Drama: August 30, 2017 Issue [#8472]
<< August 23, 2017Drama Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueSeptember 6, 2017 >>

Newsletter Header
Drama


 This week: Getting Published Isn't Everything
  Edited by: NaNoKit Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Many writers would love to get published. Sadly, some companies take advantage of this. Be careful out there.

This week's Drama Newsletter is all about what to avoid when you seek a platform for your writing.

NaNoKit Author Icon


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: 0997970618
Amazon's Price: $ 14.99


Letter from the editor

Once upon a time, in my early days as a writer, I picked up a leaflet at my local library. It was for a poetry competition. The winning poems would become a part of an anthology and that appealed to me – if I managed to make it through the judging process, I’d be a published poet! Right? Well, sort of...

I did make it through. Imagine my joy when I received the letter! Except, if you wanted a copy of the anthology you’d have to pay a not insignificant amount of money for it. And whilst this was during a time I didn’t have the Internet as I was between country and house moves, once I did get online I discovered that the company behind the competition had figured out that there were many naive poets just like me, overly keen to get published, so they’d basically publish anything whilst counting on a good percentage of newly “published poets” to hand over a nice amount of cash to see their name in print.

Looking back at that poem, it genuinely was terrible. There’s no two ways about it. To add to my embarrassment, before I realised what was what I’d told my old high school English teacher about my success, and he’d asked for the poem, and yeah...

That company was dodgy, but there are many others who will make use of the same eagerness writers can feel to get their work out there. Some are well-established newspapers. They’ll offer writers a platform to get their name out there, and people will go for it because you never know. You never know who might see your writing. You never know if big opportunities are waiting around the corner. What it comes down to, though, is that you end up working for free whilst the company makes good money out of you. And you still have the deadlines and the pressure that paid writers experience.

Then there are those who do pay some money for your pieces, but you lose editorial control over your work. I’ve been there and done that, writing political comment for a big publication. It was an interesting experience, but an annoying one, too. Once I had submitted my item I’d be told whether or not it would go out. Then they’d edit it and sometimes it’d turn into a terrible read, sometimes my points would get twisted, sometimes evidence I’d included to support my case would be removed and what would be left would be what suited the publication's agenda – every newspaper has one, all across the spectrum. I wouldn’t like the end result, yet it still had my name attached to it and I would be the one receiving horrible comments and even threats from some of the readers. All for $100.

But even that experience is not as bad or soul-destroying as those sites where you get paid pennies for producing writing for companies. The demands are often complicated and highly technical, and sometimes you have to bid against others to get the work, driving payments down even more. You end up with a few dollars for writing quite a lot of work, to difficult deadlines and unreasonable expectations. And sometimes they don’t even pay. A couple of my friends have tried this route, and it’s not good.

It is natural to want your work to be read. But not at all cost. Ask yourself... would you take on any other job for a company making millions of dollars a year, for free? I’m not talking charities here, where you’re doing good and it’s all non-profit. I’m talking big corporations. Would you take on any other job where the products you create get turned into something ugly yet get sold under your name? How about an unsatisfying job where they pay far less than the minimum wage for your efforts? I don’t think so. It doesn’t make sense to do it. Just like it doesn’t make sense for us writers – just because we’re in the creative field doesn’t mean that these things do not apply.

Writing is a work of love and passion and dedication. It’s worth more than a pittance. It deserves respect.

You deserve respect. It’s important to remember that. When you are looking for a place to publish your work, look at how the company treats it writers. If it’s anything like the above, my advice is to stay well clear. The time will come when you’ll find somewhere that suits you.


NaNoKit Author Icon


Editor's Picks

Here are some contests that might inspire you. Some of them only run during Birthday Week! *Smile*

FORUM
The Pink Fluffy Unicorn Contest Open in new Window. (E)
The greatest writing challenge on WDC! PINK FLUFFY RESULTS NOW OUT!!! :)
#2113126 by Christopher Roy Denton Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
What Have You Learned On Writing.Com? Open in new Window. (13+)
A contest to show off your new skills. For Writing.Com's Birthday Week.
#2093196 by NaNoKit Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Write from the Heart Poetry Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Write a heartfelt piece based on the prompt provided.
#2093224 by Purple Princess Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Write From the Heart - Story Contest Open in new Window. (E)
Write a story that pulls on the heartstrings based on the given prompt.
#2121278 by Purple Princess Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2111898 by Not Available.


FORUM
Zodiac Contest/CONTEST CLOSED Open in new Window. (18+)
Create a character using personality traits from a Zodiac sign.
#2115893 by GeminiGem🐾 Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
The PET NEWS CONTEST Open in new Window. (E)
Open September 1 - September 30, 2024
#1986337 by GeminiGem🐾 Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Spirits at Lighthouses Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Do you have what it takes to write a poem?
#2128856 by Beacon's Anchor Author IconMail Icon





 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B004PICKDS
Amazon's Price: Price N/A


Ask & Answer

The Drama Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in! *Smile*

Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,

The Drama Newsletter Team.

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07K6Z2ZBF
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


<< August 23, 2017Drama Archives | More From This Day | Print This IssueSeptember 6, 2017 >>

This printed copy is for your personal use only. Reproduction of this work in any other form is not allowed and does violate its copyright.