Get published in a collaborative collection - Page 2 - Writers Forum

collaborative_creations · 04-04-2008, 01:16 PM

Thank you phurst..

That is the kind of constructive response i would expect on a site like this.

I will definitely re work the idea.

Any more suggestions rather than just insults?

strangedaze · 04-04-2008, 02:17 PM

No insults, just my own thoughts. I don't see the value in your enterprise. If I was hard-up enough to publish, I'd go through LuLu or something. What you've got is a kind of vanity press, one that likely wouldn't qualify as a legit publication credit. That said, you're free to hawk your wares here like everyone else, so best of luck with things, I guess.

Foxee · 04-04-2008, 02:19 PM

WF Members,

It is impolite to eat our guests. Please refrain from doing so.

Collaborative,

I've reviewed your thread and other than one rude comment I think you are getting what you asked for. Asking questions is not a hostile response.

Scammers abound in the writing world as you undoubtedly know and they usually start by asking for money. It tends to turn a group of soft-hearted creative artists into hard-nosed skeptics.

Quote:

Some of us like to write for pleasure and not just profit. In regards to payment made, the majority of it would be going back into the project to fund further anthologies and a more impressive array of services.

Okay, I get what you're talking about here. However, just because someone writes for pleasure and not profit doesn't mean they're so in love with writing that they will joyfully pay for your speculative venture. There are no proven results here and no guarantee that there will be. It isn't a prospective investor's fault if they think that a venture looks unlikely to return results.

The idea appears to require some reworking. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Foxee

Katastrof · 04-04-2008, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collaborative_creations

ps. good luck convincing someone to consider your respective works, though I'm sure with such willing personalities and dramatic flairs of interpersonal skills, you will have absolutely no problems.

Umm...think about this for a second.

This is the internet. The one place where Nigerians are long lost millionaire relatives who offer millions of dollars for just one small payment of $500. And where you can submit poetry to a site and get it published, but then you have to buy the anthology to read it.

I think you can understand where we are coming from...

collaborative_creations · 04-04-2008, 03:24 PM

My partner and my babies last name is Ijebor... Look it up.. It is Nigerian.

Making the more than slightly prejudiced comment does little do alleviate what i feel has been a more than slightly hostile reception.

The difference here, although I'm sure the severe complexity of the proposal eludes, we were offering a service much like framing a piece of art, a way to showcase your work for yourself and your friends with like minded people, reaching a wider audience as they do the same.

We are not asking for a huge amount of money and it is completely refundable. This is not a make money rich scheme.

We are not asking people for money as you all seem to think. We are selling a service. It is completely refundable. If you don't want it, that is your choice, our aim is not to try to force it upon you seem to be suggesting.

We relish your concise and clever critique and have taken on board, in more ways than one, the comments made.

Thank You for your input.

Chris Miller · 04-04-2008, 03:41 PM

I think the idea might have some merit. Obviously you believe in it. But most of us have seen so many publishing scams that we'll look no further. Really, the whole publishing industry is kind of a scam in my opinion. Anyone who wants to send me a pound can have a page in my next POD book. It only costs me about 8 pounds (15 dollars) a copy to print 300 pages. So, if you want to see the result, I will gladly sell you a copy for twice that, plus postage. Editing is extra too.

BOURBON · 04-04-2008, 03:57 PM

I am disappointed that WF is so vulnerable to people clearly preying on aspiring writers.

I joined the forum because I was looking for a friendly environment to run alongside a period of solitary working. I enjoy the banter and the squabbles and believe there is an atmosphere of genuine support.

Whilst it is completely appropriate for members to offer their work for sale to fellow members, if that's the way they do business, it is completely inappropriate for the forum to tolerate individuals who clearly see writers as good harvest for whatever scam they are running. Do we really want the less worldly individuals who come here to post to be clubbing together to pay for Mr and Mrs Creation and their babies to take a holiday?

If they are a genuine concern then I am sure they will be happy to amend their website with details that identify them and their place of business.

I'm all for live and let live, but there has to be a bottom line.

Non Serviam · 04-04-2008, 04:35 PM

Eh, I can undercut this. Order a book from MY website where I only charge you 50p a page to get published!

Isn't Lulu wonderful, huh?

Mike C · 04-05-2008, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collaborative_creations

Well, lofty dismissals and unimaginative insults aside, i hadn't realized that I would be met with such impotent rage and flaccid frustration.

Oh dear. Lofty dismissals, unimaginative insults, impotent rage and flaccid frustration. Let's see if we can improve on that.

The sad fact is that this is an old, tired idea. It's never worked yet, and it won't work now; you're not even commited to the scheme yourself, you just think you had a nice idea about how to get other writers to fund your vanity publishing project.

What's really sad is that you're underestimating the intelligence of writers by thinking we'll queue up to hand you money for a page in a book with no target market, no demand and no chance of selling.

Sorry, your heart may or may not be in the right place, but there is nothing logical or redeemable about this project. You're not selling a service, you're selling snake-oil and hokum.

Katastrof · 04-05-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collaborative_creations

My partner and my babies last name is Ijebor... Look it up.. It is Nigerian.

Making the more than slightly prejudiced comment does little do alleviate what i feel has been a more than slightly hostile reception.

Prejudice? If I didn't even know you were Nigerian, how could I prejudge you? I was alluding to a scam that happened a while back, that's all.

If anything I was trying to show you with examples of how the internet has led to a less trustworthy place.

Olly Buckle · 04-08-2008, 02:50 PM

Bit under-priced for snake oil isn't it Mike, pound a page, hundred pages, he sells a copy to each author, you can't be published and not own a copy. I still think he might have to sell a few on the open market to break even, which is taking quite a long chance. My money is on wild optimist rather than rip off merchant, so I won't be sending a quid.