving in great numbers and stating WHY they’re leaving.

]]> By: Caridad Pineiro http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-683 Caridad Pineiro Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:49:44 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-683 And it's not just about the PAN requirement, but also about how to enter the RITA. There should be no reason why an e-book by a PAN member is not eligible for this contest. At a large local chapter to which I used to belong, an e-pubbed book from The Wild Rose Press won our Single Title category two years in a row. Also, as I mentioned, if it's about having career-minded authors, apply a yearly earnings requirement on ALL PAN members. Not that I would like to see this, but I do want to see equal treatment and opportunities for all RWA members. And it’s not just about the PAN requirement, but also about how to enter the RITA. There should be no reason why an e-book by a PAN member is not eligible for this contest. At a large local chapter to which I used to belong, an e-pubbed book from The Wild Rose Press won our Single Title category two years in a row.

Also, as I mentioned, if it’s about having career-minded authors, apply a yearly earnings requirement on ALL PAN members. Not that I would like to see this, but I do want to see equal treatment and opportunities for all RWA members.

]]> By: Catching Up http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-675 Catching Up Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:25:56 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-675 [...] I’m behind the times, but obviously not as behind as the RWA. Deirdre Knight says it all here. You can also have a look at the Twitter tag #rwafail and #rwachange where RWA members are looking [...] [...] I’m behind the times, but obviously not as behind as the RWA. Deirdre Knight says it all here. You can also have a look at the Twitter tag #rwafail and #rwachange where RWA members are looking [...]

]]> By: Tymber Dalton http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-673 Tymber Dalton Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:56:13 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-673 Excellent post! Thank you for drawing attention to this problem. Let's hope the RWA listens. The RWA's requirements are ridiculous. I have more than exceeded $1,000 in royalties on most of my titles -- through e-publishing. Multiple times on some of the titles. And many of my fellow Siren-BookStrand authors have had similar experiences. For the RWA to put that position forth in the first place shows how woefully out of touch they are with e-publishing as a whole. And frankly, that makes me wonder if they are that out of touch with reality in that way, where else are they failing their members? How are they relevant? Why spend money to stay a member of an organization that refuses to validate my hard work (which, by the way, pays my mortgage)? If my readers buy my books and consider me a "real writer," if my mortgage company, electric company, cell phone carrier, etc. ALL consider the money I make with my writing "real money," then why won't the RWA consider me a "real writer" or my publishers "real publishers?" My money's good enough to join the RWA, but not good enough to be considered one of them? Sorry...shouldn't vent like that but it really makes me mad. Excellent post! Thank you for drawing attention to this problem.

Let’s hope the RWA listens. The RWA’s requirements are ridiculous. I have more than exceeded $1,000 in royalties on most of my titles — through e-publishing. Multiple times on some of the titles. And many of my fellow Siren-BookStrand authors have had similar experiences. For the RWA to put that position forth in the first place shows how woefully out of touch they are with e-publishing as a whole. And frankly, that makes me wonder if they are that out of touch with reality in that way, where else are they failing their members? How are they relevant? Why spend money to stay a member of an organization that refuses to validate my hard work (which, by the way, pays my mortgage)?

If my readers buy my books and consider me a “real writer,” if my mortgage company, electric company, cell phone carrier, etc. ALL consider the money I make with my writing “real money,” then why won’t the RWA consider me a “real writer” or my publishers “real publishers?” My money’s good enough to join the RWA, but not good enough to be considered one of them?

Sorry…shouldn’t vent like that but it really makes me mad.

]]> By: Make Love not War « Beth Yarnall http://espan-rwa.com/the-digital-age-and-rwa-a-call-for-change/comment-page-7/#comment-671 Make Love not War « Beth Yarnall Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:27:51 +0000 http://espan-rwa.com/?p=195#comment-671 [...] Agent and author Deidre Knight wrote a letter addressed to Diane Pershing the president of RWA (linked here)on The Electronic & Small Press Author’s Network (an RWA special interest chapter) calling [...] [...] Agent and author Deidre Knight wrote a letter addressed to Diane Pershing the president of RWA (linked here)on The Electronic & Small Press Author’s Network (an RWA special interest chapter) calling [...]

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