RWA Needs Change-but not sure I care enough to stay
June 20, 2009 by Melissa
For those of you waiting for my Follow Up Fridays, I plan on starting next week. The last two weeks things have gotten in the way, mainly a new release yesterday on the FUF and some industry crap. I actually was not going to post on that subject, mainly because there are many who have posted things about this and they are much better at writing it up than I. But, irritated by news of board actions behind their closed doors, and what they have planned for next year, I lost it. I can’t say publicly because these are rumors, but it is disturbing. I know that a midlist digital author doesn’t get that much respect and most people know how I feel on this subject. But I am sick to death of the “leadership” of the RWA dragging us down and making us a laughingstock within the writing community.
For readers who don’t know, Romance Writers of America is an organization romance writers. Every June, the board pulls some kind of crap to piss of a huge group of the membership. We have conference in July so it always makes for a FUN nationals. There have been some problems in the past in regards to erotic romance(they tell us they want to regulate our book covers) and with epublishing and small press(allowing us to enter the Rita-contest for pub authors-then telling us we can’t and keeping the fifty bucks entrance fee and the books. Oh, and ignoring digital publishing in general for Workshops this year and telling Angela James she could not present a workshop on digital publishing because Samhain is not considered “one of their publishers.” Funny, they had no problem with this last year when she was on a panel I set up, but hey, the RWA likes to change the rules.
When they said they were raising their rates this year, I started contemplating whether I would stay or not. The money spent there could go to more promotion, more reader conferences…which would benefit me as the writer more. There is a part of me that says I should stay, and try and help fix stuff. It is a hard decision. I think that much of the board’s actions and plans have to do with getting rid of the “shrill” authors who publish in epublishing, which they call “author mills” to leave RWA. Seriously, regular readers of the blog will know that I am a self-proclaimed bitch and that part of me just wants to stay to irritate them. They truly believe in their little dinosaur brains that this will make RWA better. Of course President Diane Pershing hasn’t had a release since early 2008, from what I can find and according to her website, and I know many of the board members are not publishing regularly. I know part of that has to do with the job of being a board member. It takes a lot of time to completely fuck up a pretty good organization and writing must take a back seat.
Sorry, that was a little bitchy of me, but I warned you.
Anyway, I do not want this to fall into the us vs them, or this is unfair and everyone is being mean to me argument. The problem with the RWA board being ostriches about digital is it is hurting the membership. Almost every publisher is going to want your digital rights. Yes, some people like J K Rowling can say no to them, but most of us don’t have a choice. And yes, digital makes up about 1% of traditional publishing sales, for now. That is due to a few reasons. One, NY publishers are really behind the ball on it, all except Harlequin, and still trying to gain a foothold. Two, digital is just now starting to take off. IN about two to three years, the landscape will be completely different. Now, there are many authors have signed super bad contracts. They are getting single digit percentages on the digital sales, and on net not gross. Of course, they say, it is only for a few hundred copies. I’m sorry, but I refuse to GIVE money away on something I worked on that much. Publishers are making a killing on this because NY has no overhead costs. The book is already edited and has cover art. They keep a huge chunk and if they don’t, they really screwed up their contracts with distributors.
Here is the thing: Romance Readers are usually described in the 25-45 yr age group. I think this is slightly wrong because I have a lot of older readers, but this is what I hear quoted all the time. And, as most of you know, DSF is 14 yrs old. My daughter would probably sell me to mom slavers if she thought it would get her a Kindle or Sony. When she shows it to friends, they ahhhh over it. They all read Harry Potter and they are Twilight freaks(I say that affenctionately). They read nonstop! IMHO, this generation coming up may be the digital generation, but they are HUGE readers. 10 yrs from now, THEY are our target audience. Yes, I worry about what I will make this year, but I am all about future planning. These kids are the next group of readers, and a lot of them will want it digitally.
While the RWA board members spent this year doing cartwheels changing policy about digital and small press(they change rules in midstream to fit their ideas), they have done nothing on educating members on digital rights or piracy. These are huge problems and they have ignored it because they cling to an old model of NY publishing(and NY publishing is not seeing the gains that digital and small press are right now). So, if I were on the board, which I won’t ever be, but if I were, there are things I would like to see done:
- Digital Liason(as per Deidre Knight’s idea) to the board. Someone with direct knowledge of the industry, someone with connections. They can tackle issues like the google settlement, piracy, getting a higher percentage for digital copies sold etc.
- Education. Authors need to understand their options at every level. They need to know what their publisher is making off their digital copies as opposed to what they are giving them. It isn’t today that is the big problem it is tomorrow. Sales for digital are the ONE positive trend in the last few years and even Harlequin has said more than once it saved them.
- Rita And Golden Heart: We need to work with someone to come up with better categories. The ones they have suck. Working with some industry people, ie editors, agents, and the ever fab Sue Grimshaw, might help with this. And with better categories, we could set up a program to reach out to readers to make them more aware of the Rita and Golden Heart awards. A lot of readers have no idea what these are, and they should. They should know these are considered the best books of the year. No one other than RWA members themselves, take these contests seriously. It is about time people got something for finalling or winning.
- An organizational stance on percentages. Right now, a lot of them go for 15% or lower(higher if they say net, but it is the same rate at the end.) So, if we pushed for an industry standard of say 25% that would earn you a lot of money. Say, you have a 7.99 book, and you sell 500. That will make you $400 more than at the 15% rate. And if you sell more, think about how much money you are giving the publishers. (I stole this from Shayla Black)
- A committee to overhaul our publisher requirements. The truth is that publishing has changed in the last 9 months let alone the last few years. At BEA, it was declared the year of the ebook by some(check out this summary of digital seminars at BEA) . But, that doesn’t mean every fly by night operation should be accepted. Come up with some kind of regs that make it work for legitimate publishers to be a part of our organization. Yes, we can ignore epbulishers but at our members peril. Wouldn’t it be better to come up with some kind of workable solution (ie, be in busines 2 yrs, a certain % of books deemed as romance, etc) than have our members stumbling around trying to find a good publisher? And you can bite me on the Trisk. I know TWO authors put their reps on the line to tell RWA that TRisk was dirty, not paying authors, etc, and they ignored them. I was there when I listened to one of them talk to an RWA staff member about it.
- Could we please have something for people who have published more than 2 books? The nationals workshops are dismal for some of us. I am pretty close to putting out my 30th book and what do I need with a workshop on how to get an agent? I have one. Know GMC too. These are WONDERFUL, but we need something for our seasoned authors. Seriously, I know I have not learned everything but I am beyond the basic classes.
But, alas, none of this will happen. I cannot come up with one big change, other than asking me for more money this year, that RWA has made for the better. I thought that at one point people would come down off their high horses and realize not to be afraid of the future. A more informed membership would definitely make for a stronger organization. We could be more active in publishing and get more respect from publishers. We could be at the forefront of a new publishing landscape. With the economy the way it is, and going to be sort of bad for the next few years, doesn’t it make sense to work with publishers, book sellers, distributors, etc, of ANY format, to help our industry through times like these?
<G> I guess not. I guess this is all just wishful thinking and I have a vampire world to build. But it was some nice dreamy thinking there for awhile. And after writing this, I really think I will be leaving. It does nothing for me, doesn’t want me, and I seriously don’t want to give it anymore money. What do I get out of this? I have high blood pressure, and I don’t need the drama, I have a teenager for that. I’m not bitter, but I don’t want to waste the energy. AND, I can go to conference as a non member. If not, screw it. I can use that week for a vacation with my family that I pay for with my imaginary digital royalties.
Other Posts on this subject:
Deirdre Knight’s Post to Diane Pershing
Teddy Pig Weighs in-MUST READ
Lauren Dane -She’s been posting several blogs about this for awhile now. Take the time to read them, good info and thoughts.
Shiloh Walker - Got an opinion? Even if it is different than mine, go to Shiloh’s and take the survey.
UPDATE: Angela James responds to Diane with a CALL TO ACTION
Comments
13 Responses to “RWA Needs Change-but not sure I care enough to stay”
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Good suggestions, all. Unfortunately, I agree with you on the not being sure I care enough to stay. I really resented writing that $85 membership renewal check back in March. And when I read Diane Pershing’s snotty, condescending response to Deidre Knight’s post on ESPAN, I got simultaneously depressed and mad enough to chew nails.
It’s great, seeing all the #RWACHANGE hashtags on Twitter, but I suspect it will be a losing battle. RWA not only doesn’t care about its digitally-published authors, it’s openly contemptuous of us. Why should I continue to give my money to that kind of an organization?
My husband asked me the same thing. I hear they are going to make changes soon, and the one thing everyone says they stay at RWA for might be changing. Unless there are at least three people elected to the board who are efriendly, it is useless. They are stacking the board and seriously, why fight it. They are becoming even more of a laughingstock than they were with the graphical standards crap!
Any idea when will the rest of us be able to find out what’s going on behind the closed doors? Too late to do anything about it? Too late to write letters or help think of alternatives? You are a rumor tease
*sigh* Mel I wish I had answers. I’m sure we all wish we had answers. As it stands right now and as sad as it makes me, I’ll believe change when I see it. Not that i don’t doubt the determination of those involved in RWAChange but I also don’t doubt the determination of the RWA Status Quo
Yes that is my attitude. I hate being so cynical, but I blame RWA. I really want them to succeed, but I have big doubts that the majorit of RWA will pay attention or vote. And I really don’t want to throw away any money. I have until July 31 to make my decision but I am really leaning toward quitting. There is not one thing in the world RWA does for me at the moment.
I sooo hope they do succeed, but I fought against this two years ago and I am tired of it.
Thanks for linking to my BEA summary. Best of luck with your work, and I’m happy to have found your blog.
Excellent posting Melissa. I think many of us have been fighting this battle for a long. I am no longer a member of RWA, opted not to renew after a couple years in the beginning of digital publishing.
I do hope you succeed with these ideas/changes especially, in the area of the directors and their experience for the boards they sit on to make the decisions. If you don’t know the medium and market how can you make decisions about something this vital.
Digital publishing is growing every year and it won’t take long for the NY publishers to catch on and grab hold. It would be nice if this organization acknowledged this new medium and brought some new and vital changes to the organization.
I do know your dilemma and know your decision won’t be made in haste. Take care and good luck, Melissa.
but, but, but next year’s conference is in Nashville at the GAYLORD! If I don’t end up in a MAJOR debt problem because of the money pit house, I wanna go!!!
and room with you again! (forgot that part)
Erin, thank you for the great info. It was very informative for those of us you could not attend!
Thanks, Jewel. For me, getting published in digital first was right. Yes I am working with my agent to get a mass market publisher. But I don’t know if I will leave my e-roots behind. I like the regular money, I LOVE the readers. I like that no one says…oh, that is too controversal, or you can’t have a heroine is does THIS for a living or a hero who has THIS in his past. I love that freedom and it would take me a lot to leave it behind.
But it has taught me a lot of things. I am thinking of writing an article about that. What an author can learn in epublishing, what are the advantages. Granted, there are disadvantages too, but I think they are outweighed by the amazing amount of knowledge I have gained:)
Mary Beth, LOL. I thought you weren’t coming to RWA to avoid me. Just kidding.
I hope to go, even if I am not a member. You can do that and you do end up paying the membership fee, that is the difference between member and nonmember. But then, the years I can’t, I save that money. Still ruminating.
I will probably be there unless Les is deployed. That is VERY likely, so I will just have to see how it goes and how the girls take it. IF he gets a command and we have to move for that, that might make it impossible for me too. Just all depends on our situation.
Seriously, regular readers of the blog will know that I am a self-proclaimed bitch and that part of me just wants to stay to irritate them.
We share more than a first name. Lol. Since my renewal isn’t until January I’m here to stay, anyway. Might as well do something constructive (and irritating) while I’m there.