Today is a writing post.<\/p>\n
So here’s the deal… I’m writing this post on 11.20, just a few days after the big HQN announcment about their new ‘self-pub’ venture, Harlequin Horizons (HHz)(UTA…Harlequin Horizons is now Dellarte Press).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n I use ‘self-pub’ lightly because from what I can tell, it’s not true ‘self pub’.\u00a0 It’s vanity press…as in the writer pays a huge chunk up front and then still split the profits with the vanity press.\u00a0 Self pub?\u00a0 Writer fronts the costs, keeps the profits.<\/p>\n So I’m writing this with all the brouhaha of HHz still living large in my mind.<\/p>\n One of the things that does bother me about HHz is how they’re targeting the authors they rejected.\u00a0 As in… it doesn’t work for HERE, but try here… now you’ll pay us, but you could still be a star.<\/p>\n A lot of inexperienced writers who are just now trying to find their way?\u00a0 They could look at this as a way of bypassing that rejection.\u00a0 Skipping the slush pile.\u00a0 Taking the easy way.<\/p>\n Here’s the deal.<\/p>\n There is<\/em> no shortcut.<\/p>\n There is<\/em> no way to bypass the rejections.<\/p>\n Getting out of the slush pile takes a lot of hard work.\u00a0 It takes a lot of persistence.\u00a0 In short…it’s not a quick thing and there is no short cut.<\/p>\n And there shouldn’t be.\u00a0 Rejections make a writer better.\u00a0 They suck<\/em>, trust me, I know.\u00a0 Even when a book seems downright perfect for the publisher you were shooting for.\u00a0 Originally, I’d written HER BEST FRIEND’S LOVER for HQN\/Silhouette.\u00a0 It was rejected.\u00a0 I decided to heat the story up and send to EC.\u00a0 EC accepted.<\/p>\n Now, even though, looking back?\u00a0 I think the story would definitely have worked for HQN-I’m glad I didn’t just let it sit.\u00a0 I’m glad I didn’t sulk.\u00a0 Or give up. And actually, I’m even glad HQN rejected it.\u00a0\u00a0 I needed<\/em> that rejection…even though I think the book, as it originally was, probably would have been a great fit with HQN, if it had been accepted? I’m not sure I would have taken the route I’m on now.<\/p>\n