Sunday, July 10, 2016

Shouldn't Post This but...

I sometimes wonder how some people can look at their face in the mirror and be comfortable with what they see.  I just ran across a charity anthology that is supposed to be making money for a cancer fund raiser.  Okay, but wait, there's a $25 non-refundable submission fee that goes not to the charity but to the publisher.  And then there's the editing.  The writer has to hire an editor or pay the submission editor to edit their work!?! 

Maybe I'm a bit jaded but it seems like the only one making any profit on this project will be the editor and publisher, especially if they don't put any effort into promoting and selling the anthology.  Money should flow to the writer or the charity not to the publisher and editor.  Shame on you for using a cancer charity project in such a way. 

8 comments:

Elizabeth said...

I looked at the website for a few minutes until I got bored. Possibly there will be some marketing done of whatever "anthology" results from all the nickel and diming of the contributors. To me, it looks like the editors are just trying to get paid for reading essays that appeal to their own prurient interest.

sandra seamans said...

You're probably right, Elizabeth.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

A worthy post, Sandra! Just because they claim to be a real charity doesn't mean they donate much.

Thomas Pluck said...

I became very jaded once every anthology became a "charity" anthology. It's a good way to keep writers from asking for payment and never having to prove you're donating. I've saved all the letters PROTECT mails me saying "thank you for your donation of $XXX.XX"
Charging a submission fee is bullshit.

sandra seamans said...

Very true, Jacqueline, and I was surprised when they said they would only donate the proceeds once a year in December, that didn't seem quite right.

Bullshit is the right and proper word, Thomas. When I first read that I thought the fee would be going to the charity but it wasn't. I don't post too many charity anthologies unless they pay the authors, or seem like a credible publisher. This one was neither.

Charles Gramlich said...

Always someone willing to take advantage of other's suffering and hard work.

sandra seamans said...

Always, Charles.

Carolyn said...

This is disgusting! I've only submitted to one charity anthology, because it was a cause I strongly believed in, and as I believe it was legit, I'm proud to be included. That said, I have always been wary of 'charity' anthos precisely because of this kind of shit!