Actually, the problem isn't that I don't know what to say? It's that I don't have time to say it. Seldom am I at a loss for words.
However, lack of time is something I frequently face. Right now I'm trying to get ready for a trip to Europe, and problems seem to be popping up on all fronts. Isn't that the way it always is?
So bear with me, and I'll get something *important* said before I leave.
Sling Words out.
Lone Star Writing Contest deadline nears
Gee, I'm a member of the Northwest Houston RWA Chapter, and I nearly forgot to post this reminder they sent out about their annual writing contest. The LONE STAR WRITING COMPETITON is the real deal. The final judge is an editor, and winners and finalists have gone on to publication.
June 4 is the deadline for the 15th annual LONE STAR WRITING COMPETITON.
Here's their reminder.
INDUCEMENTS:
Foreign entries may enter electronically & pay with PayPal.
Preliminaries judged by two published and one unpublished judge.
Finalists judged by an editor and an agent.
ELIGIBILITY:
Competition is open to published and unpublished.
Unpublished authors may enter any category.
Published authors my enter any genre in which they've never published or have not published in the past five years.
All authors may enter no more than once per category, but may enter more than one category.
DEADLINE:
Submisssions must be postmarked by June 4, 2007.
Entries postmarked after the deadline will be returned unopened.
For more info, email jrcarver1 @verizon.net.
For testimonials, rules, and entry form visit Northwest Houston RWA.
FEE:
$30 for non-NWHRWA members, $20 for members.
So there you have it. You've got about 13 days to get your entry postmarked and mailed. Good luck!
Simon & Schuster reacts
If you'll recall, on Friday, I posted the warning I'd received from Authors Guild. When I returned home from my weekend trip, I found a follow-up to their warning about the contract changes at Simon & Schuster:
"S&S has fallen back some, now saying they'll negotiate regarding the reversion of rights clause 'on a book-by-book basis.' They also accuse us of an 'overreaction.' Their official statement follows."
Here's what the The Authors Guild requested be forwarded to other writers.
****************************************
Simon & Schuster's official reaction, from Adam Rothberg, VP for Corporate Communications:
We are surprised at the overreaction of the Authors Guild to Simon & Schuster’s contract. We believe that our contract appropriately addresses the improved technology, increased availability, and higher quality of print on demand books, and reflects the fact that print on demand titles may now be readily purchased by consumers at both online and brick and mortar stores. We are embracing print on demand technology as an unprecedented opportunity for authors and publishers to keep their books alive and available and selling in the marketplace in a way that may not have been previously possible for many authors, and are confident in the long term it that will be a benefit for all concerned. We would also like the author and agent community to know that, when necessary, we have always had good faith negotiations on the subject of reversions, and will continue to on a book-by-book basis.
Ahh. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, and so the pot gets stirred.
"S&S has fallen back some, now saying they'll negotiate regarding the reversion of rights clause 'on a book-by-book basis.' They also accuse us of an 'overreaction.' Their official statement follows."
Here's what the The Authors Guild requested be forwarded to other writers.
****************************************
Simon & Schuster's official reaction, from Adam Rothberg, VP for Corporate Communications:
We are surprised at the overreaction of the Authors Guild to Simon & Schuster’s contract. We believe that our contract appropriately addresses the improved technology, increased availability, and higher quality of print on demand books, and reflects the fact that print on demand titles may now be readily purchased by consumers at both online and brick and mortar stores. We are embracing print on demand technology as an unprecedented opportunity for authors and publishers to keep their books alive and available and selling in the marketplace in a way that may not have been previously possible for many authors, and are confident in the long term it that will be a benefit for all concerned. We would also like the author and agent community to know that, when necessary, we have always had good faith negotiations on the subject of reversions, and will continue to on a book-by-book basis.
Ahh. Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, and so the pot gets stirred.
Contract terms change at Simon & Schuster
As most of you know, I'm a strong supporter of Authors Guild. I even host my website through them because of this. Yesterday they sent out a warning about the new contract terms at Simon & Schuster. This is important because writers need to be aware of the business side of writing. Here's the full text of the warning.
"Simon & Schuster has changed its standard contract language in an attempt to retain exclusive control of books even after they have gone out of print. Until now, Simon & Schuster, like all other major trade publishers, has followed the traditional practice in which rights to a work revert to the author if the book falls out of print or if its sales are low.
The publisher is signaling that it will no longer include minimum sales requirements for a work to be considered in print. Simon & Schuster is apparently seeking nothing less than an exclusive grant of rights in perpetuity. Effectively, the publisher would co-own your copyright.
The new contract would allow Simon & Schuster to consider a book in print, and under its exclusive control, so long as it’s available in any form, including through its own in-house database -- even if no copies are available to be ordered by traditional bookstores.
Other major trade publishers are not seeking a similar perpetual grant of rights.
We urge you to consider your options carefully:
1. Remember that if you sign a contract with Simon & Schuster that includes this clause, they’ll say you’re wed to them. Your book will live and die with this particular conglomerate.
2. Ask your agent to explore other options. Other publishers are not seeking an irrevocable grant of rights.
3. If you have a manuscript that may be auctioned, consider asking your agent to exclude Simon & Schuster imprints unless they agree before the auction to use industry standard terms.
4. Let us know if other major publishers follow suit. Any coordination among publishers on this matter has serious legal implications.
Feel free to forward and post this message in its entirety."
In case you don't know, The Authors Guild is the oldest and largest organization of published book authors in the United States.
Sling Words out and off to nephew's graduation. Congratulations, Joshua!
"Simon & Schuster has changed its standard contract language in an attempt to retain exclusive control of books even after they have gone out of print. Until now, Simon & Schuster, like all other major trade publishers, has followed the traditional practice in which rights to a work revert to the author if the book falls out of print or if its sales are low.
The publisher is signaling that it will no longer include minimum sales requirements for a work to be considered in print. Simon & Schuster is apparently seeking nothing less than an exclusive grant of rights in perpetuity. Effectively, the publisher would co-own your copyright.
The new contract would allow Simon & Schuster to consider a book in print, and under its exclusive control, so long as it’s available in any form, including through its own in-house database -- even if no copies are available to be ordered by traditional bookstores.
Other major trade publishers are not seeking a similar perpetual grant of rights.
We urge you to consider your options carefully:
1. Remember that if you sign a contract with Simon & Schuster that includes this clause, they’ll say you’re wed to them. Your book will live and die with this particular conglomerate.
2. Ask your agent to explore other options. Other publishers are not seeking an irrevocable grant of rights.
3. If you have a manuscript that may be auctioned, consider asking your agent to exclude Simon & Schuster imprints unless they agree before the auction to use industry standard terms.
4. Let us know if other major publishers follow suit. Any coordination among publishers on this matter has serious legal implications.
Feel free to forward and post this message in its entirety."
In case you don't know, The Authors Guild is the oldest and largest organization of published book authors in the United States.
Sling Words out and off to nephew's graduation. Congratulations, Joshua!
Sling Words door prize: free idea
I was checking around the Net today, looking for a historical tidbit to offer readers when I came across this item:
On May 17, 1824, John Murray, Lord Byron's publisher, ordered the burning of the manuscript of Byron's personal journal. Though Byron's friends protested, the journal manuscript was indeed burned.
Wow. Just think of the story possibilities there! What was in Byron's personal journal? Did he name names that preferred to remain unknown? Was Murray paid off or coerced in any way to do this? Was he protecting someone? A man? A woman? Byron ran with a pretty fast crowd if you'll recall.
Would lives, fortunes, and/or history have been altered by the journal's publication?
What if there'd been another copy of the journal manuscript? What would it have revealed? What if that manuscript copy were suddenly discovered today? Oooh. What if is a game writers play, and it's a game that usually leads to a book.
Okay. That's my gift to you today. Take that idea and run with it though I may play with it too. Just remember me in your book dedication, okay?
On May 17, 1824, John Murray, Lord Byron's publisher, ordered the burning of the manuscript of Byron's personal journal. Though Byron's friends protested, the journal manuscript was indeed burned.
Wow. Just think of the story possibilities there! What was in Byron's personal journal? Did he name names that preferred to remain unknown? Was Murray paid off or coerced in any way to do this? Was he protecting someone? A man? A woman? Byron ran with a pretty fast crowd if you'll recall.
Would lives, fortunes, and/or history have been altered by the journal's publication?
What if there'd been another copy of the journal manuscript? What would it have revealed? What if that manuscript copy were suddenly discovered today? Oooh. What if is a game writers play, and it's a game that usually leads to a book.
Okay. That's my gift to you today. Take that idea and run with it though I may play with it too. Just remember me in your book dedication, okay?
Quotable Richard J. Evans
Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.
Great quote for you struggling writers, isn't it? Do you know Richard J. Evans? Allow me to introduce you.
Richard J. Evans, Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge, is someone I admire. As a British historian, his life's work has been writing about Germany. He's refused to remain silent in the face of attempts to whitewash what happened in Germany with the rise of Hitler.
Mr. Evans is the author of many famous books. I heard moans and groans all through school from classmates who hated history. I guess some of them are supporters of the postmodernist theory that the study of history is no longer of value. In Defence of History, is the book Professor Evans wrote to counter this school of thought.
I think more history courses should be required because reading history is like reading about the mistakes of the past. A smart individual looks back on his mistakes and learns from them. Nations are made of individuals. If individuals who know nothing of their history comprise a government, then is a country not destined to repeat mistakes rather than learn from them? Shouldn't the past be a learning experience?
Or is the literary agent from New York I heard speak once correct? In his estimation, Bob and Mary Six Pack were only concerned with television, movies, and their six packs.
A nice cosmopolitan slap in the face to us yokels in Texas from someone who thought the frontier ended at the Alleghenies? True. But was he right?
I hope not.
Great quote for you struggling writers, isn't it? Do you know Richard J. Evans? Allow me to introduce you.
Richard J. Evans, Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge, is someone I admire. As a British historian, his life's work has been writing about Germany. He's refused to remain silent in the face of attempts to whitewash what happened in Germany with the rise of Hitler.
Mr. Evans is the author of many famous books. I heard moans and groans all through school from classmates who hated history. I guess some of them are supporters of the postmodernist theory that the study of history is no longer of value. In Defence of History, is the book Professor Evans wrote to counter this school of thought.
I think more history courses should be required because reading history is like reading about the mistakes of the past. A smart individual looks back on his mistakes and learns from them. Nations are made of individuals. If individuals who know nothing of their history comprise a government, then is a country not destined to repeat mistakes rather than learn from them? Shouldn't the past be a learning experience?
Or is the literary agent from New York I heard speak once correct? In his estimation, Bob and Mary Six Pack were only concerned with television, movies, and their six packs.
A nice cosmopolitan slap in the face to us yokels in Texas from someone who thought the frontier ended at the Alleghenies? True. But was he right?
I hope not.
Happy Birthday to my Mommy
This is the picture I'm using for the cover of my mother's memoirs. You notice how her right foot is blurry? She told me it's because she could hardly sit still to have the portrait made. Her foot is tapping away, showing her impatience to get up and go play.Funny thing. My Mom is still that way. Always impatient to be up doing something.
Happy Birthday, dear Mom.
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