tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post3713313483729896848..comments2024-03-28T15:01:21.285-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Writer in a RaincoatLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-56574534098102274822019-04-25T08:35:34.877-04:002019-04-25T08:35:34.877-04:00Thanks, Earl.Thanks, Earl.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-23549601963496405892019-04-24T16:24:05.982-04:002019-04-24T16:24:05.982-04:00I agree with you completely, Michael. While I like...I agree with you completely, Michael. While I like to receive a few bucks here and there for my work, I write to be read more than to be paid. Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-29186650174910027632019-04-24T12:52:03.789-04:002019-04-24T12:52:03.789-04:00I'm not certain the paper felt like a corpse, ...I'm not certain the paper felt like a corpse, Leigh, but I took a lot of tests printed on spirit duplications and mimeographs, and I saw a lot of my grades die because of them...Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88342093347371670642019-04-23T22:24:19.494-04:002019-04-23T22:24:19.494-04:00One other writer who got his start in high school ...One other writer who got his start in high school publishing was Ernest Hemingway. Rob focused his considerable library research powers to assist me with an article about a 'prequel' to Hemingway's story, The Killers.<br /><br />You were brave. Michael. The weird smell of those duplicators was bad enough, but the paper felt like a corpse– or what I imagined a corpse felt like. I suspect my long-suffering teachers huffed the mimeo spirits.<br />Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-29031980894964219782019-04-23T22:15:22.544-04:002019-04-23T22:15:22.544-04:00Michael, I like your take on the topic and no, it ...Michael, I like your take on the topic and no, it didn't come off the least like humble-bragging. Your influence and stature in the community lends more than average authority in (re)evaluating non-paying markets. We're certainly pleased to share your ideas with other writers and readers.<br /><br />Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-59853856273589919992019-04-23T21:00:50.045-04:002019-04-23T21:00:50.045-04:00Thanks, Deborah.
Steve, with all the publishing t...Thanks, Deborah.<br /><br />Steve, with all the publishing tools available today, even a non-paying hobby publication can produce a nice-looking product, and it's a shame when the editors don't know enough or don't care enough to use the tools available.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88358960304310244302019-04-23T18:30:43.634-04:002019-04-23T18:30:43.634-04:00Great points on all sides, Michael. And isn't ...Great points on all sides, Michael. And isn't "exposure" a form of compensation?<br /><br />Melodie, wow, 41,000 pirated downloads? I'm jealous. Nobody thinks I'm worth ripping off.<br /><br />I remember when the conventional wisdom said that one way to get publishers and agents interested was to publish short stories. I sent work to several places that paid in author copies (or nothing) and never got anything accepted. Then I started selling for a little money now and then.<br /><br />A couple of years ago, I sent a story to a start-up for no pay because they hoped to be able to pay down the road and I figured I'd start a relationship. They offered to promote my book and asked if I could get two people to review their first issue. <br /><br />Well, the paper was pulp that made my now black-and-white book cover illegible. The formatting in the magazine was left-justified so the right margin resembled an EKG. It didn't do any of the stories any favors.<br />Both people who reviewed for me pointed out the sloppy formatting that looked amateurish, and one felt several of the stories were less than stellar.<br />I could live with that because I agreed. Nobody said the reviews had to be raves.<br /><br />Unfortunately, friends of other writers posted attacks on both my reviewers. I know the publication now pays a little, but after that drive-by BS I will no longer submit to them. <br /><br />I'll still write for exposure or little pay or free copies, especially if it's a story that seems to fit the guidelines or it's for a good cause. But don't bite the hand that's feeding you.Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-47213058191023576182019-04-23T17:10:43.327-04:002019-04-23T17:10:43.327-04:00Good article as always. Good article as always. Deborah Elliott-Uptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04961315248936384893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-6892909802352470272019-04-23T13:14:10.039-04:002019-04-23T13:14:10.039-04:00Lawrence, thanks for the kind comments. Lawrence, thanks for the kind comments. Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-66649600564888453752019-04-23T13:11:30.965-04:002019-04-23T13:11:30.965-04:00Payment in clothing, R.T.? That's not so bad, ...Payment in clothing, R.T.? That's not so bad, actually. Years ago I received a T-shirt for humor published in <i>Genesis,</i> but the shirt was so small my toddler son wore it as a nightshirt. And about a year ago I received a nice Polo shirt in addition to payment for a story in <i>Down & Out: The Magazine.</i><br /><br />Melodie, apparently whoever believed pirating work "wasn't bad" never had to rely on writing for a significant portion of the family income.<br /><br />Eve and O'Neil, we all have different perspectives based on experience. New writers need to understand that no one approach is the absolute right way and, as Eve said, we must make "our own decisions."<br />Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-65321912301690600092019-04-23T13:05:17.990-04:002019-04-23T13:05:17.990-04:00This is one of the best pieces I’ve read about the...This is one of the best pieces I’ve read about the worthiness of Writing for Free. It’s heartening that you present a list of superstar authors who’ve found it worthwhile to write sans pay. Thanks Michael for giving a complicated topic your experienced perspective.<br /><br /><br /><br />Lawrence Maddoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057386966178865691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-73760145902409783452019-04-23T11:57:56.327-04:002019-04-23T11:57:56.327-04:00Good one, Michael. I had a letter published in th...Good one, Michael. I had a letter published in the Globe and Mail not long ago. They were talking about copyright laws, and how pirating wasn't so bad, because at least we were getting exposure. I pointed out that my one book had been downloaded illegally at least 41,000 times in one year alone. And that obviously, I didn't need 'exposure.' Like every other writer, what I needed was sales.Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-59517262639756487352019-04-23T10:31:55.797-04:002019-04-23T10:31:55.797-04:00Michael, my 1st published stories were for pay and...Michael, my 1st published stories were for pay and went to Easyrider ($250 each) and Outlaw Biker ($50). Then it was 22 children's stories to the South Dakota Lung Association for free for 3rd Graders thru 6th Graders. Then it was no payment magazines like Black Lotus, Deadwood Magazine, Classic Pulp Fiction Stories, Detective Mystery Stories, etc. And a few low pay presses like Pulp: A Fiction Magazine ($12). The Who Died in Here? anthology ($25, a free copy & an air freshener). It's been all over the pay/no pay scale. Even got a t-shirt once for one of the Bouchercon anthologies. Mostly these days, my fiction is written for pay Alfred Hitchcock MM or Woman's World magazine. Blogs? That's written for friends and the hope that I have something of interest or entertaining value to say. It's been fun, but I'm lucky I have a pension to sustain me.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-63084290415114788642019-04-23T09:21:09.423-04:002019-04-23T09:21:09.423-04:00Interesting perspectives from a master in the fiel...Interesting perspectives from a master in the field with decades of experience. I hope beginning writers read SleuthSayers.O'Neil De Nouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142721824657611738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-55558840167169056162019-04-23T09:16:38.810-04:002019-04-23T09:16:38.810-04:00Some venues are better than others, irrespective o...Some venues are better than others, irrespective of pay, and it's up to each of us to make our own decisions about that. I've contributed gratis and I've occasionally been paid very handsomely. Both have been satisfying.Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.com