Just say something...
Mar. 19th, 2008 08:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valarltdI hear over and over "Well, you didn't say you were unhappy! We can fix it if you communicate!"
The thing is, I have no idea what is a valid complaint, what's silliness, what's my own social ineptness and paranoia and what's pissy diva behavior.
Things that have all added up and added up, regardless of validity or pissiness:
Naomi gets cc'd on about 2/3-3/4 of the email she needs to be in on. We usually correct this with a word or simple CC on my end. I am the more visible face, but we are a team. (You'll note some of these are me getting offended on her behalf. Because that's what a Big Bad Corellian Boyfriend (TM) does.)
Naomi never got invited to the author list...it's invite only
We got no trib copy for Shifting Back. I'm sure it was just overlooked in the shuffle, but seriously, there were only 6 different names on the anthology. The problem there is that we didn't even notice until January, by which time it would be serious embarrassing to speak up. (I emailed one of the other authors to check on them, and she was good enough to send one along)
On days I took the social live journal, especially the last two, I felt like I was tapdancing for myself. The on-site forums seemed to die when I started participating
Getting a review that starts "I have to admit, I’m not much of an m/m reader, and it irks me to no end when I read e-books that have common editorial errors because those pull me out of the read," is never a good sign. I've seen other reviews complaining of typos and saying Torquere should be more professional (for the record, I found 2 in Kestrel and 1 in Syd McGinley's Pet Sitting)
Closed anthologies contribute to the clique feel. Things like Centaurfold and Galleons and Gangplanks that were never announced to the general writer group. All of a sudden there's this collection of stories, and gee, I would have liked to write one for it.... This also happens on some themed lines, where stories are filled before the deadline.
As the volume of releases has gone up, the quality seems to have gone down. Logical, as the editing staff would have less time to spend on each offering.
Certain former editors were extremely scatterbrained/distracted by real life, sometimes to the point of seriously abbreviated editing schedules. The ones that make you go "You had it for three months. Now it's vital we edit a 50 page story in three days? Man, you're lucky I'm on jury duty."
The contract flip-flop was mentioned in the January post. If it's not right, don't take it. We actually can handle rejection. Don't take it, sign the papers and then switch editors, who promptly reject it.
There are pseudonyms and then there are sock-puppets. I am well aware of the difference. Naomi is a pseudonym to spare my girl's family the shame of having a smut writer. But some poking around reveals a number of TQ authors that seem to have no lives, only book releases.
When all this came down, there was an immediate offer to negate all our outstanding contracts if we were so unhappy. Since no business gives up assets without a tooth-and-nail fight (see my sister,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jlm121 being SOLD with her company), I must assume we are not actually seen as assets.
Like I said, I have no idea what is pure diva on my part, and what is valid.
What I do know is that I started out on Teddy's blog to defend a publishing house I've been with for four years, mostly happily. But as more and more puzzle pieces started coming out, I was less and less sure I liked the picture they made. Been a rough week over here, percolating all this.
Now it looks as if, instead of the planned quiet, slow gafiation, I get to leave in a tea-pot tempest. Because I had to go open my big fat keyboard and ask why my publisher wasn't on the list of good ones.
The thing is, I have no idea what is a valid complaint, what's silliness, what's my own social ineptness and paranoia and what's pissy diva behavior.
Things that have all added up and added up, regardless of validity or pissiness:
Naomi gets cc'd on about 2/3-3/4 of the email she needs to be in on. We usually correct this with a word or simple CC on my end. I am the more visible face, but we are a team. (You'll note some of these are me getting offended on her behalf. Because that's what a Big Bad Corellian Boyfriend (TM) does.)
Naomi never got invited to the author list...it's invite only
We got no trib copy for Shifting Back. I'm sure it was just overlooked in the shuffle, but seriously, there were only 6 different names on the anthology. The problem there is that we didn't even notice until January, by which time it would be serious embarrassing to speak up. (I emailed one of the other authors to check on them, and she was good enough to send one along)
On days I took the social live journal, especially the last two, I felt like I was tapdancing for myself. The on-site forums seemed to die when I started participating
Getting a review that starts "I have to admit, I’m not much of an m/m reader, and it irks me to no end when I read e-books that have common editorial errors because those pull me out of the read," is never a good sign. I've seen other reviews complaining of typos and saying Torquere should be more professional (for the record, I found 2 in Kestrel and 1 in Syd McGinley's Pet Sitting)
Closed anthologies contribute to the clique feel. Things like Centaurfold and Galleons and Gangplanks that were never announced to the general writer group. All of a sudden there's this collection of stories, and gee, I would have liked to write one for it.... This also happens on some themed lines, where stories are filled before the deadline.
As the volume of releases has gone up, the quality seems to have gone down. Logical, as the editing staff would have less time to spend on each offering.
Certain former editors were extremely scatterbrained/distracted by real life, sometimes to the point of seriously abbreviated editing schedules. The ones that make you go "You had it for three months. Now it's vital we edit a 50 page story in three days? Man, you're lucky I'm on jury duty."
The contract flip-flop was mentioned in the January post. If it's not right, don't take it. We actually can handle rejection. Don't take it, sign the papers and then switch editors, who promptly reject it.
There are pseudonyms and then there are sock-puppets. I am well aware of the difference. Naomi is a pseudonym to spare my girl's family the shame of having a smut writer. But some poking around reveals a number of TQ authors that seem to have no lives, only book releases.
When all this came down, there was an immediate offer to negate all our outstanding contracts if we were so unhappy. Since no business gives up assets without a tooth-and-nail fight (see my sister,
jlm121 being SOLD with her company), I must assume we are not actually seen as assets.Like I said, I have no idea what is pure diva on my part, and what is valid.
What I do know is that I started out on Teddy's blog to defend a publishing house I've been with for four years, mostly happily. But as more and more puzzle pieces started coming out, I was less and less sure I liked the picture they made. Been a rough week over here, percolating all this.
Now it looks as if, instead of the planned quiet, slow gafiation, I get to leave in a tea-pot tempest. Because I had to go open my big fat keyboard and ask why my publisher wasn't on the list of good ones.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 03:12 am (UTC)Not sure what tone to take on the next email I need to send.
"I'll still do that story for you...provided I'm not too busy walking in front of buses," strikes me as needlessly sarcastic.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 03:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 04:14 am (UTC)In the long run I'm sure you'll be better off.
Good luck to you and may your future publishing endeavors be full of all good things.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 04:21 am (UTC)All this came about because people were asking why I did not recommend Torquere Press.
All I can say about other writers I know who have had problems with them is at least you did wind up with a whole bunch of books they wanted to keep raking in money on from your hard work.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 04:50 am (UTC)I have about 4 royalty properties right now, and all but one expires next year.
Thing is,I have 7 outstanding contracts at the moment. We've only agreed to cancel one (a novel we sent out far too soon).
(and Naomi is
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 08:53 am (UTC)It's in the style of high snark, so I apologize. It's late and I'm an insomniac.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 12:08 pm (UTC)I wondered at the really extreme, hostile response to them and now I comprehend why. I'm really sorry that this happened to you.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 01:52 pm (UTC)While I am on record as saying TQ does have some clique problems and some editing problems I think pretty broad brush strokes are being used at this point.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-20 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-21 02:10 am (UTC)I didn't know any of that. What I saw was something cool that appeared in a line that usually has open calls. It felt like an inside job and just one more piece of evidence that I was out of the loop.
Like I said: valid complaints and social paranoia, all mixed together.
no subject
Date: 2008-03-21 03:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-21 04:01 am (UTC)When Dark Roast gets a website up, I'll definitely read the submission guidelines. If we have anything, we'll send it your way.
Ellora has us hooked on a 20,000 word first refusal clause. (anything over that, they get dibs)
CDP is still a minnow too. They have 3 books. I just got my second royalty check. Single digits.
hello, Angelia
Date: 2008-03-23 06:43 am (UTC)