More on the Twisted Library Press Fiasco
Over at a small-press blog called Books of the Dead, James Roy Daley elaborates on his own writing and publishing advice — namely, Yog’s Law — and cites my own discussion of the recent implosion of Twisted Library Press‘s anthology-factory business practice:
I did see one ray of hope while wading through the mess: a newbie writer named Alex J. Kane. Despite the fact that he has few writing credits to his name, he spoke words of wisdom that were – for the most part – overlooked by his peers. But they weren’t overlooked by me.
Glad to see that my post on the matter hasn’t been entirely overlooked. It’s an important example of what can go horribly wrong in this industry, and all the early signs of trouble were blatantly obvious for all to see. We were just too anxious and naive to see them. Traditional publishing is slow, but when the conditions of contracts are approaching their expiration date, it’s worth reconsidering whether or not you’ve submitted your work to a worthy market. Sad but true.
It WAS a good post.
Thanks, Dave. I try.
Any words of encouragement as I dive headlong into my novel later this week? Haven’t written a novel since high school, and haven’t finished one since I was 13.
One word at a time!
Alex,
Man, the TLP thing went down right in the middle of about a dozen other things that were going on in my life, and it didn’t rate much attention from me. Interestingly, it had been one year since my story was accepted that the antho was cancelled. I was getting ready to query someone at TLP and say, “Press or pass?” because the contract I signed stated that my story would revert to me after a year and I didn’t want to wait another year or just sit in limbo forever. It was right about that time that the cancellations were announced.
Like you, I was a bit disappointed, but hold no ill thoughts toward TLP in any way. I was as surprised as you also, however, when I read that some authors were suggesting that we turn the anthologies into a “for the love” work and pay for publication. I am not against supporting friends, but I am opposed to paying someone else money to publish my work. I don’t go to my employer and give them a check every week so I can keep showing up at my desk every morning and taking care of business. It seems writers and artists are often very quick to do whatever it takes to get their work out in the world. I was published a year or two ago in a mag that only paid in contributor’s copies, and that was fine for a first effort, but I won’t be giving away my work (even for a contrib copy) anymore. It’s part of me treating my writing as serious business. My feeling is that if I treat it that way, then it sends the message that others will/should treat it that way as well. This isn’t a hobby for me (even if it’s not paying enough to even get me more than one cup of coffee at present).
Those were good thoughts you put together in the previous post about TLP. In reading the comments on the forum there it made me think, “Wait, would any of these people have tried to get published here if, initially, the publisher had offered nothing at all except publication? Because that’s what they’re suggesting at this point.” Doc obviously cares about his writers and his press, but I don’t work for free. I was heartened to see that no one else at TLP ran with that idea, otherwise I’d have had to write in and ask to have my piece pulled from the project.
There is also a thought in here about submitting to multiple markets often. While the year had passed waiting for TLP to print Fearology 2, I had been writing and submitting anywhere that seemed likely. A few months after TLP cancelled its anthologies I had something in print for which I was paid. I have found that the loss of publication isn’t so disappointing when I have other pieces out there and am continuing to work. (That might change if the cancellation involved millions of dollars, but let’s just stick with the general idea of the thing for now, shall we?)
Tom
Tom,
Good to hear from you. Sorry about the publication, but glad to hear you’ve already landed another one in print in the meantime.
Perseverance, patience, and a level head are all requisites for this crazy vocation, and it sounds like you’re taking it precisely as you should.
Best,
Alex