[Wrtier Post] Industry Things that Make You Say, “Huh?”

NOW it’s Wednesday. I kept thinking yesterday was Wednesday. Must remember, if I THINK Tuesday is Wednesday, might as well go ahead and write the post. Just have it in reserve for the actual Wednesday. Because yesterday there was a couple of interesting things popping up that have weird publishing ramifications.

Now, I’m not trying to be a rabble-rouser. In fact, I can’t afford to be right now. However, I’m not going to sit by and let newer writers than me be railroaded into practices that aren’t beneficial to the AUTHOR. These are issues I’m learning about that affect me and people like me.

Cory Doctorow had a column in Publishers Weekly about seeing a letter to an author who has books with TOR in some territories and Hatchett UK imprints in others, such as Little, Brown UK, to ensure their books with other companies besides Hatchett imprints to have DRM. TOR and Baen have been leaders in DRM-free ebooks. Doctorow is a staunch believer in DRM-free…well…everything, and it’s something I agree with him about.

Hatchett UK believes differently. They believe DRM protects sales and their business. And they’re entitled to their opinion and statistics; however demanding the author tell OTHER COMPANIES how to run their business is out of line. The argument used by many DRM proponents is, according to Publishing Association president, and Little, Brown UK CEO, Ursula“The central point is that we are in favour of DRM because it inhibits file-sharing between the mainstream readers who are so valuable to us and our authors.”

Yeah, punishing READERS for wanting to have the books they purchased available to read on any device or medium they like – or spreading the word in a legal manner – is treating the consumer like a thief not a business partner. Ticking off readers is a bad idea.

Of course, the blame is being laid on authors. It always is. Ebook prices go up? Book prices go up? Those authors are greedy little buggers, aren’t they, for actually having the nerve to want to make a living wage. And it’s not ending with the ebook debate.

Bridget McKenna posted a link to an article by an agent yesterday that really flummoxed me. I had to share it. If any of you out there are clients with these agents, be aware of their stance. Agent/Author relationships have always been counter-intuitive. They’re supposed to be on the side of the author. The author theoretically hires the agent to represent their interests to the publisher. HOWEVER, the agent gets to do the picking and choosing of clients, not necessarily the other way around. The agent has to work with publishers, which means they have to do a certain amount of political game-playing.

But this article where an agent who is supposed to be the author’s advocate, flat out says that crappy clauses in publication contracts are the fault of childish, greedy, lazy authors. And because a minority of authors screwed up (maybe) along the way, all authors are going to be JUST LIKE THEM and the poor publishers must be protected. WHAT? Really? Does that sound right to anyone?

I know a lot of authors have good contracts negotiated in good faith by good agents. But this? This is why I’m currently muddling through on my own. I’ve been burned twice. I’m agent-shy. Seeing things like this doesn’t help. Seeing my INDUSTRY like this doesn’t help. But this is my life. This is what I do. And now I have to go find a market for a short story.

Moral of the story? READ YOUR CONTRACT. CAREFULLY. Make sure you’re being protected. You don’t have to take it just because it’s offered.

Tags: Agents, authors, Baen, Bridget McKenna, Cory Doctorow, Hatchett UK, industry, Little Brown, publishing, Tor, Writing