While I think all of us here are industry-savvy enough not to fall into this kind of trap, I thought this article on PublishAmerica was very interesting.

Also, see this link, where a group of SFWA members deliberately wrote a bad book and submitted it to PublishAmerica, where it got accepted.

The thing is, PublishAmerica isn't really a scam per se, because they don't actually lie. They just prey on writers who are desperate to see their dreams come true, and who aren't industry-savvy enough to know that real publishers don't pay "symbolic $1 advances" or that all "available through bookstores" means in this case is that a bookstore will let customers special-order the book, not that it'll be stocked on their shelves. Etc.

Moral of the story? Do your homework. It always amazes me that people spend years writing a book, and don't spend, say, a month learning about how the industry works, the marks of a legit agent or publisher, etc. The info is out there. Read Writer's Market. Join an authors' organization like SFWA or RWA. Search the web. I may not know yet whether MIRA or Avon or Dorchester or Kensington is the best home for my book, but at least I know they're all legit publishers or imprints thereof whose books are on the shelves at my local B&N.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but that WaPo article got to me.

Thanks for the info, Susan.

Have you read Atlanta Nights ? Hee hee.

Wow. I've done some editorial work for iUniverse, and they make it quite clear what an author is getting when they purchase services there. PublishAmerica seems awfully slimy.

Good article.

Yup. As the article points out, there are perfectly valid reasons for going with a POD or vanity publisher, but that's not the market PublishAmerica is after.

unfired

I, in the other room, see nothing. His voice is even, conversational; it does not trip my triggers.

"You have two choices," he says, "Put that away, or leave." I think, perhaps candy, or something sticky, that he does not want the boy to get on the instruments. Nothing happens, the matter is over.

Later, I hear the boy whisper apologies, deep, heartfelt. Seems strange for a small matter.

It is not until night that I understand. The gun in the boy's hand, pointed at the head of my husband.

Reality unravels. Consequences, resolutions. The gun in his hand, unfired.

Wanted to pop in and say thanks to everyone who beta read for me, it was so generous and enjoyable.

The book thing isn't really working out. After doing some soul searching, I realized that it's pretty completely unsaleable outside of well, us.

I think I'll just do some layout and put it on a site so that anyone who is interested can read if they like, and give myself an "A" for effort.

I so appreciated the encouragement and advice found here.

I know this is kind of outside the ordinary realm of this thread, but I have some questions about freelance grant writing for Susan or anyone. I have a meeting next week with a potential (likely) client, and I'm trying to figure out what to charge. A friend of mine referred me, and they know what he's charging. But I think he's selling himself short, and am tired of falling into that trap. Will they be annoyed if I say my rate is higher than his? Also, I work fast. Can I just take that into account by padding the number of hours I report, or is that totally shady? I think if I had more experience with knowing how long stuff takes me, I'd use a flat rate, but at this point, I just don't know.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Jesse, I wish I could help you. I'm feeling a bit shortchanged on my current project, but took it because, frankly, I needed the money that bad. According to my 2005 Writer's Market, $100 is a high hourly rate for grant writing, $20 a low, with $50 an average. But that's going to vary based on your location, experience level, etc.

Anyone want to beta the first chapter of Anna's story to help me get it ready for a contest I've decided to enter? It's fine if it takes a few days, but I'm looking for people who'll give it a pretty careful reading and evaluate it in light of the contest's score sheet. Because while I don't really expect to final with what's only a few steps removed from a rough draft (I'm entering mostly for anonymous critique and because I'd only be competing against other Georgian, Regency, and Victorian stories instead of the entire historical subgenre), I'd sure like to score well. Good for the ego and all.

According to my 2005 Writer's Market, $100 is a high hourly rate for grant writing, $20 a low, with $50 an average. But that's going to vary based on your location, experience level, etc.

That sounds right. I dunno, mostly I'm trying to figure out if I can ask for more than my friend does. Possibly, since I've literally never freelanced before (other than for said friend), I should just take the lower rate and STFU.

Can I just take that into account by padding the number of hours I report, or is that totally shady?

That's totally shady. You can play it one of two ways: One, estimate a fixed price for the entire job and stick to it. If it takes you less time than you estimated, you profit. If it takes you more time, you lose. Two: be paid per hour, and report every hour honestly.