IWSG: Five Unethical Practices in the Publishing Industry

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs. You can also join us on twitter using the hashtag #IWSG, or on the Facebook page.

Now, IWSG hosts have changed up the format in an effort to make it more fun and interactive. Every month, they will announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Don’t forget to visit others that day to see their answers. Want to join, or learn more? Visit our - Sign-up List.

AUGUST QUESTION - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

MY ANSWER:

1) Hmmm... on the part of the writer submitting, I would say either plagiarism (including AI) or otherwise misrepresenting themselves and the information they are providing. 

2) If you mean on the part of an individual editor or publisher, then I would say I have run into multiple issues such as bias (due to race, gender, religion, politics, etc.)  Yes, this has happened to me numerous times. 

3) I've also had editors refuse to publish my work if I don't make the changes they want, and I don't mean to meet stated requirements/expectations. I've had requests to add sex scenes or change major plot points. While I don't mind some changes, especially if you can show me how it improves the piece, I absolutely refuse to add a sex scene just because "sex sells". 

4) I also don't appreciate being lied to or otherwise feeling manipulated by misrepresenting facts.

5) Being charged because the publisher had returns - especially when I didn't get a cut of those sales in the first place because they only pay authors a flat fee up front.

What about you? What do you believe is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?

National Polka Dot Day, Gender Bias, and Writers

Today is National Polka Dot Day!

It's also the day Minnie Mouse finally received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame two years ago - a mere 40 years after her counterpart, Mickey. You can find out more about that here. I only mention this because the college class I teach is currently discussing gender bias. There are always polar opposites present on this issue, on whether this is still a concern today, and many students are somewhere in the middle or unwilling to take a side. However, the point of this class is research and persuasion. The Mickey versus Minnie tidbit has been brought up as a result of this research and discussion.

Many of my family members are Disney fans. As you can tell from the mention in this post, the cheesy picture here, and my social media accounts I'm a little obsessed with most of Disney myself. I've also passed the sickness along to my children. My husband has accepted, and loves us anyway ;-)

I'm from Southern California, and even though I live in Texas, we head back as often as possible to visit family and friends. I took my girls to Hollywood for the first time in July 2017. They loved it. Their favorite memories of the day there include lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe', seeing the famous Hollywood sign, and finding Daniel Radcliffe's star. You can see pictures here.

Another reason I mention all of this is because the original article I read announcing Minnie's big day led me down a rabbit hole of reading. I became curious about writers who have earned a star on that famous walkway. I knew of a few, but I was surprised at the number. Some of these authors I know have brought joy to many and will be immediately recognized: Raymond Chandler, Ray Bradbury, Stephen J. Cannell, Frank Capra, quite a few others I recognized, and a few I didn't. Here is a list the Los Angeles Times has comprised of all the writers who've earned that coveted star.

What are your feelings about gender bias - does it still exist? Have you been to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or a Disney Park? Which authors are your favorites? Who would you like to see earn a star? Are you celebrating National Polka Dot Day?