In a post at Romancing the Blog, Kassia Krozser shared her discovery that “…there wasn’t a single panel devoted to digital publishing on the upcoming RWA Annual Conference schedule.”
In the comment section, Samhain Publishing Executive Editor Angela James revealed that she had submitted a proposal for such a workshop—but the powers that be at RWA rejected it.
Ms. James added, “However, as Jane said, there will be a ‘rogue’ workshop on these issues offered at RWA separate from the regular workshops because we feel that the topics are so important to authors, the info should be provided somehow. Anyone who would like more info on that can email me, Jane or SB Sarah.”
Rogue’s the word. I’m so very puzzled by the lack of a digital workshop at RWA, especially when epublishing has been such a strong focus of attention both online and at other industry conferences. Why would RWA decide against such a workshop? What does the organization have to lose? What’s the worst that could happen if one was included?
Digital publishers are strong supporters of niche genres. Therefore, I believe authors and readers (especially of the SFR persuasion, from my point of view) have a stake in their success. I think RWA does its authors a disservice in this regard because epublishers are a significant opportunity for aspiring authors who can’t obtain an agent yet have perfectly publishable stories.
They are also a haven for authors who have been dropped by their mainstream print publishers.
Do reputable epublishers not yet command enough respect? Well, where’s the respect for bestselling NY published authors who started out in ebooks? Never mind the authors who publish in both print and digital formats—a number of whom are represented by agents.
And speaking of, literary agent Deidre Knight is published with Samhain. If digital publishing is good enough for a powerhouse agent, isn’t it good enough for RWA members? What has to happen for digital publishing to command enough respect?
Better yet, how about a little history lesson?
The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) followed the same short-sighted path of placing what they wanted (more high-priced CDs) over what their customers wanted (easy access to low-priced singles). The longer the music industry stalled/vexed/swore, the more customers they sent to the darkened seas of piracy—where many have remained.
The takeaway: Customers possess the collective might of rivers. You can try to stop them; you can try to avert their course; but at the end of the day, that raging water is going where it wants to go—just like your customers. Why not harness that power and benefit from it?
Sure, ebooks and ereaders only make up a sliver of the overall publishing world today, but it’s growing wildly every year and it’s where we’re headed tomorrow. Isn’t it better to prepare for that day now rather than repeat the mistakes of the RIAA?
I sincerely hope RWA reverses its position on the matter. Members are paying hard earned cash for its support and resources, not to mention the steep conference fees. They’re entitled to a variety of presentations, and while the RWA conference certainly can’t be expected to accommodate everything, they could consider being strategic about what they include given the mercurial landscape that is publishing in these times of rapidly advancing digital technology.
Joyfully yours,
Heather
Saturday, May 30, 2009
RWA Rejects Digital Publishing Workshop Proposal
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29 comments:
RWA continues to disappoint with their lack of regard for epubs and digitial publishing. They really need to get a clue
I was surprised by this, but I shouldn't have been. Sigh.
This is sadly surprising. I really thought the RWA was hip. Don't they realize how much interest in the Romance genre ePublishers like Samhain and Cerridwen Press generate? Haven't they heard of the phrase, "Don't bite the hand which feeds you?'
Interesting note to add. The RWA-PRO newsletter released in May is dedicated to digital publishing and answering questions regarding that "developing market".
Seems to me that the up and coming writers of RWA have an interest & have questions about digital publishing. Why not a workshop?
RWA needs to look at the fact that the major publishing houses are entering the e-publishing field. Shouldn't members be informed as to how they will need to deal with the majors as well as the minors. There is no substitute for information.
Being prepared has NEVER been one of RWA's strong suits. It is a reactionary organization as opposed to a proactive one. I have NO idea what went into the decision-making on this rejection.
The irony of it is this. There are a lot of print authors who don't make enough in print monies to make a living off their writing. If they were to combine the print with ePub, maybe they would. AT the very least, they would continue to build name recognition.
RWA's decision NOT to give information to ALL of its members, shows its continued short-sightedness and inability to reflect an understanding that ePublishing and Small Press are a strong competitor for buyers. Small sliver now, true, but the slice of the pie continues to widen, and customer dollars are spread out among many as opposed to a select few fifteen years ago.
RWA will eventually wake up, but it's going to be LONG after print publishers continue to erode the royalty rates on their eBooks. The precedent will be set, and you'll hear lots of wailing then, and the resigned sighs of "We tried to warn you," from those of us who are a bit more visionary.
I can't find my copy at the moment, but doesn't the president's letter in the June RWR say something about needing to get accurate information to members? Wouldn't giving epubs the chance to lay it out for us fall under that heading?
Did the workshop selection committee give a reason for rejecting the proposal?
This may be nefarious, or it could just be how the cards fell when lining up the workshops. There are a lot of resources within the chapters of RWA for epublishing, even if National isn't on the ball.
That's what I was wondering, Jess, if perhaps the docket was full for Nationals. I'd *prefer* to give RWA some benefit of doubt in that than think of them as being so tunnel-visioned. That said, I hope they make room for such workshops next year so folks don't have to "go rogue."
Monica, I agree, the combo of being released in both print and digitally can only help authors.
Jess, I hope it's an innocent omission, but it crossed my mind that the exclusion (so far) has more to do with sidelining erotic romance than with digital publishing itself, but that's strictly my own speculation.
@Cathy Regarding accurate information, apparently not:
"In the most recent issue of the RWA’s Pro newsletter (Prospects) it was reported that Samhain is closed to submissions. We’re unsure where the erroneous information came from, but we are not closed to submissions and have no plans to be."
Angela James did not specify the reason for the rejection of her proposal.
Hmmm, this is shaping up to be an interesting conspiracy.
The RWA Pro newsletter wouldn't be really connected to the folks with RWA who selected the conference sessions, so I'm not sure it's a conspiracy quite yet :).
Phenomenal post.
@Jody That's good to know. What can I say--everything I know about conspiracies, I learned from THE X-FILES, lol!
Kristen, thank you very much!
If folks come back from the RWA conference in July with reports of bomems who have oily black eyes, then we can really get worried *hehehe*
The history of RWA and epublishing by small publishers has been an ugly one. I was on the sidelines looking on ten years ago as some of my friends who were epublished tried to be recognized as published authors or have their publisher declared legitimate enough that they could enter their books in the Ritas.
At the national level of the organization, the Old Guard at RWA fought every attempt for any form of recognition by the authors or the publishers, and few succeeded. This Old Guard continues to fight against the epublishers and the epublished to this day.
The only form of epublishing they consider legitimate is ebook formats of the books published by the big NY conglomerate publishers.
In fact, the head of the Maenads who figuratively ripped apart the epublished and epublishers at the national level was the very first to have an ebook format of her published novel available from her conglomerate publisher.
Conspiracy theories, anyone?
On the other hand, most of the chapters of RWA have always welcomed the epublished, allow epublished books to be entered in their contests, and welcome news and information about various epublishers.
If an author wants information on epublishing, I suggest they check out EPIC epicauthors.org or to talk to authors like me who have been there and done that.
Marilynn, thanks so much for your insights as well as the EPIC link.
Your comment about RWA chapters drives home the grass roots nature of digital publishing. I was just reading Katiebab's recent post about her BEA experience as well as a post at Booksquare and it seems like the "Old Guard" mentality still has a strong hold. I understand why, but nevertheless, it's very disconcerting.
Instead of trying to find ways everyone can benefit from both digital and print publishing, there are people/organizations/companies that try to forestall the impact of emerging technologies.
I guess these same people must disapprove of things like television in our culture /sarcasm.
But sometimes there's just a lot of ignorance involved. That aspect is easily corrected, I think, with time.
It is time for e-authors and e-publishers to form their own association. Any particular reason there can not be an E-RWA? RWA lacks the vision to understand what's taking place in the publishing industry. They are ensconced in supporting an industry based on a business model that is rapidly changing and will soon leave them behind.
Roscoe, thanks for your comment. I, too, have wondered if that type of organization was ever considered, or at least an award for romance e-stories. I guess it depends on how soon RWA will change its view on digital publishing. I imagine that kind of endeavor would involve a huge amount of work, though.
I checked out your site--looks interesting! Thanks for stopping by.
RWA's main problem with e-publishers seems to be that they don't offer advances to their authors. They consider this an unfair practice by the publishers. That's why they don't support them.
@Susan Interesting. I can understand them wanting to advocate for authors in that regard, but I'm going to play devil's advocate for a moment (with RWA, not you, Susan--I realize you're the messenger!)
I wonder what their position is on authors getting lower advances these days or deals being canceled or the low print runs that don't give an author a chance to get enough exposure. Plus the contract issues that are non-negotiable and the lack of marketing support in many cases. Much of that seems unfair as well. Makes me wonder if RWA is focusing on the real challenges facing authors these days. They do a lot to help authors, but sometimes it feels as though RWA feels very threatened by digital publishing.
Whether advances stay or go, I hope that organizations like RWA help authors find and develop other revenue streams to help them compete.
Being e-pubbed and an RWA member, I couldn't agree more, Heather. There is a major upheaval going on within the organization because of the large number of e-pubbed members, but whether the organizations' attitudes will change, I really can't say.
Fyi, Angela James tweeted today about content in the June RWA newsletter: "I think the June RWR letter explains why my RWA wkshp wasn't accepted. RWA doesn't want to look as if they support the biz model in any way."
Sigh. So true, so true. I posted myself about the bizarre mentality of RWA over at Writers At Play: http://www.writersatplay.com/wordpress/?p=1174
I see RWA squeezing epubs out rather than slowly letting them in. I just don't get it.
Leslie, hi and thanks so much for linking to your post. I left a comment for you (tried to earlier today but it didn't go through).
I agree, the issue is very perplexing. I realize RWA wants to advocate for writers but at the same time, it's almost as if they are afraid of something about digital publishing.
The irony is that in the future, digital publishing could become so huge that agents will want a piece of the pie and start negotiating advances for their clients. Epublishers may not give advances now but that could change.
Here's a direct link to Leslie's post.
Jody Wallace has also done a post on the subject, as has Jackie Barbosa.
RWa = soon to go the way of the dinosaur if they don't wake up. Lots of good blog posts etc around including this one. Thanks ladies!
RWA is tarring all epublishers by the same brush. Like with traditional publishers, authors need to do their homework to find the epublisher that works for them. Some epublishers DO pay advances and are very author friendly.
It sounds like the RWA "powers that be" are working from outdated assumptions. You'll find scam epublishers as well as scam print publishers. But epublishing has evolved and is moving into the 21st century. Too bad RWA isn't.
Amie, thanks for reading!
Zetta, excellent points. Thanks for commenting.
Lauren Dane speaks up about the issue.
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