Comments on: RWA contest changes…again

By: Natalie J. Damschroder

Natalie J. Damschroder — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:38:40 +0000

Aileen, e-published books have never been considered vanity or subsidy–the definition of vanity/subsidy always includes a requirement of author payment for publication. There are many, many e-publishers on the official non-vanity, non-subsidy list at RWA’s website.

And Eve, Cobblestone IS on that list.

Back to Aileen–re: the GH, there really isn’t a hole. If you publish romantic novellas, you can enter them in the Rita.

I’m still confused on the delay of entry for the Rita. I understand there are huge problems getting judges every year, and that this rule has to do with that, and a general member who was at the board meeting assured me all solutions were debated and this was the very best one, but I’m not convinced. I figured I’d give them time to recover from RWA and travel before attacking with my questions.

The other issue, that e-books can be entered if supplied in perfect-bound format by the publisher, is an old rule that’s been in place for years. My understanding is that it’s to preserve the integrity of the entries. Anyone with minimal technology can create an e-book and slap a publisher’s name on it; also, e-books can easily have the content changed, such as to address big issues pointed out in reviews.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:54:17 +0000

Actually, they left it open for the next board to change it. The new board takes office during that three week span. So, these rules mean nothing, and since they changed the rules in midstream last time, they could do it again.
I just want my forty freaking dollars back, not to mention the money for shipping the books. And I want my books back. I entered only after RWA told Angie we were eligible, then they changed it.
I won’t enter again, ever. It is now a popularity contest, and they don’t want the unwashed raining on their parade.

By: Eve Boston

Eve Boston — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:42:01 +0000

My publisher, Cobblestone-Press.com is not on the list:
http://www.romancewiki.com/RWA-Recognized_Publishers

They have sent royalty checks to me. They are a real publisher.

By: Aileen Harkwood

Aileen Harkwood — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:03:31 +0000

Interesting, Lynne, I hadn’t even thought about the issue of the perfect bound copies. Why shouldn’t they be able to send them in using the format in which they were published? It’s just so dinosaur age.

By: Lynne Connolly

Lynne Connolly — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:58:18 +0000

So the print authors get to enter first, and if there are any places left (number of entries is always limited), ebook authors get to scramble for them. Unless they approve more epublishers, of course.

And the epublished authors have to send in 6 perfect bound copies of their books. A big expense for most, and since they aren’t called “epublished” for nothing, and doesn’t it say it has to be the publisher who does it?

There aren’t actually any significant changes, and it still won’t reflect what is actually happening in the marketplace. On the other hand, it’s nice to see that the committee is willing to change. I don’t generally enter contests, because I don’t like to compete against authors I like and whose work I respect, but for those who do, the best of luck in the RITAs. A shame everyone can’t win.

By: Aileen Harkwood

Aileen Harkwood — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:02:06 +0000

This sounds like a step in the right direction, except:

a) Is RWA still defining all ePublishers as vanity or subsidized?

b) For the Golden Hearts, this still creates a sizable hole through which eBook only authors of works between 20K and 40K words can fall (as in be prevented from entering). A significant number of eBook romance writers are working at the Novella level (over 20K words, but not 40K words)

[to webmaster: tried to leave a trackback for you, but the trackback link for this post doesn’t seem to be operating, only comments.

You’ll find my mention of your post on my blog at: RWA Contest Changes May Aid eBook Authors, seen on Kindling Romance

By: Kimber Chin

Kimber Chin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:00:12 +0000

I think it should be the best of the best. If they want to limit entries, then bump up the entry fee. That’s how the rest of the world deals with excess demand (and that would ensure that only the authors who truly, truly believe their books will win will enter)

But as an almost exclusively eBook reader, the RITA’s would mean more to me if ALL romance books were included. There are many eBook exclusive books that kick mass books butt. eBook is where many of the innovative plot lines and characters are happening.