I know the battle has been building for a while, but the division is greater this time around. For those not sure what I’m talking about, I’ll give you a little background. Several years ago (approximately four) there was a HUGE fight within the RWA about author recognition. The division started out as a way to separate e-published authors from paper published authors. (That’s not what the organization said, but that’s essentially what they did by deeming one group of writers ‘real’ and dismissing the others as wannabies.) Authors who’d been recognized by PAN (published author’s network) suddenly found themselves cast out. We’re not talking ‘Survivor’ here folks. Feelings were hurt. Several authors left the RWA organization never to return. Paperback Writer actually has a wonderful sheep analogy called ‘Why PAN was the God of Sheep’ for this situation. Yes, I said sheep. (wg)
Why am I bringing up old news? Because the fight between the spicy writers and the non-spicy writers reminds me of this ‘old’ situation. The lines are being drawn in the sand. RWA is rumbling about changes ahead, which has my Spidey sense tingling. The FF&P (Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal) list has been debating the merits of sex scenes in books all day. I truly worry that a whole new batch of writers are about to be disenfranchised again. As if that isn’t bad enough, we have people attacking from the inside. And this is only the beginning. Sigh. Grumble, Grumble, Grumble. Can’t we all just get along?
On an upbeat note, several heavy-hitting paranormal authors & an agent launched a new blog dedicated to the paranormal genre. It’s called Out of the Blogosphere. Check it out.
May 17th, 2005
Great post! A topic I think of often. And I’ve been watching the RWA closely on certain topics.
by Teresa May 18th, 2005 at 5:24 amYou said it so well, Jordan. I feel the same way. There’s room for all of us, so get over it and get back to writing and reading what you DO like is what I’d like to say to these people! And RWA. Sigh. What can I say?
by Cheyenne McCray May 18th, 2005 at 9:16 amMe too, Teresa. I’m really not sure how this is going to unfold. :-/
by Jordan May 18th, 2005 at 10:47 amChey, I’d love to say that too. I didn’t bother to comment on her blog, especially after reading her excerpt. I decided to go the Thumper route. (wg) There is enough room for everyone.
As for RWA…I’ve received so much from my membership, but I do wonder if there will come a day down the road where I let it go.
by Jordan May 18th, 2005 at 10:50 amJordan I hear a lot of the same mumblings from non-chick lit authors about the genre. After all it’s just shoe shopping and sex–never mind that most of the time the door is shut. I really really truly believe it comes down to fear of change on the part of the pissers and moaners (even blogged about it a few weeks back =))
And I’m feeling pretty iffy on renewing my membership. I’m NOT going to nationals and as much as I love my local chapter I have issues (mostly about chick lit) w/some members. But ultimately I’m gonna do what I”m gonna do and they can kiss my ass. If my dad’s not gonna bust my ass about selling erotica, then I’m damned sure not gonna take it from anyone else =)
LOL funny side story—so we’re sitting talking at lunch yesterday (me, dad, step mom and bro) and my brother asks about my BL story so I tell him, it’s on sale in the UK etc etc. And he tells me how he sold pics to the local newspaper of a fire nad I said “you got more for your three pics than I did for my 25 page story” *ggg*
okay so anyway off to work on my YA–how’s that for a stretch of genres? =)
by Cece May 18th, 2005 at 11:29 amCece,
I guess I just don’t understand. How do all these people rally the time to go around bashing different genres? Between writing, editing, exercise, blogging, Donkey Kong, and Mavis Beacon, I don’t have time to do much more. ;-P
RWA…the scary thing is they won’t stop with the erotic romances. Once they ‘rid’ themselves of the ‘filth’, then they’ll move onto chick-lit and paranormal (because we all know that’s evil too). Just not as evil as sex. *g*
I will renew my RWA membership this year, but I am going to watch them closely. If they continue to ‘divide’ authors and refuse to support the genres I write in, then I’ll have to reevaluate my priorities. If it wasn’t for my local chapters, which are fabulous, I probably would’ve quit by now.
by Jordan May 18th, 2005 at 11:53 amI was appalled by that blog entry attacking erotica and erotic romance. What got my goat the most was the fact she slagged everyone else of and held forth her own work as some kind of standard of excellence that nobody else was achieving!
As for RWA… well, I’m glad I’m not a member if they’re so ‘narrow’. Here in the UK, I qualified for membership to the Romantic Novelists’ Association on the strength of an erotic novel published in an imprint aimed at men!!!!
by Wendywoo May 18th, 2005 at 12:07 pmI used to love RWA. I devoured the RWR the minute it arrived in my mailbox. Sadly, this year I decided to let my membership go. The reason? RWA does not recognize me as being published. People may think I’m being bitter, but I cannot justify paying $75 per year to a group that does not recognize my efforts. I will have three releases out in December, and I have worked just as hard as the RWA recognized authors. Jealousy? No, I just want to be “as good as” the rest. I also feel there is too much jealousy & “name calling” particularly amount erotic v. non-erotic authors. Why can’t we all just get along?
Thanks for the great blog, Jordan. It’s one of my favorites.
Nancy
by Nancy Henderson May 18th, 2005 at 1:01 pmhttp://www.nancyhenderson.com
Jordan there was an email from RWA a few months back–I’m tired and it’s been a long week–about defining the scope of romance as the RWA sees it. That was a direct hit (IMO) not only on erotica but kick ass and chick lit too and the chick lit chapter is over 250 memebers strong. Many of them published. Quite a few of them (it seems) who write in more than one genre–from “romance” to chick lit to ya to mystery and suspense…..
Maybe it’s time RWA had an erotic romance chapter so they know just how strong the numbers are? *ggg*
I dunno what the solution is, to be honest. And I”m not sure how much I care…. =\
by Cece May 19th, 2005 at 7:39 amJees, my erotica romance chapter idea sounds like it might take off. Must go investigate further…
by Sylvia Day May 19th, 2005 at 7:55 amWendy, That’s how it should be. There’s power in numbers, along with safety. I kind of wish everyone realized that. :-/
by Jordan May 19th, 2005 at 3:21 pmNancy, Welcome! I’m glad you like the blog. I only get like this when I’m peeved. LOL! I do understand the need to pull support from an organization that chooses not to support you. That may be what it takes in the long wrong. If enough people refuse to re-up, then maybe things will change.
by Jordan May 19th, 2005 at 3:23 pmCece, I read the email you are referring to. It was interesting. I’m one of those people who think the organization should widen its acceptance perimeters. I did fill out the form and turn it in, but haven’t heard anything else about it.
by Jordan May 19th, 2005 at 3:25 pmSylvia, Since you were the first person to mention the chapter, perhaps you should run with it. I’d support you.
by Jordan May 19th, 2005 at 3:26 pmI have an online appt. with the liaison next week. We’ll see how it goes.
by Sylvia Day May 19th, 2005 at 3:59 pmSylvia, You go girl! Let me know what happens.
by Jordan May 19th, 2005 at 4:00 pm