tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post116633056941148128..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: Signed and FilteredUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166484987842039902006-12-18T18:36:00.000-05:002006-12-18T18:36:00.000-05:00Wow, I couldn't sign a contract like that. Isn't g...Wow, I couldn't sign a contract like that. Isn't getting a book prepared to go to print/eprint stress enough?<BR/><BR/>This reminds me of several years back when companies were trying to enforce their no-smoking rule on their employees even when they were at home. It didn't work. After all, how the heck were they going to enforce it? Install secret spy cams? It would be much the same with the contract clause. They could put it in there, but I have to wonder, what are they going to do - follow folks around?Cora Zanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09461246984192089505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166457099088762842006-12-18T10:51:00.000-05:002006-12-18T10:51:00.000-05:00It never ceases to amaze me just how far some peop...It never ceases to amaze me just how far some people will go to impose their own religious (or atheist) viewpoint on others. This is a small example, for sure, but it is symptomatic of a much wider encroachment of militancy into Christianity, particularly but not exclusively in the US. Whether this is a gut-reaction to terrorism or Islamic fundamentalist ideology, I can't say, but the Mayflower example is telling. America was founded largely as a country where people could practice their religious beliefs without fear of persecution. People seem to forget that.<BR/><BR/>And no, I wouldn't sign a deal with a publisher if they required me to subscribe to some arbitrary set of ethics. If they like my book, they can buy it. If not, then I'll send it somewhere else. I'd like to think I wouldn't join the Nazi/Communist/Ba'ath party just to get a job either, but I'm not so sure of that. Unlike pre-war Germany, cold-war Russia or Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Britain is still a relative meritocracy. From some of the things I read about the US, I'm not so sure America still is. Sadly, where you go, we slavishly follow.JamesOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09332376784689207703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166446557613668032006-12-18T07:55:00.000-05:002006-12-18T07:55:00.000-05:00If you read what's-his-name (the publisher's CEO) ...If you read what's-his-name (the publisher's CEO) blog entry on the matter, you find that it isn't a contractual obligation. All they're saying, really, is that they'll only publish people who are Christian.<BR/><BR/>This isn't a new or unusual attitude. There are plenty of people who advocate dealing only with other Christians, and this is merely a logical extension of that worldview. <BR/><BR/>Do they have this right? I think they do, and I think they should. 'Publishing' is not like 'employing'. People who don't like the terms of the business arrangement are free to seek publication elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>I sure as hell won't deal with them.Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10023986850397045322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166413090716124662006-12-17T22:38:00.000-05:002006-12-17T22:38:00.000-05:00Absolutely not!Absolutely not!catsladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06507755929992129551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166411034043775472006-12-17T22:03:00.000-05:002006-12-17T22:03:00.000-05:00There's a lot of people who lie and say they belie...There's a lot of people who lie and say they believe things they don't in order to get people to like them/give them money/get a big following. A lot of them call themselves Christians. <BR/><BR/>Personally I think the so-called Christian market is a dying inbred thing. I don't write the kind of books that audience normally reads, so I would be very surprised to even be considered for such a signing, but I would darn sure read the thing carefully and make sure they knew what <B>they</B> were getting into.Beautiful Food Gardenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00795472519706304749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166407193370947672006-12-17T20:59:00.000-05:002006-12-17T20:59:00.000-05:00Publishing doesn't pay enough money to make this k...Publishing doesn't pay enough money to make this kind of thing worth my while. If we were talking $20 mil, I might consider it. (I have all those years under my belt of being a professional Preacher's Kid. Not like I haven't smiled pretty for the Christians before.)<BR/><BR/>Yes, I can be bought. Maybe.<BR/><BR/>But for a measly couple grand? Bite me. My soul is worth more than that. I'd rather be unpublished.<BR/><BR/>I predict a strange and unhappy future for this publisher. Not because of the faith issue, but due to the control issue. You can't dictate who and how people are going to be. To believe that you can doesn't bode well for your long term mental or organizational stability. Especially when you start realizing some people lied just for the money. It's a bad management paradigm.<BR/><BR/>Again, Preacher Kid, I've seen this same kind of crap go down in churches. Religion is polemic even when everyone agrees.<BR/><BR/>Like playing with fire and thinking you're not going to get burned.<BR/><BR/>Because you're God's Chosen One, naturally.<BR/><BR/>MMotherhood for the Weakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06813197295291518166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166396633257798152006-12-17T18:03:00.000-05:002006-12-17T18:03:00.000-05:00Paperback Writer wrote: I can see that we both li...Paperback Writer wrote: <I>I can see that we both like the Beatles! However, since your blog is pbackwriter and mine is apaperbackwriter and they were both considered acceptable by the system, it should be okay.</I><BR/><BR/>I can't agree with you. I have had the identity of Paperback Writer among the publishing blog community for more than three years, and as I write under several names I am commonly referred to as Paperback Writer or PBW. Anything you post around the publishing blogosphere under "Paperback Writer" is probably going to be attributed to me.<BR/><BR/><I>You have your name (under which I assume you publish your many books) all over your blog, and I clearly state that I am an English teacher on mine, so I'm sure anyone could tell the difference immediately.</I><BR/><BR/>On your weblog, yes. When you comment on another writer's weblog, no. <BR/><BR/><I>I certainly didn't copy you; I took the name from the song. There is obviously at least one more blogger with the name as well, because paperbackwriter was already taken -- and it was on yahoo, too! That happens when you take a name from a song.</I><BR/><BR/>I am not accusing you of copying me, ma'am. I'm simply and politely suggesting that as you appear to be interested in joining the online community of blogs about publishing, that you change the name of your weblog as to avoid identity confusion between us. That was why I contacted you in the first place.<BR/><BR/><I>Anyway, I'm sorry if it bothers you, but I'm sure that a person would know in a second at looking at either blog that we are different people.</I><BR/><BR/>I am not bothered by the fact that we had the same idea for a blog title. It's not our weblogs that I'm worried about, either. When you comment elsewhere, your remarks are going to be attributed to me because I have the more popular weblog, and I am well-known by the Paperback Writer name. I would rather not have to deal with the identity confusion, which is why I made the request that you change your blog title.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166394423565079882006-12-17T17:27:00.000-05:002006-12-17T17:27:00.000-05:00No. My personal beliefs are no one's business but ...No. My personal beliefs are no one's business but mine and have no bearing on what I write.<BR/><BR/>Not signing and lying about it either; that goes against my personal ethics.<BR/><BR/>Hyatt's rhetoric is another step towards Christian fundamentalism. The very fact that he's outlined what he wants in such a manner, suggest his 'world-view' is really his own interpretation of Christianity.<BR/><BR/>People like that scare me.Jaye Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05595648222196000153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166393586704762592006-12-17T17:13:00.000-05:002006-12-17T17:13:00.000-05:00There. I've changed my display name to A Paperbac...There. I've changed my display name to A Paperback Writer on my profile to match my blog title. Perhaps you should change yours to Pback Writer to match yours, if you wish. At any rate, we are not the same display name anymore. I hope none of your readers will be confused after this.<BR/>PS. I hope this works because it's not showing up that way on the identy below. But I've tried at your request.A Paperback Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10155962941590663738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166392964290990612006-12-17T17:02:00.000-05:002006-12-17T17:02:00.000-05:00Hi there.I can see that we both like the Beatles! ...Hi there.<BR/>I can see that we both like the Beatles! However, since your blog is pbackwriter and mine is apaperbackwriter and they were both considered acceptable by the system, it should be okay. You have your name (under which I assume you publish your many books) all over your blog, and I clearly state that I am an English teacher on mine, so I'm sure anyone could tell the difference immediately. You don't publish your books under the pseudonym, do you? I certainly don't publish my poetry and stories under that name, either.<BR/>I certainly didn't copy you; I took the name from the song. There is obviously at least one more blogger with the name as well, because paperbackwriter was already taken -- and it was on yahoo, too! That happens when you take a name from a song. I expected it, actually.<BR/>Anyway, I'm sorry if it bothers you, but I'm sure that a person would know in a second at looking at either blog that we are different people. I bet there are plenty of other repeats from people who go by just their first names as well.<BR/>All good wishes for success in your publishing,<BR/>the English teacher who also likes the BeatlesA Paperback Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10155962941590663738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166392522241224242006-12-17T16:55:00.000-05:002006-12-17T16:55:00.000-05:00That Hyatt post is scary. It's the first step on a...That Hyatt post is scary. It's the first step on a way of 'us and them' that always ends badly.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166390137010046332006-12-17T16:15:00.000-05:002006-12-17T16:15:00.000-05:00Not a chance!Not a chance!Estellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04199693275287344161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166390061691277742006-12-17T16:14:00.000-05:002006-12-17T16:14:00.000-05:00What I find mind-boggling here is Hyatt's statemen...What I find mind-boggling here is Hyatt's statement that books without spiritual reference can be implicitly Christian. Does that mean implicitly Christian pasta primavera in the cookbooks? <BR/><BR/><I>What have I been eating?</I>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166389105201929032006-12-17T15:58:00.000-05:002006-12-17T15:58:00.000-05:00No.And I do find it disturbing.They have every rig...No.<BR/>And I do find it disturbing.<BR/><BR/>They have every right to do as they please, of course, as a private publishing house. And authors can choose to submit or not (literally AND figuratively).<BR/><BR/>But it wouldn't sit right with me personally. They're saying that if you're Jewish or Muslim or Buddhist, etc., you're not qualified to write the kind of Christian literature they're looking for. I beg to differ. If I'm a professional writer, I can write. Period.<BR/>And you're not buying me, or my personal life or history. My belief system is not for sale. You're buying my product.<BR/><BR/>There's also the possibility that I may consider myself a Christian, but it may not jibe with what THEIR definition of a Christian is. And unless they've got a burning bush somewhere in their offices dictating THE WAY, I'd have a problem with this approach.<BR/><BR/>No.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166384810226397932006-12-17T14:46:00.000-05:002006-12-17T14:46:00.000-05:00No. For one, I wouldn't lie about my beliefs. And ...No. For one, I wouldn't lie about my beliefs. And two, I don't need to be published that badly. I love writing (well, on most days anyhow;), but not enough to sell my soul.Jordan Summershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437563784716604402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166383908536434542006-12-17T14:31:00.000-05:002006-12-17T14:31:00.000-05:00No WayIts just wrongNo Way<BR/>Its just wrongLizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11194218690561999820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166383347891444192006-12-17T14:22:00.000-05:002006-12-17T14:22:00.000-05:00There is no way I would sign soemthing like that....There is no way I would sign soemthing like that. <BR/><BR/>DianeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166380405369441642006-12-17T13:33:00.000-05:002006-12-17T13:33:00.000-05:00*grin* Well, yes, interpreted as domestic slavery...*grin* Well, yes, interpreted as domestic slavery, too.<BR/><BR/>I grew up Southern Baptist, and my minister's wife used to throw that particular verse in the face of people who critized her for making a pile in real estate.Noel Lynne Figarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05073804497457422314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166380030954272732006-12-17T13:27:00.000-05:002006-12-17T13:27:00.000-05:00Noel wrote: As far as women not holding jobs in t...Noel wrote: <I>As far as women not holding jobs in the Bible, the "ideal" wife as put forth in Proverbs 31:10-31 describes a woman who is more or less an entrepeneur.</I><BR/><BR/>Or a beleaguered housewife, depending on your interpretation of Proverbs. While her husband "sits among the elders of the land" the virtuous wife is back at home doing things like working wool and flax, cooking meals, planting vineyards, giving to the poor, making nice clothes for the husband, watching over any servants they had so they didn't get lazy, etc. Not mentioned: drawing water and transporting it from the village well or cistern, grinding grain to make flour, managing, nursing and butchering the livestock, gardening, fieldwork, raising and educating the children, keeping the household accounts, managing the household money, and providing the husband with sex on demand, or finding a nice handmaiden for him to impregnate if her ovaries happened to be closed for business.<BR/><BR/>I don't call that entrepeneurship. I call that domestic slavery. Your mileage of course may vary. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166379171734759052006-12-17T13:12:00.000-05:002006-12-17T13:12:00.000-05:00Ummm...As far as women not holding jobs in the Bib...Ummm...<BR/><BR/>As far as women not holding jobs in the Bible, the "ideal" wife as put forth in Proverbs 31:10-31 describes a woman who is more or less an entrepeneur.Noel Lynne Figarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05073804497457422314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166378997069296782006-12-17T13:09:00.000-05:002006-12-17T13:09:00.000-05:00No and that is wrong on so many levels. If there'...No and that is wrong on so many levels. If there's one thing I've learned in the last year, it's to write what makes you happy and that means no constraints.Amie Stuarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14145328243563702260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166374635368071762006-12-17T11:57:00.000-05:002006-12-17T11:57:00.000-05:00Nope. Wouldn't sign. Wouldn't sign and lie. My ...Nope. Wouldn't sign. Wouldn't sign and lie. My personal beliefs have nothing to do with whether or not I can write a good book. And when I lie I always get found out because I forget what the lie was.Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166371586320920782006-12-17T11:06:00.000-05:002006-12-17T11:06:00.000-05:00Very disturbing. I'm reminded of the loyalty oath...Very disturbing. I'm reminded of the loyalty oaths from the McCarthy era. <BR/><BR/>I would not sign anything from a publisher regarding my personal beliefs. They have nothing to do with my job. <BR/><BR/>I have no reason to lie about them yet.<BR/><BR/>L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166371499852088542006-12-17T11:04:00.000-05:002006-12-17T11:04:00.000-05:00Somehow, I think those publishers have lost the re...Somehow, I think those publishers have lost the real message behind the Good Samaritan story--that people who aren't "true believers" or "of the blood" are more than capable of having the traits that the people of the religion/race are supposed to have, but don't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-1166371172119331742006-12-17T10:59:00.000-05:002006-12-17T10:59:00.000-05:00I've heard of "write what you know", but "be what ...I've heard of "write what you know", but "be what you write" is pushing it.<BR/><BR/>I might keep quiet about what I believe in order to avoid trouble, but I'm not in the habit of claiming I believe something I don't. If this sort of thing spreads, I think I'm in trouble. I'd hate to have to remove the scene where my protag experiences God's grace.nonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00415222406280230021noreply@blogger.com