Literary agent Scott Eagan from the Greyhaus Literary Agency is taking online pitches on the Dunes And Dreams RWA Chapter's blog today.
He only represents romance and women's fiction–but YA romance accepted too.
Check out the Dunes and Dreams blog for more info.
I recommend checking out his website beforehand.
27
Nov
…has as many thorns.
There is currently a lot of uproar about Harlequin Horizons, Harlequin's Self Publishing venture.
RWA, SFWA and MWA are all on the barricades about it.
Harlequin have now changed the name of it to DellArte Press, and I expect at least one of those three organizations to roll over and that's the last we hear of it.
How do I know?
Because I've seen it before. 10 years ago, Simon and Schuster pulled some stunt that had RWA go haywire. They threatened to remove S&S from their "approved publishers list". Just like they are doing with Harlequin now.
The thing is, back then, S&S just laughed at them.
I'm guessing HQ are doing the exact same thing. They might have changed the name, but the rest? Nah. I doubt any of it will change.
Besides, who are the organizations hurting with this threat?
The publisher?
Not bloody likely. The publisher couldn't care less about whether RWA etc approve of them. Why should they? You think the average reader knows, or cares, whether the book they are reading was written by an RWA/SFWA/MWA member or not?
You think a publisher cares whether you're a member or not when you submit to them?
You think they'll get any less submissions because they aren't approved by the organizations?
No.
In fact, make that a HELL no.
They are a mainstream, big name publisher. This is business, and they aren't going to let some organization dictate to them what they can do.
Why should they? Would you?
The real pain being inflicted is to those authors who write for HQ, because their coveted "Published author" tag would be null and void, plunging them back into the realms of the "Unpublished", as far as RWA is concerned.
Freaking idiots. Seriously. The whole thing is a farce.
So, Harlequin changed the name of the venture. Will that make it all right? It's still the same company, it's still their product. Does a name change make it all go away?
Not in my book.
A rose by any other name, as the title implies.
It remains to be seen what happens, but ultimately, I doubt the hullaballoo will have much effect on Harlequin's new venture.
And why should it?
If it were your business — would you let them influence you? With something that has virtually no impact on you?
Do I agree with what HQ is doing?
No.
And yes.
It's up to them what they want to do. Their main lines are still the same, not self published.
They aren't forcing anyone to go this route, and it's "Buyer beware" in a big way. If people do their research, then they won't walk into such traps.
I do agree that it shouldn't be done under the Harlequin banner, though, as that's misleading.
However…
The only one hurt by RWA/SFWA/MWA dropping a publisher from their "approved" list…. is the author.
The very individual paying the dues.
Way to go.
19
Oct
From Writers Organizations –
-
Ebook / Print author equality
Join the 21st Century, people! Yes, it’s very nice to be published in print, but a lot of books are ebooks now. It’s time to treat a writer like a published author, if they are published, you know what I mean?
You can’t have your cake and eat it. Either a published author is a published author regardless of medium, or we need a new categorization for writers on a whole. Anything else is simply unacceptable. And if those ebook authors don’t qualify for published status, then frankly, I’d like to see a dues reduction, as they often do not get the same benefits as other published authors. - Global rather than National affiliations
The Net has no borders! If you accept dues from international members, then how about broadening the horizon of the organization? How about embracing all writers, regardless of location? How about conferences in other countries, albeit smaller ones?
- Support for Local groups
And I mean SUPPORT, not just "You may use our initials". I am talking about providing those local groups with something more. Frankly what I don’t want to see is members paying extra to belong to a local chapter. That should be a given.
If a local group has to rent space to meet, then I’d like to see a subsidy for this, or a bit of a discount on the fees. After all — they don’t have to belong to your "club" to meet up.
- Fair dues
I mean membership dues. Just because you do not live in the same country, you shouldn’t be penalized for it. (If you are a RWA member, you know I’m talking about the shipping costs for RWR, which you should be able to opt OUT of — and which, incidentally, should be available electronically. Global warming, carbon emissions etc!)
I’d like to see a tiered approach to membership dues. The more you get, the more you’ll likely pay. But I don’t think an unpublished author (who, after all, doesn’t earn from their writing) should pay the same as a published author, who may have access to a great deal more resources than an unpublished one.
- Discount negotiations
Things like writing books, paper, ink, toner, notebooks, software, insurance, web hosting, web design, travel, promotional items… you name it. Benefits, you know?
- Services
Things like legal advice, mediation, that kind of thing. Discounted writing retreats, stuff like that.
I pay dues for benefits, so the more an organization can offer its members, the more people will be willing to join.
There are more I can think of, many more, especially when it comes to benefits. I’d love to see an organization take up the gauntlet I’ve thrown down here and run with those suggestions.
And if there isn’t one — maybe it’s time some writers got together and started a truly global "club". An inclusive, rather than exclusive one.
And if Nanowrimo.org can negotiate deals with various companies… then I don’t see why writers organizations can’t do this.
What would you like to see?
24
Jun
There is a new group out there, in case you didn’t know.
A group aiming to change the way RWA deals (or rather doesn’t deal) with electronically published authors.
It’s a Yahoo group, called RWAChange. Here is the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWAchange/
I am for change. I’m sure there are a great many things RWA is good for, but unfortunately if you’re not in the US, don’t belong to a chapter, or – gasp-wheeze-cough – are electronically published… then there isn’t a heck of a lot for you there.
My feeling about RWA?
John Steinbeck said it best:
“A dying people tolerates the present, rejects the future, and finds its satisfactions in past greatness and half remembered glory”
I feel RWA is ignoring potential and is rejecting change. A change that has been asked for for the past 10 years. I left because of the issues affecting electronic authors (and publishers), but now they are addressed once more.
Maybe this time there are some open minded people who will listen.
If you want to be a part of it, join the group, see what it’s about.