how’s that dead horse?

I should have known better than to join any of the new RWA loops. I thought they were basically worthless in their old incarnation — just the same six people posting on the same six topics. Out of curiousity, why did we all have to change? Different spellings? The new loops have been active for — what, a week? — and have already descended into the usual flamewars wherein some writers published with small or electronic publishers *not* recognized by RWA present their *tragic* situation as if

a) all e-publishers are shunned by RWA (not true) and RWA is “behind the times” in not recognizing their publisher.
b) all people who want to publish with a large, RWA-recognized publisher are directly insulting them and their decision to publish with smaller ones and
c) (this is the new one that shocked the hell out of me) there is some sort of conspiracy between Ellora’s Cave and RWA that allows EC to be recognized and no other epub. WTF????

One writer insisted that because she was not allowed in PAN, the most she could get out of RWA was beginning info about how to write a query letter, no advanced writer advice, promotional or contract tutelage. Um, excuse me? What RWA is she a member of? I’m not PAN, but that info is readily available both in the monthly RWR, in regular online workshops sponsored by RWA or at their yearly conferences. The folks I know in PAN tell me I’m not missing a thing on that loop.

Can we get one thing straight here? RWA is not in the business of keeping writers down. They have standards *because* they want their members making money. They are not keeping information from you. And publishers could care less whether or not your publisher is “recognized” by RWA. The fact that your publisher is not recognized is not ruining your rep. They pull some stupid shit (for instance, not reconizing as a “novel” a book that the publisher is calling such becauase it’s a few thousand short of the minimum-required word count), but what organization doesn’t? If your publisher is not recognized by RWA, it is for one of two reasons:

1) Your publisher hasn’t bothered to apply. (And, sheesh, if you want them in just ask them!)
2) Your publisher isn’t selling the highly minimal requirements to achieve recognition.

And once again, the big publishers don’t care. They want a great story and a proven selling track record. If they don’t have one, they’ll settle for the other. They’d prefer both.

Me, I want a contract with a big print publisher that has a proven track record for getting books into stores. But I know there are many ways to achieve that goal. Sell straight to the big pubs, work your way up with short stories, novellas and novels to small pubs, magazines and electronic pubs that are well-received and sell lots of copies or win a bunch of contests that improve your chances of getting noticed by the big guys (or even get a contract, like with American Title. Each way is perfectly valid — and NONE is better than another! The end goal is the same, if the path is different. To make a living selling books.

If you’re getting closer with each pass, each submission, each small sale, each contest win, then you’re getting it done. If you’re making a living selling your books, then you’re getting it done. (And if you’re making a living, then your publisher should DEFINITELY be recognized.)

Re: self-publishing. I admire people who self-publish and have the wherewithal to find good cover art, distribution, etc. Honestly, you people are my heroes. I know that wouldn’t be me. Furthermore, if you’re making good with your self or small-pubbed work, I can almost guarantee that the big pubs are interested.

Alternately, if you’re just looking to sell a book and don’t care how much money you make or how many other people read it, then go ahead and publish however the heck you like. But don’t get defensive with RWA for setting standards. They’re doing it for your ultimate benefit.