Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Arrrgh!

It always surprises me the "balls" that some publishing companies have.  This is just a portion of their let's-look-down-on-the-writers-who-are-submitting-to-us guidelines:

"For now, all proceeds from sale of these anthologies will belong to Misch Masch Publishing, so we can keep the machine churning. This also implies that we pay for the editing, marketing, and other publishing costs (which is good news to most authors). We therefore also retain the rights to all decisions in these areas, because we’re the ones paying for those things."

And that's just a tiny portion, you should read the entire list of you're-just-writers-and-we're-doing-great-things-for-you guidelines.  I wonder if we should be bowing down before our publisher overlords? 

13 comments:

Thomas Pluck said...

What exactly have they published, to have such a high opinion of themselves?

sandra seamans said...

I do believe they've published one other anthology but I was so disgusted with the guidelines that I didn't bother to look, Thomas.

Manuel Royal said...

So, if I read this right, they're saying "We have the normal expenses inherent to publishing, so we shan't be paying anyone royalties." They seem to be really proud simply of not being a vanity press, which is a pretty low bar.

Manuel Royal said...

Now that I've looked at Misch Masch's site ... no way would I ever submit to them.

"Authors Must Show Proof of Writerly Strivance". For a second I thought "writerly strivance" was an industry term I somehow had never heard before. No, it's just something they made up, to mean they expect writers to heavily promote themselves online.

And for their payment of zero dollars (plus zero royalties) they want worldwide exclusive rights for two years -- and non-exclusive rights after that, presumably in perpetuity. That's ludicrous.

sandra seamans said...

Isn't it funny how they don't consider that writers are an expense they're expected to pay? What are they going to publish if nobody writes a word for them? I wouldn't submit to them either, Manuel, I prefer to take my "writerly strivance" to someone who will pay me for it :)

Leroy B. Vaughn said...

This is the type of crap that discourages new writers from trying to get published.

sandra seamans said...

Welcome to the corner, Leroy, and yes, it is very discouraging for both new and seasoned writers.

Leroy B. Vaughn said...

Thanks Sandra, I've been writing or hacking away at the typewriter for thirty plus years now. Some things never seem to change.

sandra seamans said...

Isn't that the truth! This is just the latest round of how to steal from writers.

Leroy B. Vaughn said...

Hi, I was checking out some of your stories, good stuff. It appears that we have something in common. I have 4 stories, #32,33,34&35on Crime City Central.

sandra seamans said...

Thanks, Leroy!! Crime City Central is a great market for reprints.

Leroy B. Vaughn said...

OK, one more comment and then I'll quit bugging you. It's a little late, but I was able to get a story accepted by Dead Gun Press four hours after I wrote it. I found DGP on your site. Thanks, LBV

sandra seamans said...

Wow, that's great news, Leroy! Congratulations!! And comments are always welcome :)