tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post4325177872163278545..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: Pitfalls in the Writing RoadLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-16146349418585994062011-01-29T22:16:59.161-05:002011-01-29T22:16:59.161-05:00Are there any contests where the writer has to pay...Are there any contests where the writer has to pay that aren't scams? I noticed the annual Horror/Ghost contest wants me to pay $7, which doesn't seem too bad, but I can't help questioning ever paying to be in a contest.arbraunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10691442638251901380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-11677052763642086982011-01-27T02:04:07.167-05:002011-01-27T02:04:07.167-05:00Hi Ann,
Thankyou for sharing your experience in p...Hi Ann,<br /><br />Thankyou for sharing your experience in publishing and pitfalls to watch out for.<br /><br />I have one manuscript for a fantasy novel completed and am part-way through the sequel while I wait to publish book one. I have a list of agents that I am slowly working my way down, but recently a friend suggested that I should consider publishing on Amazon kindle. In your opinion would I be better to carry on trying to find a traditional agent or self-publish my novel as an e-book?<br /><br />If the answer (as so often happens) is 'it depends' then what are the pros and cons?<br /><br />Thank-you for your timedepreejahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10368525916550381377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-39714786076489112592011-01-26T16:00:02.034-05:002011-01-26T16:00:02.034-05:00What a great article! Thanks for being interviewed...What a great article! Thanks for being interviewed; I learned a lot. Now I've got to run out and find those Han Solo novels. Plus it's so great to hear from someone who also was flabbergasted by the "rubber science" (love that term!), and Spock and Uhura characters in the latest so-called "Star Trek." Uhura did NOT sleep her way to the top of her profession! Sheesh.<br />Much luck to you. I'm looking forward to your next book.Carol A. Stricklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08144748925453952984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-15489478968146849192011-01-21T22:16:21.702-05:002011-01-21T22:16:21.702-05:00Everyone, don't forget Ann will be back in May...Everyone, don't forget Ann will be back in May to talk in more detail about the Jack Sparrow prequel, The Price of Freedom.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-15888807972878840812011-01-21T19:37:18.313-05:002011-01-21T19:37:18.313-05:00Great, A.C., thanks for explaining.Great, A.C., thanks for explaining.jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-10822944117053486402011-01-21T18:53:11.558-05:002011-01-21T18:53:11.558-05:00Reply to Christine:
Christine, you are so right.....Reply to Christine:<br /><br />Christine, you are so right...it's such a shame when writers don't bother to do any checking before handing their work over to an agent or publisher -- and, all too often, if we're talking scam agent or publisher, ALSO handing over a chunk of their hard-earned money!<br /><br />These same writers would never think of just paying anyone who calls himself a contractor to put a new roof on their home. They'd check references, etc.<br /><br />A note: Don't bother checking the Better Business Bureau in regards to agents or publishers. The BBB knows zippo about publishing, and they have no way to judge whether an agent or publisher is real, or legit.<br /><br />As you pointed out, anyone can hang out a shingle overnight and call themselves a "literary agent" or "publisher." It's not regulated at all.<br /><br />-Ann C. Crispin<br />Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom<br />Publisher: Disney Editions<br />Release Date: May 17, 2011A. C. Crispinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716665918125126579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-31486796619442404502011-01-21T18:46:20.957-05:002011-01-21T18:46:20.957-05:00Hi, Christine--What you say is so true about peopl...Hi, Christine--What you say is so true about people not doing their homework. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.<br /><br />I hope the flood waters have receded.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-66888948905389821592011-01-21T18:45:09.113-05:002011-01-21T18:45:09.113-05:00Reply to Joan:
Joan, no matter how "pretty&q...Reply to Joan:<br /><br />Joan, no matter how "pretty" and professional a website is, just remember to recognize WHO the website is targeted to reach.<br /><br />If you compare the website of a scam agent as opposed to a legit agent, you'll notice that the legit agent is promoting his or her WRITERS and their works...what they are NOT doing is advertising for writers to send them manuscripts.<br /><br />Real agents NEVER advertise for clients. They don't have to.<br /><br />The same thing goes for scammy publishers. If you look at the website for, say, HarperCollins, or Simon & Schuster, you'll realize that what these websites are basically advertising is their books -- essentially, "Look! See our books! They're great! Readers, check out our books! Buy them! Our authors are great!"<br /><br />But the pitch on a scammer's site goes like, "Have you written a manuscript? Want to get published? We're looking for authors to publish! We want your work, we'll publish you! We specialize in first time authors! Fear not, we're traditional publishers! Your work will be available from sea to shining sea! We're just the same as Random House!"<br /><br />See the difference?<br /><br />Legit publisher is aiming their website at READERS.<br /><br />Fake scam publisher is aiming their website at AUTHORS.<br /><br />We give complete info on Writer Beware on how to spot the scammers.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />-Ann C. Crispin<br />Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom<br />Publisher: Disney Editions<br />Release Date: Mzy 17, 2011A. C. Crispinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716665918125126579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-87161058982612890922011-01-21T18:34:59.102-05:002011-01-21T18:34:59.102-05:00Hi A.C., a warm welcome to the lair! Nancy, thank ...Hi A.C., a warm welcome to the lair! Nancy, thank you for bringing A.C. to us.<br /><br />A.C. You're doing great work identifying frauds in the business. It's so easy to hang out a shingle, isn't it? I feel sorry for writers who are taken in by these schemes. I also get frustrated sometimes that those same writers don't do their homework. They believe things that are too good to be true and then turn around and blame everybody else when they don't get what they want.<br /><br />Congrats on getting to write Cap'n Jack! How amazing!Christine Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14260589566405262159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-57000044005761524172011-01-21T18:33:39.215-05:002011-01-21T18:33:39.215-05:00Reply to Jo:
Tie-in novels aren't restricted ...Reply to Jo:<br /><br />Tie-in novels aren't restricted to s.f. and fantasy worlds. I've seen tie-ins based on "Murder She Wrote," for example.<br /><br />A "tie-in" story is written by a writer who is contracted to a particular media or other established franchise that the writer didn't create. For example, "tie-in" novels have been written in the Star Trek, Star Wars, Highlander, etc., universe. <br /><br />The writer creates an original story featuring the characters from the tie-in universe. Sometimes the writer will write a sequel or prequel to a popular episode.<br /><br />My Pirates of the Caribbean novel, for example, is the "backstory" of Jack Sparrow, detailing how he first became a Captain. I created the story myself, it wasn't given to me. I had parameters as to "where" I had to leave the character, in the Disney continuity. But as long as I got to the point specified, HOW I got the character to that point was pretty much up to me.<br /><br />I hope that clarifies things.<br /><br />-Ann C. Crispin<br />Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom<br />Publisher: Disney Editions<br />Release Date: May 17, 2011A. C. Crispinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716665918125126579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-60114591085793382662011-01-21T17:30:09.381-05:002011-01-21T17:30:09.381-05:00Hi, Beth--there are excerpts on Ann's website ...Hi, Beth--there are excerpts on Ann's website already.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-31777654246822064532011-01-21T17:17:26.611-05:002011-01-21T17:17:26.611-05:00Welcome to the lair, Ann! You provide a much neede...Welcome to the lair, Ann! You provide a much needed service to the writing community - thank you!<br /><br />Congrats on your latest release. I look forward to checking it out :-)Beth Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01204356784898045866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-23622620020264730262011-01-21T16:38:08.918-05:002011-01-21T16:38:08.918-05:00Hey, Aunty Cindy--yeah, I was disappointed in thos...Hey, Aunty Cindy--yeah, I was disappointed in those prequels, too. Didn't have enough heart, imho. The first-released trilogy just sucked me right into the characters. The prequels, not so much!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-71235956185209849332011-01-21T15:59:40.109-05:002011-01-21T15:59:40.109-05:00Congrats on grabbing the GR, Fedora!
And BIG WELC...Congrats on grabbing the GR, Fedora!<br /><br />And BIG WELCOME to the Lair, Ann! So happy to have you join us and BIG THANX to Nancy for inviting you.<br /><br />Your POTC novel sounds fantastic, can't wait to get my hands on it! And like everyone else, I wish you had written the 3 Star Wars prequels. What we got was pretty lame. :-(<br /><br />I have used Writer Beware on several occasions when something writing related sounded a bit too good to be true. Each time, my suspicions were confirmed!<br /><br />a different AC ;-)Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-72470925786100864072011-01-21T15:37:22.722-05:002011-01-21T15:37:22.722-05:00Joan, the theme from Bonanza _is_ pretty cool! Bu...Joan, the theme from Bonanza _is_ pretty cool! But not enough of a lure for a savvy bandita.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-86145122432289539182011-01-21T15:35:11.580-05:002011-01-21T15:35:11.580-05:00Hi AC, Welcome to The Lair.
Very interesting arti...Hi AC, Welcome to The Lair.<br /><br />Very interesting article and such important information to have available for the aspiring writer.<br /><br />I recently had an article printed in the local newspapers Neighborhood section about my adoption of two kitties from the Humane Society. The reporter must have Googled me because he asked about my writing and ended up incorporating information etc about that.<br /><br />Well, a week later I got an email from what appears to be a local POD publisher with a brief "Ok, so I'd like to publish one of your manuscripts, maybe all"<br /><br />This is not the route I choose to take but did visit the very professional, bright, feel good website. The three authors highlighted had genre specific music attached to their pictures i.e. the Western author had the theme to Bonanza LOLJoanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12566704374877697300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-71801103016683170682011-01-21T14:02:28.967-05:002011-01-21T14:02:28.967-05:00Thanks, A.C. I'll look for your books. I rea...Thanks, A.C. I'll look for your books. I really want to explore a new (to me) genre.<br /><br />Tie-in stories to movies. Can you explain a little more about what that means? Sorry for being so dense. It's not a novelization, right, but something new?jo robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16824237193217632098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-15018944389617482322011-01-21T13:58:33.215-05:002011-01-21T13:58:33.215-05:00Eldheni, nice of you to stop by!Eldheni, nice of you to stop by!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-86907395570342082872011-01-21T13:58:11.855-05:002011-01-21T13:58:11.855-05:00Hi, Slush--Thank you for stopping by and taking th...Hi, Slush--Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to say that.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-28949374307263088452011-01-21T13:13:42.311-05:002011-01-21T13:13:42.311-05:00Hi Ann! Just popped in to see what you were sharin...Hi Ann! Just popped in to see what you were sharing here today. As always, lovely to hear more from you. Have a safe trip. Talk to you again soon.Eldhenihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01629863628406072832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-89142502970400850462011-01-21T13:01:48.660-05:002011-01-21T13:01:48.660-05:00Hi AC! Loved the article. Thanks for sharing all o...Hi AC! Loved the article. Thanks for sharing all of the helpful information about Writer Beware. <br /><br />Also, I wanted to see if you could pass on my thanks to the other volunteers. I know what it's like to want to help others but I know how time consuming the process is. As a budding writer, I want to thank everyone who is working so hard to help us through the sharing of information. <br /><br />So, thanks again AC and special thanks to the Bandits.Landrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16099833600342085109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-87793613276839248972011-01-21T12:18:54.461-05:002011-01-21T12:18:54.461-05:00Hi, Donna--I wish more newbies would pay attention...Hi, Donna--I wish more newbies would pay attention to sites like Writer Beware, Preditors & Editors, etc., before they jump.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-83684094562109470922011-01-21T11:46:54.490-05:002011-01-21T11:46:54.490-05:00Response to Donna:
Thanks for the kind words abou...Response to Donna:<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words about Writer Beware, Donna. I'm sorry to hear you have friends who got burned.<br /><br />Most scam agents, however, never get to the "contract" or "payment" stage with their victims. <br /><br />Instead of acting as real agents in any fashion, these people are merely con artists posing as agents...they have no real contacts in the publishing world. These so-called "agents" don't know a single editor...not one. Most of the time they never bother to submit the manuscripts sent to them.<br /><br />Writer Beware heard of one case where the never-submitted manuscripts a scam publisher had collected filled an entire jail cell after the guilty pair fled before they could be arrested.<br /><br />What most scam agents are expert at is not the publishing field, but in telling their victims what they want to hear.<br /><br />What scam agents want is your money.<br /><br />Writers...protect yourself!<br /><br />Writer Beware has two "Thumbs Down" lists -- one of scammy agents and another of scammy publishers. Those lists ID the worst con artists by name. It's a good idea for any aspiring writer to print out these lists and keep them handy. Check back -- WB uupdates them periodically.<br /><br />Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.<br /><br />-Ann C. Crispin<br />Chair, Writer Beware<br />www.writerbeware.com<br /><br />AKA...<br /><br />A.C. Crispin<br />Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom<br />Publisher: Disney Editions<br />Release Date: May 17, 2011A. C. Crispinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716665918125126579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-17301526371324611372011-01-21T11:20:40.293-05:002011-01-21T11:20:40.293-05:00Hi AC and welcome to the lair. Just wanted to say...Hi AC and welcome to the lair. Just wanted to say thanks for all the work you do to warn aspiring authors of the dangers and pitfalls in this crazy business. Can't tell you how many newbies I know who proudly tell me they sold their first book ever - only to discover after a little questioning, that they'd been taken for an expensive ride.<br /><br />I've heard stories of agents disappearing with royalty checks and advances, with no recovery in sight. Believe me, I checked out your website thoroughly before I signed with my agent.<br /><br />So thank you for your efforts. They are much appreciated.Donna MacMeanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310857800824141312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-70715311634079984082011-01-21T11:09:50.941-05:002011-01-21T11:09:50.941-05:00Ann, I wish you HAD written the Star Wars prequels...Ann, I wish you HAD written the Star Wars prequels. Those would be much better! I also thought Padme's death was lame. I a society this advanced, she should know she's carrying 2 babies, not one, and the death scene came across to me as her just giving up, which seemed so out of character.<br /><br />I agree about Spock and Uhura. That was the jarring character note for me in that movie. Yeah, the plot had holes you could pilot the Enterprise through, but they didn't bother me as much as they did you and several other friends.Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.com