on writing, SFWA politics, and just a damn good comeback I'm stealing

[lagilman]

Words of wisdom:


Elsewhere, in another country within our own borders, a guy named Robin Bailey is running for SFWA president. Now, I like Robin. A lot. Good guy. Smart guy. Pragmatic business-minded guy who doesn't take the unserious stuff seriously. I was going to vote for him anyway.

And then, in a discussion in another forum, he came out with this comment.



>They said, 'but it'd be good exposure.'

=================

People die from exposure.



And there, ladies, gents, and writerfolk, you have my feelings about "display sites" and no-pay anthologies. Nutshell. Thank you, good night, and remember to vote for Robin on your way out...

Comments

[deedop.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so using that next time someone encourages me to take on a project that pays squat!

[cthulhu.livejournal.com]

I'll also have to steal that quote the first chance I can. So fitting, so true.

[david-chunn.livejournal.com]

I've heard Harlan Ellison say, several times now, something that I would sum up as: Even if they want you to just take a shit as a writer make them pay you. If you'd like to do it for free because they're nice people, make them pay at least something.

I happen to agree strongly with that. On several occassions people have wanted me to do free writing work of various types, but to hell with that. I think free exposure could only be helpful to someone in desperate need of exposure (ok, I have been there and maybe I still am), but it's my experience that free exposure is free for one of two reasons: it's not enough exposure to warrant paying money or someone's being a tightwad.

I'm trying to remember who Robin Bailey is, though. The name is awfully familiar and my mind has turned to mush by this hour.

[lagilman]

Robin's asking for .06/word for the comeback. I suspect a donation to the SFWA Emergency Medical Fund would be accepted in lieu of payment...

[lagilman]

Robin Wayne Bailey

[deedop.livejournal.com]

I bought a copy of Atlanta Nights, does that count? :-)

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Nice quote. Enlighten me--what's a "display site?"

Returning to work overload...

[nick-kaufmann.livejournal.com]

*gasp* You did not!

[deire.livejournal.com]

Let me get this straight. People expect authors to give up copyrighted material that they then cannot offer first publication rights on for no pay? Who are these people, and where can I tie them up so my cat can drool on them?

[agamisu.livejournal.com]

A display site is basically a web site that claims to promote writers by showing their stories. You, the aspiring writer give away your work and people (reputed editors) put it up on a site thereby supposedly paying you in exposure.

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Who do we think makes out of that relationship?

[david-chunn.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! As soon as I saw the middle name, my tired brain started firing up some neurons in recognition. Funny how such a small thing can make such a big difference after several hours of continuous writing.

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

Snarf! I haven't met him in person yet, but it's stuff like this that makes me love the man.

[chickwriter.livejournal.com]

That quote is so fabulous!

And yes to the display sites and no-pay. I get asked this sort of thing all the time, both in my capacity as a Web producer (the day job) and as a writer.

The ones that insist that it's a Good Thing never listen to me. What do I know? I've only been doing this for years. (Of course, these are the same ones that publish via iUniverse or PublishAmerica, so you get the picture.)

I think I'll just point them to that quote from now on. (duly credited). ::g::

[marthawells.livejournal.com]

I love that. Robin is the master of the comeback that's nearly impossible to comeback to.

[lagilman]

As Laura Anne Gilman, you'd think I'd have thought to use his full name... I blame the late hour of a long day.

[qnotku.livejournal.com]

I've "given away" one story to an anthology that was put together to raise money for a WWII memorial in Nebraska. Senators Bob Dole and Bob Kerrey both contributed to the project and it was one that I felt was worthwhile.

However....

Yes, my friends, there is a big however. Very few of the funds made it to the memorial -- supposedly the editor got into a lawsuit with one of the authors and spent most of the money on that. :sigh:

One valuable (and painful) lesson learned.

Teri

[deedop.livejournal.com]

I like to think of it as my small contribution toward encouraging PublishAmerica to die from exposure. :-)

[alfreda89.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure.

Pull the other one. It's got bells on.

I wonder if I could interest them in some swamp land in East Texas....

%^) Thanks. Worth a smile and a shake of the head.