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Writing as Community - Doing Unto Others |
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Written by Rhonda
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Wednesday, 08 July 2009 14:24 |
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Publishing is a brutal industry. No matter what writers do, someone isn’t going to be happy. We’ve seen a rash of “People Behaving Badly” lately. Last week I talked about the author behaving badly when it came to a bad review. There’s been more this week. There’s been a backlash to a poor self-published author who, we hope to all that’s Good and Fluffy, is just a clueless person. The ridicule alone has been brutal. I feel for the guy, I do. He was sucked into self-publishing and now has to take his lumps. Peter David took it on the chin this week, too, when he gave fans what he thought they wanted. And this is always going to happen. Writing and publishing is always going to be a “darned if you do; darned if you don’t” industry. So why do it? Why set yourself up for massive amounts of rejection, bad reviews, and fan/professional ridicule? It has to go beyond the fundamental need to put words on paper, right? Right. Why do we do it? Because after all the rejection, reviews, backlashes, etc., the publishing industry comes together to help. Over the last year, in the midst of the major publishing houses restructuring, Google trying to rip off writers, and all the economic crap – there have been MANY out-pourings of compassion and support. Writers and editors have had other writers, editors and publishers come out of the woodwork to help save homes and cover health care costs. The most recent event coming up is in Central Texas. Aaron Allston, author and all around good guy, recent had unexpected heart surgery during his last book tour, and like many authors doesn’t have health insurance. So FACT, the fan organization in Central Texas, is doing an auction for him. Those of us writers who also don’t have a lot of money ourselves are donating items to the auction to help raise money to help him out. Personally, I’m donating a pre-publication manuscript of the Redheads of the Apocalpyse sequel. I have no idea if anyone is going to want it or not, but it’s something I – with the consent and permission of the publisher and other 3 Redheads – can do for someone who’s been there for us. What’s in it for me? Because lets face it, no one does anything without an ulterior motive, right? Not a thing – except “Golden Rule” points. I’m doing until another what I hope would be done for me in need. That’s why we write, because when it comes down to it, writers get the short end of all the sticks, and if we don’t look out for each other, we all go down.
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Written by Rhonda
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Monday, 18 May 2009 14:18 |
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Of Deadlines and Parodies This week's column is early. Mostly because I have a deadline looming, and right now, I have an idea. So yay. It's Monday, I'm taking what I can get. This week we're talking about parodies and farces. April 2009 saw a huge cafuffle (that's a technical term, you know) over a "tribute" sequel novel to the Stephanie Meyer Twilight series done by a "fan" named Lady Sybilla (which always makes me think of the STD that took down the Tudors). If you were blissfully unaware of the bruhaha (yet another technical term), you can read about it on The Fan History Wiki. The nutshell is that this "person" doesn't understand copyright. Fails to learn about copyright. Gives genuine fans a bad name. Etc., etc., etc. I'm not going to get into the legal and ethical issues of fan fiction. I started out in fan fiction. I take a "don't ask/don't tell" stance on fan fiction. I have a problem with people trying to make MONEY off fan fiction - except as licensed and hired Media Tie-In writers. Lady Sybilla isn't one of those. To make matters... hysterical. Peter David took an electronic whack at her. In this post, he put out an all call to whoever wanted to play to take part in a farcical writing party to make fun of this insanity. And being that I'm always ready to poke fun at something insane, and it's an opportunity to play with Peter David, I signed up. I don't know if it's a blessing or curse that my time came up right smack dab in the middle of my busiest time of the year when I'm also at my most brain dead. Because my assignment day came up yesterday. I wrote my 500 word section today (Monday, May 18, 2009) over my first cup of Starbucks Cafe Estima coffee. It will, hopefully, go live later today, May 18, 2009, on www.peterdavid.net. I have the distinct honor and pleasure to be following Keith R. A. DeCandido. I hope I did his section some justice. Should we be giving this woman (or Stephanie Meyer) any more publicity than they already have? That's been a huge debate. Is it a smart idea to poke the insane person with the stick? Probably not. Is it too much fun? Oh, heck yeah. I haven't gone through the whole manuscript yet, but just for the chance to play online with Peter David and Keith R. A. DeCandido alone was worth it. My section is #30. I don't know how many participants there are, but it's an entirely improved piece so it's only getting stranger and stranger as the piece progresses. Considering I wrote mine before coffee, on a Monday, after working 7 days a week for 7 weeks straight... you should get the idea of just how "serious" this isn't. Go forth and have some fun.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 18 May 2009 14:20 )
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The Importance of Conventions |
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Written by Rhonda
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Wednesday, 03 June 2009 14:23 |
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It's Convention Season - at least for me. Or what I consider Convention around this part of the US. The "season" will always depend on the writer/artist and their location. For me, it's June - October - with at least one "pre-season" convention. In fact, Friday, June 5th starts it off for me. I'll be at SoonerCon in Oklahoma City, and this year, I have July "off" though my husband does not - so that convention still counts, and NEXT YEAR, darn it! Next year! Now, as a writer or artist - whether a talented amateur protecting their Olympic Eligibility (now THERE would be a contact sport), or a Pro (at any level), convention appearances are an important part of the business. When you're looking at your calendar and your career you have to consider them on several economic levels. - Can I Afford to Go - this is important. 90% of all writers have day jobs, mortgages, etc. We do not make a livable wage just writing - or at least not writing fiction. So budgets and money are something to look at - especially when travel is involved, hotel rooms, food, etc. If you're moving out of your local region to go to a convention, those costs rise rapidly. Money becomes an issue. If money is not an issue, then, you're a lucky SOB and PBBBBBBSSSTTTT.
- Can I Afford NOT to Go - this is equally important. Depending on Guests of Honor, prestige of the convention, other invited guests, location, etc. You have to ask the question, "Will it be beneficial to my career to go?" EVEN if monetarily, it's a hit. Sometimes, the answer will surprise you. Though you have to be careful when you answer this question to yourself. I've seen writers say, "Oh, I'm working on 'X' now, and there's no one at 'Y' Convention who can further my career." In My OPINION, that's short-sighted and a dangerous slope. Even if a major publisher, producer, etc, isn't at that convention - there are people there the writer needs to get to know. Namely the fans. You know, those people who actually buy your books, stories, etc. If you don't have them, how are you going to get a contract?
- Is it Worth my Time and Money - Unfortunately, you have to draw the line. You have to know your limits. If it's a wonderful convention but suddenly you're getting no programming, or it changes directions/themes/focuses so the people you need to reach are no longer coming, then it's okay to say, "I don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to do nothing."
It is okay to say "no" to a convention invitation, but you need to make sure the reasons are good ones. If you can only go to 2 to 4 a year, pick the ones that are the most beneficial to you. If you have the chance to go to a MEGA-Convention, even knowing the first 2 to 5 years you'll be begging, borrowing, and stealing programming or just looking like an orphan, but you know in the long-run it's going to be good? Do it. My "Next Year, Darn it" convention is Comic Con International in San Diego. I've been once. I do "traveling table babe" duties for some artists in the exhibit hall - and I meet people like Raymond Feist, Joss Whedon, and a senior MAD Magazine editor. Dragon*Con was the same. But I've also had to stop going to a couple of regional conventions because it stopped being good for me. So, now that I've spouted this, what conventions do I do? - ConDFW - Dallas, TX - February
- SoonerCon - Oklahoma City, OK - June
- ApolloCon - Houston, TX - June
- San Diego Comic Con - San Diego, CA - July (NEXT YEAR DARN IT!)
- ArmadilloCon - Austin, TX - August
- FenCon - Dallas,TX - September
I've gone to RadCon in Pasco, WA and ConQuesT in Kansas City - and will consider any convention out of my "region" under the right conditions, because it's important.
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ConDFW in Dallas Feb. 20-22, 2009 |
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Written by Rhonda
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Thursday, 19 February 2009 14:46 |
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If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and have nothing to do this weekend (and if I'd been on the ball and written this much earlier, you'd have had warning) ConDFW is going on in North Dallas at the Crown Plaza Suites Dallas-Park Center. This is a new hotel for ConDFW, and it should be an exciting weekend. Writer Guests of Honor are David Weber, who needs no definition or introduction, and Jim Butcher - of the Dresden Files and the Alera fantasy series. In an unusual move, ConDFW's Artist Guest of Honor is actually an animation studio, Janimation. I'm not sure how that's going to work, but personally looking forward to meeting them. The other guests/panelists at ConDFW are the "usual suspects" for the area - but Dallas/Fort Worth area boasts a HUGE number of "local" major talent: Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires and Weather Wardens), PN Elrod, Carole Nelson Douglas (for the mystery fans), just to name a VERY, VERY few. This is a full-range literary and artistic convention.
For the aspiring writer, this is a great place to network with some small press editors and publishers, like YardDogPress. With writers, artists, and to buy books you might never buy otherwise.
This is a perfect opportunity to support the industry and keep science fiction and fandom alive. Hope to see you there.
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