Cynicism
The romance writing community is in an uproar again, over how RWA approaches its handling of e-publishers and e-published authors. As usual, I have a broad perspective on the issues, with some unhappiness with certain details and attitudes, but acceptance and embracing of the underlying philosophy.
But that's not what this post is about.
"RWA needs to wake up and smell the future."
"E-books are going to revolutionize reading!"
"The younger generation will embrace e-books because they grew up with technology!"
Sound familiar? If you've been anywhere near the discussion lately, you've heard this stuff. Guess where these quotes come from, though?
1997.
E-books are here to stay. I have no doubt of that. And they have some amazing value. But revolution? RWA falling to pieces over them? Ahhhh...no.
The excellence of new readers like Kindle, Sony, and Instead's Cool-er have definitely helped things, but their high costs put an automatic damper on their potential. And comfort with technology doesn't matter. My kids and their friends have no interest in reading e-books. My daughter likes the feel of how far she's come and how much she has left to the end of the book--359/402 at the top of the screen doesn't cut it. And a friend who worked primarily with high school and college students recently was floored to find that of the few who'd even heard of e-books, none of them knew anything existed beyond textbooks.
As far as I can tell, all any of the advancements have done is to increase the number of e-published authors. Kindle bestsellers match the list of hardback, trade, and mass market bestsellers, and it seems likely that the store model for Kindle will actually reduce exposure for those of us not published by traditional publishers who also offer their books as e-books.
There's a new group that set up this weekend called "RWAchange." They purport to be seeking a way to open RWA's eyes and expand the education and opportunity within the organization for e-published authors and those who want to learn more about that aspect of the industry.
I wish them well. I hope the group is made up of forward-thinking, professional people who honestly want to improve RWA and create dynamic tools of benefit to a great number of writers. I've been part of, and left, many similar groups that ended up spending all their time spewing hatred and personal gripes about how RWA done them wrong. That's not productive, or constructive, or beneficial in any way.
I look around to see how far we've come, and feel like we haven't moved at all.
But that's not what this post is about.
"RWA needs to wake up and smell the future."
"E-books are going to revolutionize reading!"
"The younger generation will embrace e-books because they grew up with technology!"
Sound familiar? If you've been anywhere near the discussion lately, you've heard this stuff. Guess where these quotes come from, though?
1997.
E-books are here to stay. I have no doubt of that. And they have some amazing value. But revolution? RWA falling to pieces over them? Ahhhh...no.
The excellence of new readers like Kindle, Sony, and Instead's Cool-er have definitely helped things, but their high costs put an automatic damper on their potential. And comfort with technology doesn't matter. My kids and their friends have no interest in reading e-books. My daughter likes the feel of how far she's come and how much she has left to the end of the book--359/402 at the top of the screen doesn't cut it. And a friend who worked primarily with high school and college students recently was floored to find that of the few who'd even heard of e-books, none of them knew anything existed beyond textbooks.
As far as I can tell, all any of the advancements have done is to increase the number of e-published authors. Kindle bestsellers match the list of hardback, trade, and mass market bestsellers, and it seems likely that the store model for Kindle will actually reduce exposure for those of us not published by traditional publishers who also offer their books as e-books.
There's a new group that set up this weekend called "RWAchange." They purport to be seeking a way to open RWA's eyes and expand the education and opportunity within the organization for e-published authors and those who want to learn more about that aspect of the industry.
I wish them well. I hope the group is made up of forward-thinking, professional people who honestly want to improve RWA and create dynamic tools of benefit to a great number of writers. I've been part of, and left, many similar groups that ended up spending all their time spewing hatred and personal gripes about how RWA done them wrong. That's not productive, or constructive, or beneficial in any way.
I look around to see how far we've come, and feel like we haven't moved at all.
posted by Natalie J. Damschroder at 12:00 AM
10 Comments:
Nat,
I hope they're able to work a change without going into the usual rant. Working from behind the scenes, I've tried to point out the need for presenting information in a way that addresses the membership's concerns all around.
This should not be an Us vs. Them deal. Digital publishing is affecting every author,not just those in ePublishing.
For me, it comes back to that same old issue for me. EDUCATION. RWA IMHO is reactive, they do nothing to prepare, and that amazes me given how every good business should have a business plan.
If you have a business plan, you have to account for change and opportunity for growth. Education helps identify those areas of growth. With all publishers doing eBook releases of traditional print authors, I'm not sure why RWA isn't educating folks on digital rights, piracy issues, Google Settlement etc.
I personally (and I believe others as well) am not looking to change RWA.
Knowledge is power, and I just want to strengthen the org by ensuring that all members have access to information that will help them in their careers.
I've never understood why RWA doesn't want to exploration education in all issues related to publishing, even if it's a minor blip on their radar.
Because sometimes those small blips are like comets that come back to kick you in the ass. *grin*
Natalie, I think you're right. Ebook is here to stay. In my humble opinion this isn't an eBook war but eAuthor war that RWA is fighting. In my humble opinion this is an "I'm better than you are" argument. It's a pity because the world is big enough for all of us.
Monica, if RWA explored all educational avenues in publishing they would be admitting that eAuthors are worthy within the organization. I don't think those who have a real say in the organization are ready for that.
Mac
Mac
Some thoughts, kind of random:
We say "RWA this" and "RWA that" and the truth is, we're talking about a couple of individuals who've been voted into positions that have impact on RWA's programs. I have big problems with some of these individuals and their attitudes of judgment.
HOWEVER. That doesn't mean those people's attitudes and intentions apply across the board. I know for a fact there was a special committee formed to address the educational issues that are currently under fire. There are other things in motion, too. But RWA can't jump when we say jump. The Internet has us totally spoiled. It takes a couple of months, at least, to get things done. No one who complains seems to have any patience.
You said digital publishing affects every author, and that's true, but if you are published with a publisher that uses broad distribution methods of hardback or paperback books, the digital versions are nothing but an extra line on your royalty statement. It's a format, just like audiobooks or foreign editions, and is extra money. The issue is not the format, and anyone who thinks it is isn't really paying attention.
Since it came up that there are no digital-focused workshops at the conference this year (what seems to be the trigger for this round of the war), I've been thinking about that issue. Who is going to do the educating? How many of the authors who feel they been "done wrong" by RWA are going to volunteer or suggest educational opportunities? How many of us who just haven't bothered? I've been micro-press published (my first book was mass market paperback, the first royalty statement had 8 e-book sales, and I sold a few hundred copies of the book before my publisher went under) since 2000, have been involved with four publishers, and I offer my viewpoint and experience any time it's appropriate, but I haven't offered anything formal. So I'm part of the problem.
Also, I think there's been an element of "it's out there so everyone knows it." I'm guilty of this, too. There have been tons of articles and workshops and loop discussions and online classes about e-publishing. I've been flabbergasted when people say they know nothing about it. But there is a constant influx of new members, and there are members who don't seek information or pay attention to what's out there because they're not interested yet, or aren't ready for it. So we do need to cycle ALL information through all our educational avenues so we can meet these ever-changing needs.
I'm not discounting that there are certain people with a negative approach and attitude, but I don't think those factors should cause us to ignore the truths that underlie them. Educating members about digital publishing doesn't mean happy-happy-joy-joy-isn't-it-WONDERFUL! It means educating about BOTH sides.
Okay, I think I'm done. LOL
WOW! WHO got out of the wrong side of the bed this am??? ROFL
Saying RWA, I should apply to everyone.Primarily because when we vote someone in, we're extending our proxy to them to act on our behalf. Now if your candidate doesn't get in, it still doesn't change the fact that a)you voted or didn't b)that you joined the org with the understanding that you abide by the majority who vote in the BOD. Now if the BOD is not following the dictates of the majority then yeah I think your stance would hold true. *grin* But unless there's some evil plot, either by virtue of apathy or there really are oodles of "I hate ePub" folks out there, the BOD is following the majority based on what they get via email
Education, is something that should have been started more than five years ago. We always have to have a starting place, and my understanding is that there are plenty of authors who've allegedly been turned down when they've tried to submit a digital workshop. So I can't say who's qualified, but I can't say who's not qualified.
Personally, my nerves are on edge with all the bickering going on. Being told to act like ladies, people sniping about what constitutes gratuitous or non-gratuitous sex. I'm like GET A GRIP people. We can resolve this in a professional manner.
The truth is, I think it all comes down to money.
And yes, the royalty line for eBooks is small now on trad author's royalty statement, but then Microsoft was a small startup when WordPerfect ruled the world. WP ignored a potential threat and look where they are now.
I didn't get out of the wrong side of the bed! LOL I wrote all that fairly dispassionately. Honest!
I totally agree with you about the BOD-as-RWA thing, but the thing is, people DO claim there is an evil plot. And maybe there are currently some people pushing a little too hard with their personal beliefs, rather than doing what's best for RWA as a whole.
All education should be ongoing and seamless, but in truth, there are always going to be abrupt shifts. There will be a group of members who are very involved, who develop programs about certain craft/business/networking/etc. topics, which are received by a certain group of members. Then both those groups kind of burn out and say stuff like "how many workshops/articles/classes do we need on POV/historical dress/royalty structure?" And they stop doing them for a while. Then a new group comes along and says, "hey, I'd really like to know about this POV thing" and it starts all over again.
You misunderstand me about the royalty thing. I was too brief (hee).
If your publisher is primarily an e-publisher, even if they do print as well, you are unlikely to get any money up front. If you do nothing promotionally, you'll have some sales from the publisher's regulars and maybe from reviews or ads your publisher might do. If you work really, really hard promotionally, you'll get more sales. (We'll leave the whole erotica thing out of this example. :) )
If you sell to a mainstream publisher, you get an advance that's yours no matter what. You can do absolutely nothing after the book goes into production, and you keep that money. Most of the time, even with no promotion on your part, there will be a larger sales base just by virtue of your book being in stores. E-book sales are on TOP of all that, and have no bearing on any of it. Even if your e-book sales are much higher than your paper sales, they don't change the system--in fact, they should enhance it. They should lead to faster sell-through and increase your next advance.
And I didn't clarify with eSales on statements. I was trying to push the point that while they're small now, education is needed now to ensure traditional print authors (and ePub as well, like me) know what the heck we should be looking for in terms of not enough royalties. Although I think that ship has sailed due to trad print authors not listening that we're setting a precedent for royalty rates. We're pretty much set at 15% as a standard rate. I don't think that will change even down the road, which is a shame.
Do I think there's an evil plot? Well, sure, but only in the minds of certain individuals who are pushing their own agenda as you said. Do I think the BOD as a whole is, no, but I think they're short-sighted, and I'm CONVINCED they need to have MORE disclosure. Have you seen the minutes they put out at BOD meetings? They're briefer than the ones I do, and there's a GOOD REASON why it's like that. They don't want to raise any issues over what they're doing. Nothing bad, just the subjects they're tackling. I think if they just did some detailed communication they could stave off a lot of this crap or at the best minimize it. They need to take a page from Obama's book and have a forum on the website. A place where you as a member could log in with just your member number and post concerns. You could choose to leave your name or not. It's about being open, versus reactive knee jerks.
Being a BOD member has GOT to be tough. It if wasn't I would have run for office a while back. I just don't have the time to give it just due.
I think you know me well enough that it's always been about access to information. Although RWA seems to think that if I'm not at a certain level I don't need it. I think that's BS. I need extra time to learn things. Learning while I'm trying to do isn't the best model for me. It's also one of those mothering things. Just let me see the info. If I don't understand it, I'll either move on or keep studying.
But I love having this conversation with you, cuz you know I'm always eager to see alternative POVs and I even change my mind sometimes. LOL
Okay, I unsubscribed from the RWA loops months ago so I'm only just hearing that members are in an uproar again (please, don't take that badly, this is how I'm hearing it).
I agree with Natalie (I think) that the issue isn't about e-books but micro-press published authors not feeling they are treated fairly or equally by RWA. Like you, Monica, I started out being published by micro-presses and then went on to have a career with traditional publishers. I completely understand how both sides feel but it is interesting how my perspective has changed.
Cathy Mc
Well, at this point, it's the Silver Streak roaring toward the station without brakes, and I'm expecting the AGM to be popcorn entertainment.
Be grateful you unsubscribed Cathy, cuz I'm having trouble looking away. *sigh*
Are you coming to National?? Mac? Natalie?? Are we going to get to see each other???
--Well, at this point, it's the Silver Streak roaring toward the station without brakes, and I'm expecting the AGM to be popcorn entertainment--
Monica,
I just got this email over the weekend for something called "Romance Writers for Change" and the email talks about the AGM and the need for proxies so that this group can be heard. Is there anything on the agenda to vote on at the AGM this year? Or, do you expect the meeting to be popping just because members will wish to speak on this topic?
Cathy Mc
Cathy, there's nothing currently scheduled to vote on--which means getting enough proxies and bodies to hold an official meeting will be TOUGH.
I feel like this is the Sunshine thing all over again. Did people learn NOTHING from back then (referring to the members of the board who are pressing their own agendas)? We got a very dynamic PRO program out of it, so maybe the end result will be positive this time, too.
Post a Comment
<< Home