Comments on: Heavy Metal Blunder

By: Ruthie

Ruthie — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:21:10 +0000

As a “reformed” professional writer who experienced the proverbial Damascene revelation [i.e.–pragmatism,] and turned full-metal litigator, I respectfully disagree with your opinion that “someone should push for a Constitutional Amendment banning self-publishing.”

People like “rouge-boy” [above, wearing the horrifyingly cliche Lennon shades,] deserve the self-publishing/vanity press industry, and their absolutely “sucky” contracts and business practices.

I praise jeebus daily for the vanity presses’ lack of distribution, which, coupled with assignment of rights clauses, allow these publishers to chain the wannabes into agreements that virtually assure their piece de resistance–and their next book, too!– will die the ignominious deaths they so richly deserve: Because as long as the publishers have one copy of the book in their warehouse, the writer is “in print,” and their rights will never revert.

I also praise jeebus daily for Kindle, which enables the vanity presses to accommodate more of these self-proclaimed authors without sacrificing vast tracts of virgin timber, thus insuring these trees will be directly available for soft, fluffy, toilet tissue. The recycled stuff made from pulped vanity press books, romance novels, and remaindered Regnery screed really chafes my ass.

By: MarkD

MarkD — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:36:50 +0000

As a professional writer, I ask that everyone not refer to this rougehole as a “writer,” “author,” or “guy who types letters.” It’s an insult to those of us who actually went work on — and care about — our craft.

Well, for the most part anyway.

I’d also add that this guy is the reason why someone should push for a Constitutional Amendment banning self-publishing.

Just … bleh.

By: HalloweenJack

HalloweenJack — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:49:17 +0000

As much as I hate to admit it, he does fulfill a number of SF/fantasy/SCA/RPG/LARP tropes: the sartorial affectations, the preening acknowledgement of even negative attention, the shoddy writing…

The bottle of red was sitting opened, breathing as it waited to be consumed.

Dang, that is one impatient bottle-o-red.

By: munkihaid

munkihaid — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:12:55 +0000

This is precisely why I’ve maintained that consumer based multi-media software will bring the apocalypse.

It’s a straight line from Guitar Hero to Garageband. . .

By: wahwahsmith

wahwahsmith — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:56:13 +0000

The righties have been waterboarding parody for quite some time now me thinks…

and it still hasn’t told them anything.

By: cinnamonape

cinnamonape — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:20:45 +0000

He has some great videos up on his site…you should check them out for a laugh.

By: cinnamonape

cinnamonape — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:10:59 +0000

Beside his table sat a computer print-out, fresh from the printer, as yet untouched. It was entitled The Disappeared Quarterly, and the there was about half an inch thick of paper underneath the title page.

And I thought there might have been pancakes, or cheeseburgers….drat! Paper! Underneath a title page…from a computer! Who would have guessed?

Then again, he refers to a half-inch think document as a “tome”…I hate to think what he thinks of the length of a Tom Clancy novel. Or perhaps a textbook!

By: hackworth1

hackworth1 — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:56:48 +0000

Anyone here seen Crod Mandoon and The Flaming Sword of Fire?

By: TJShea

TJShea — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:43:14 +0000

If Mr. Dodge is looking for business I suggest he start here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekDdySQ6n2w”>
At which point he may consider early retirement, or a career move to cabbie.
Or Exorcist.

By: EssJay

EssJay — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:12:46 +0000

…a computer print-out, fresh from the printer…
I wouldn’t touch that with the tip of my fingertip