I subscribe to and read tons of blogs. They keep me up to date on writers, publishers, agents and more. One blog I regularly read is the Pitch University blog.
Last week I noticed the Pitch U blog featured a column by Jeffrey V. Mehalic of the Write Lawyer. It was to be a featured column in which Mr. Mehalic would review and give his legal opinion on various publishing contracts.
As a lawyer, this really caught my interest, and so I read his review of the contracts from Sourcebooks, Crescent Moon Press, and Entangled Publishing. The rating for each? Sourcebooks: SHRED IT; Crescent Moon Press: BURN IT; Entangled Publishing: SHRED IT.
Today, as I review my RSS feeds, I find that Mr. Mehalic has announced the following: "Starting Monday, September 19, 2011, I will be posting my column on publishing contracts on this blog, rather than on Pitch University. I had my posts removed from PU (appropriate, eh?) after my post was altered by the owner of the site."
WOW.
First, let me say that contracts are ALWAYS skewed to favor the interest of the party who is presenting the contract. Which is, a no-brainer. That's why one must always have a contract evaluated and negotiated before signing. Plain and simple.
As a writer in search of a dream agent who will sooner than later be reviewing my own contract, I appreciated the advice and the heads up by Mr. Mehalic on some of the issues I will soon face. On the other hand, I can see how publishers might not appreciate their contracts on display without having a chance to first address the issues in the post.
But the question is: what do you think of Pitch U allegedly altering the posts? What does that say to you?
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Emily Contest is Open!
Calling all writers! The Emily contest is open!
The Emily is sponsored by the West Houston Chapter of the RWA. According to their website, the contest started back in 1990 to promote publication of previously unpublished writers of romance.
The contest evolved and is open to published and unpublished writers. (You do not need to be a member to enter.) Unpublished authors may enter in any category not contracted in (book-length) by September 30, 2011. Published authors may enter in any category not published (book-length) in the past three years. For a full list of categories, please visit the website. NOTE: there IS a YA category!
The Emily is a highly respected contest. In fact, many Emily winners and finalists have gone on to be published. The contest is capped at 300 entries, and multiple entries are allowed. The contest asks for your first 7000 words. And, there is no synopsis requirement! (Hooray!) The deadline is September 30th, but because of the cap you don't want to wait!
For more info, and to enter, go to the website link above. Good luck!
The Emily is sponsored by the West Houston Chapter of the RWA. According to their website, the contest started back in 1990 to promote publication of previously unpublished writers of romance.
The contest evolved and is open to published and unpublished writers. (You do not need to be a member to enter.) Unpublished authors may enter in any category not contracted in (book-length) by September 30, 2011. Published authors may enter in any category not published (book-length) in the past three years. For a full list of categories, please visit the website. NOTE: there IS a YA category!
The Emily is a highly respected contest. In fact, many Emily winners and finalists have gone on to be published. The contest is capped at 300 entries, and multiple entries are allowed. The contest asks for your first 7000 words. And, there is no synopsis requirement! (Hooray!) The deadline is September 30th, but because of the cap you don't want to wait!
For more info, and to enter, go to the website link above. Good luck!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Back in the Saddle
Hey everyone! I'm officially back in the saddle again! And glad to be back! For those of you who don't know, I lost my mother-in-law to cancer. We were very close, and it was a very difficult time in my life that one day I will most definitely write about. Although I miss her dearly, I know she's up in heaven shaking her first at me and telling me to GET ON WITH IT! So that's what I'm doing.
Then, of course, I had the regular craziness associated with kids and summer. Now that my lovely darlings are back at school, I'm back at my desk and moving forward with finding my dream agent.
My plan is to be more active here on my blog, and to focus on my goals because I know that this is my time. I can feel it!
Until next time!
Then, of course, I had the regular craziness associated with kids and summer. Now that my lovely darlings are back at school, I'm back at my desk and moving forward with finding my dream agent.
My plan is to be more active here on my blog, and to focus on my goals because I know that this is my time. I can feel it!
Until next time!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Not a Regular Blogger
Hey guys! I have a confession to make...I'm not a regular blogger. Which, you probably knew already. Why? Because my first order of business is to find an agent. So...that's what I've been doing...in addition to working on a new WIP.
That being said, I'll come on here from time to time, but mostly I'm completely focused on finding my dream agent. And when I do, because I will, then you better believe I'll be blogging!!
Until then!
That being said, I'll come on here from time to time, but mostly I'm completely focused on finding my dream agent. And when I do, because I will, then you better believe I'll be blogging!!
Until then!
Friday, May 7, 2010
Top Agent Blogs
The GLA Blog, authored by super awesome Chuck Sambuchino, listed the top 5 Agent Blogs for 2010. I subscribe to all of them, and I absolutely agree that they rock. Click here to read his blog, and see below for his list.
1. Chip MacGregor
2. Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
3. KidLit
4. Nathan Bransford
5. Rachelle Gardner
Not only do I get good tips and advice from these blogs, but they also keep me in the know. If you want to be a writer, you gotta do more than just sit at the computer and type. You need to know the industry, know the trends, see what's up with your peers.
Today I went to the book fair at my kids' school. It was so cool to see some of those books and say, "Hey, I know the agent for that book, I read their blog." It makes me feel one step closer to finding my own agent.
Below are some other agent blogs that I absolutely love. Check em out!
1. Scott Eagan
2. Jessica Faust
3. Jill Corcoran
4. Kristin Nelson
5. Kate Shafer Testerman
What agent blogs do you read?
1. Chip MacGregor
2. Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
3. KidLit
4. Nathan Bransford
5. Rachelle Gardner
Not only do I get good tips and advice from these blogs, but they also keep me in the know. If you want to be a writer, you gotta do more than just sit at the computer and type. You need to know the industry, know the trends, see what's up with your peers.
Today I went to the book fair at my kids' school. It was so cool to see some of those books and say, "Hey, I know the agent for that book, I read their blog." It makes me feel one step closer to finding my own agent.
Below are some other agent blogs that I absolutely love. Check em out!
1. Scott Eagan
2. Jessica Faust
3. Jill Corcoran
4. Kristin Nelson
5. Kate Shafer Testerman
What agent blogs do you read?
Friday, April 9, 2010
Dear-Editor.com Giveaway!
To celebrate the one month anniversary of Dear-Editor.com, former Harcourt Children's Books editor, Deborah Halverson, is giving away one substantive edit of a YA/MG fiction manuscript. For more details, you can click here.
According to Alice Pope's blog, Deborah has recently edited the work of four writers who've recently landed lucrative 2-book deals with major publishers. The deadline for this giveaway is April 14th.
I don't know about you, but I'm on it!!
According to Alice Pope's blog, Deborah has recently edited the work of four writers who've recently landed lucrative 2-book deals with major publishers. The deadline for this giveaway is April 14th.
I don't know about you, but I'm on it!!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Writing Contests
Hello Writer Friends! There are some cool contests out there you should know about. Here they are:
Writer's Digest is having another "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest. They want your logline and the first 150-200 words of your YA/MG unpublished book-length work. The judge is Regina Brooks, founder of Serendipity Literary Agent. For more details, click here. The deadline for this contest is Wednesday, April 14th.
The awesome Hilary Wagner is having a contest via her blog. All you have to do is go to her blog, subscribe, and enter a comment. Her agent, Marietta Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency, will pick three winners. For more details, click here. Please note that the deadline for this contest is TODAY, April 8th.
If I hear of anything else, I'll be sure to let you know! Good luck!
Writer's Digest is having another "Dear Lucky Agent" Contest. They want your logline and the first 150-200 words of your YA/MG unpublished book-length work. The judge is Regina Brooks, founder of Serendipity Literary Agent. For more details, click here. The deadline for this contest is Wednesday, April 14th.
The awesome Hilary Wagner is having a contest via her blog. All you have to do is go to her blog, subscribe, and enter a comment. Her agent, Marietta Zacker of the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency, will pick three winners. For more details, click here. Please note that the deadline for this contest is TODAY, April 8th.
If I hear of anything else, I'll be sure to let you know! Good luck!
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