Changes to RITA Awards Eligibility Rules

Aileen Harkwood said:

A) It appears that eBooks published by a non-Vanity/non-Subsidized publisher will be eligible for the RITAs in 2010.

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From what I understand on this one, ebooks can be entered, but the entry date is a month after the entry date for RWA "approved" publishers. (Call it what they want, they have a list, they're approved).

I have no doubt in my mind that all of the RITA spots will be filled in that month before ebooks can be sent.

It's lip service, nothing more.

Aileen Harkwood said:

But after a while, wouldn't publishers like Samhain, Red Rose, and Ellora's Cave, etc. end up on the "approved" list? Or do they restart the approved list each year?

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Right now a publisher has to offer a $1K advance to be "approved". No epub is willing to do that. It's not part of their business model.

They will never meet the criteria.

Aileen Harkwood said:

Too bad, it sounded to me as if they were working toward a compromise.

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Try following #agm09 on Twitter.

Posted by Louisa Edwards:
Pershing came out & said members who get advance of $1000 or more get first crack at RITAs b/c that's what BOD feels authors deserve. #agm09


there's also:
#rwafail #agm #rwa09 and #rwachange

Aileen Harkwood said:

But after a while, wouldn't publishers like Samhain, Red Rose, and Ellora's Cave, etc. end up on the "approved" list? Or do they restart the approved list each year?

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Last I checked (ages ago, I admit), Ellora's Cave, Red Sage, Medallion and other epubs were "approved". Stunning to think that they're suddenly not. I remember all the hoopla when EC got the approval.

DeleyanLee said:

Last I checked (ages ago, I admit), Ellora's Cave, Red Sage, Medallion and other epubs were "approved". Stunning to think that they're suddenly not. I remember all the hoopla when EC got the approval.

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They're not. That's why execs at Samhain and EC weren't able to present workshops at the conference this year. They're not publishers according to the RWA.

They did however hold the "Rogue Digital Publishing Workshop" somewhere else in the hotel. Unofficial. And Samhain also hosted a meet and greet in one of the editor's hotel rooms since they couldn't as part of the conference.

afaik, you have to be signed in to twitter. just put it in the search box and all the posts will come up.

RWA took two steps forward but one step back with this Rita contest change. Yes, it means epubbed can enter Rita. But there is a big BUT... And that's what bothers me.

People with "approved" publishers may enter first. Then, and only then, IF the slots aren't filled, POD and epubs may send in their entries. They're also grandfathering in entries that were excluded this year, so next year's contest will have a glut of entries. Despite how much it would have meant to me to enter Rita, I doubt I'll even bother.

I don't feel insulted by this change, per se. But I do feel as if my membership in this professional organization isn't valued or appreciated. I will stay in RWA because I am an officer in my local chapter and active in several online chapters. But it took a lot of willpower to make myself hit that send button with my credit card number to renew my membership a few days ago.

As always, JMHO... Season to taste...

RWA is not a professional organization. It's not a regulatory body, there are no requirements (educational or professional) to join.

It's a group. More than a club, but not a professional organization. Compare it to professional organizations like the ones that doctors, engineers, nurses, and lawyers belong to. You dont' need an education or experience in the field. It doesn't offer membership benefits like group insurance plans or legal assistance. Big difference.

jennontheisland said:

RWA is not a professional organization. It's not a regulatory body, there are no requirements (educational or professional) to join.

It's a group. More than a club, but not a professional organization.

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We're going to have to agree to disagree on that point. I view it as a professional organization and doubt you'll be able to budge me -- or several others -- on that point.

That's okay. I know a lot of people disagree with me on this point. I won't try to budge you if you won't try to convince me to join.

Do you know what I like about this thread? Everyone here respects other people's opinions. They treat each other politely. And they always support each other through good and bad.

In theory, RWA is a professional organization. In reality, however... well... club mentality certainly seems to rule.

Anyone surprised by the changes hasn't been paying enough attention, or is too new to the party. Epublishing and epublished authors are second class citizens, not real authors, not real publishers, etc. etc. etc. It's boring by now, really.

I'd bet almost anything that, if EC and Samhain and Loose Id did start offering $1k advances, RWA would find some other way to keep them out of the club. They did it when those same publishers met the old eligibility standards, and they will do it again. I'd eat my flipflop if they didn't.

Remember, epublished authors, RWA thinks you are wannabes, you aren't career-focused, and you aren't really published. Just check out the whole Deidre Knight/Diane Pershing exchange, or any of Pershing's columns regarding the topic in the RWR. There's hardly any doubt where epublishing and its authors fall in the ultimate scheme of things...

JC you are my new bestest friend.

*smooch*

I hope they don't honestly believe this will please anyone...

I think it is one step forward and two back. This is the very defintion of 2nd class citizen.

Aileen Harkwood said:

Just put up a poll about this:

"If RWA Gave eBook Authors Rights, Opportunities, and Privileges Equal to Those for Print Authors, Would You Join?

It's in the sidebar. The poll can be answered by RWA members and non-members, but I'm hoping that some non-members will weigh in on this question.

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I voted that I wouldn't join.

I don't live anywhere near a local chapter. I get all the same info that comes in the newsletter online. Almost all of their workshops and contests can be entered by non-members for a few bucks more. The chance that I'll ever be able to afford the conference is slim to none, and you don't even have to be a memeber to do that.

If they offered things that other "professional" organizations offered, such as group member discounts on car/home/health insurance, legal assistance with reviewing contracts, or lobbying of industry bigwigs (NY publishers) for better contract terms etc I might consider it.

I thought they had group insurance too. I remember getting the forms and calling to check it out when I was underemployed. Then I got a steady job and didn't follow up on it.

That was the late 1990's, early 2000's though. Times change.