…they go bonkers. I’m talking about the latest kerfluffle to hit Cyberland. The Write Agenda sounds sweet and benevolent, right? It sounds like they want nothing more than to help authors hurdle the mass confusion that has become The Publishing Industry.
And you wouldn’t be more wrong.
In a word, they have come together as a unified front to attack anyone who has been involved in ferreting out the scams of the publishing industry. So, of course, they have anointed Victoria Strauss as the main bull’s eye on their target. Here is the link to the whole mess. Not only is this campaign a pack of lies, but it’s the scammers’ desperate last gasp to hold on to their waning control over under-educated authors who invariably wander into their web.
Who are “they”? I have no idea. And that’s the boggle of it. Based on the vitriol they spew at Vic and their “hit list,” I would say it’s a conglomeration of illicit folks who have banded together under the mantra, “Scammers Unite!”
So why the potent push back? Jim Macdonald put it very succinctly here. His suggestion is that scammers have taken a financial dirt nap with the advent of CreateSpace and the ease of self-publishing one’s e-b00k, and they’re angry, darn it. Just like Dire Straits’ song, “I Want My MTV,” scammers are screaming, “I want my victims back.” They believe their salvation will come from driving a stake through the hearts of those who work long hours protecting authors.
Good luck with that.
Yes, there will always be victims…sadly. I’ve had many conversations with authors who are blinded by the fact that “someone loves me” and insist on signing with publishers whose mantras run along the lines of “giving authors the chance they deserve.” No matter how much proof you put in front of them, they still go down the dark path. Then one day they contact you to say that you were right. The confirmation feels horrible because you know that one more author lost a book, their faith in publishing, and faith in their writing.
And this is what scams do. They’re morally bankrupt, and take their victims down with them.
I’ve been excited about the advent of authors going DIY because it allows for so many wonderful options that exclude these soggy bits of pond scum. But should you come across a Write Agenda type, give them wide berth. It takes a lot of energy to sustain that kind of bilge, and the first thing one think is, “My, they protesteth too much.”
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For those of you who may have missed Adam Eisenberg’s fabulous author event on CSPAN2 Book TV for his wonderful book A Different Shade of Blue, you can watch it on your ‘puter here. God, I love the internet! As an editor, my little black heart burst with pride as Adam deftly handled a panel and his own event like a seasoned pro.
And speaking of changing the face of things, my quest for world domination took a closer step to reality with a lovely review of my book, The Writer’s Essential Tackle Box, which is a “Hot Read” in OC Metro Magazine.
And then there’s Richard Gilbert, talented author of his wonderful memoir Marching Up Madison Avenue. Richard is the real live embodiment of the TV show Mad Men, so his perspective is particularly interesting when it comes to how often Hollywood gets it wrong. Apparantly Advertising Age Magazine agreed – who gave Richard an amazing review, btw – and printed this article that focuses on Richard’s take on Hollyweird.
