tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post111806824790060099..comments2024-03-04T03:40:11.172-05:00Comments on No rules. Just write.: Some like it hotBrenda Coulterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13528691681455659296noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118681533950352052005-06-13T12:52:00.000-04:002005-06-13T12:52:00.000-04:00While I normally respond to all comments posted on...While I normally respond to all comments posted on my blog, I haven't answered the last several ones here because I believe I have already expressed myself pretty well. My retreat from this discussion is not meant as a snub to any of you; I've just moved on to things that interest me more than this little RWA contretemps.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, everyone, for visiting my blog.Brenda Coulterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528691681455659296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118680670567993472005-06-13T12:37:00.000-04:002005-06-13T12:37:00.000-04:00I am one of those bloggers who posted my opinion, ...I am one of those bloggers who posted my opinion, but have not done a follow up. Why? First, I am no longer a member anyway, so I feel no need to keep talking about it. Second, my opinion stands--even if they have "suspended" their policy for the moment.Robin Baynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640632701164428942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118632445578110562005-06-12T23:14:00.000-04:002005-06-12T23:14:00.000-04:00You said, "Those who participated in and encourage...You said, "Those who participated in and encouraged all that wild speculation about the RWA board attempting to marginalize certain RWA members don't seem quite so eager to post on this issue now that the board has admitted to having made an error in judgment and is meekly returning to square one."<BR/><BR/>Of the 14 blogs I linked to when I made a post on this subject, 7 of them have posted about the "retraction". I would say that's a pretty good percentage, especially considering a good number of the ones who didn't post about the follow-up aren't members of RWA and thus have to hear it through the grapevine, just like the first time.<BR/><BR/>And what is wrong with posting what you think about something that concerns or interests you? Yeah, some of that were fears of concerns about what it meant or where it can lead, but those fears are not completely unfounded, especially when the decision comes from a group as conservative as the one in question.Beverlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01807907890205963102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118590190879032312005-06-12T11:29:00.000-04:002005-06-12T11:29:00.000-04:00. But once that was done, a handful of bloggers an...<I>. But once that was done, a handful of bloggers and commenters decided not to wait for a response but went on to incite fear and anger about what the standards might mean and how and where they might be applied. There was no basis for any of that garbage.</I><BR/><BR/>Writers using their blogs to write their thoughts and their fears? <BR/><BR/>Clearly we need to censor this. Should we form an ad-hoc committee so people will know what is ok to think and talk about?sybilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342302708116383329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118577516001872762005-06-12T07:58:00.000-04:002005-06-12T07:58:00.000-04:00Lee, I couldn't agree more. It is appalling that a...Lee, I couldn't agree more. It is appalling that a writers' organization would engage in this kind of censorship. It is that issue and that alone that caused my own outrage over the graphical standards. As for the board's decision to back-track ... It is the only sensible and acceptable action and deserves no thanks imo.kstarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02256674234502758626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118538440058607842005-06-11T21:07:00.000-04:002005-06-11T21:07:00.000-04:00"I don't believe the board suspended the standards..."I don't believe the board suspended the standards because a handful of bloggers made them look bad."<BR/><BR/>The blogging outrage might not have directly influenced the outcome, but you gotta admit, it made the issue very visible. So did the RWA take a look at some websites and go "EEEK! We were wrong! Let's suspend the graphical standards right now!" Very likely not. What is more likely was that a bunch of people picked up on the story, blogged about it somewhat angrily, which in turn caught the attention of a bunch of RWA members who were making their blog rounds, and they in turn lodged official complaints.<BR/><BR/>And as for the conspiracy theory speculation: I, for one, find it a very interesting coincidence that these graphical standards and language guidelines are implemented just when erotic romance is really starting to get going and people have been making noises about whether it's actually romance nor not. And given the treatment handed to Ann Jacobs and the accidental mis-handling of paperwork for Editors of a Certain Imprint, it's hard not to see a kind of pattern emerging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118537589589744482005-06-11T20:53:00.000-04:002005-06-11T20:53:00.000-04:00I don't write romances. I don't read romances. I'm...I don't write romances. I don't read romances. I'm not a member of the RWA. But I was outraged by the incredibly wrong-headed "graphical standards" policy because I couldn't believe an organization for writers, and governed by writers, would engage in this kind of censorship. <BR/><BR/>I can't imagine anyone on the board of the Mystery Writers of America (of which I am a member) or the Authors Guild (of which I am also a member) proposing "Graphical Standards." It would never happen. Because they are organizations run by, and serving, WRITERS. Frankly, I still can't believe the RWA board did it...or that they are even STILL considering it.<BR/><BR/>I don't think the RWA board realizes how bad this makes them look to other writers in other genres...or how negatively this reflects on romance writers as a whole...who are working hard as it is to get the respect they deserve. The Board is clearly out-of touch with their membership...and with the writing profession as a whole.<BR/><BR/>The "Graphical Standards" was a blunder. Continuing to explore the idea is compounding the blunder. There shouldn't be an Ad-Hoc Committee on Graphical Standards. There shouldn't be any "graphical standards" at all.Lee Goldberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13442268370192897461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118531110833453082005-06-11T19:05:00.000-04:002005-06-11T19:05:00.000-04:00I have to agree with Candy. Without the various bl...I have to agree with Candy. Without the various blog "rants," a different outcome might have manifested. I only wish blogging was as big an influence last year when another issue with RWA might have been swayed. I guess I'll never know.Robin Baynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640632701164428942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118527889153272702005-06-11T18:11:00.000-04:002005-06-11T18:11:00.000-04:00Well, Robyn, "letters of thanks" might be going a ...Well, Robyn, "letters of thanks" might be going a little too far. ;-) The board now realizes it stepped out of line in making up new rules without input from the membership. But I think that was an honest mistake, not an underhanded attempt to edge anyone out of the organization.<BR/><BR/>Candy, the board obviously needed to have their error pointed out to them. But once that was done, a handful of bloggers and commenters decided not to wait for a response but went on to incite fear and anger about what the standards <I>might</I> mean and how and where they <I>might</I> be applied. There was no basis for any of that garbage.<BR/><BR/>I don't believe the board suspended the standards because a handful of bloggers made them look bad. Those tactics sure wouldn't have motivated <I>me</I>, Candy, and I'm guessing they wouldn't have got much more than an eye-roll out of <I>you</I>, either. No, I think the board responded quickly because members contacted them through the proper channels to complain. Yes, the blogs and listservs can be credited with bringing the matter to light. What disgusts me is what happened <I>after</I> that--the unfounded accusations and ridiculous conclusions people were smearing all over the internet.<BR/><BR/>As Robyn suggests, few of those people are likely to admit having been unfair to the board members.Brenda Coulterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528691681455659296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118523527486734052005-06-11T16:58:00.000-04:002005-06-11T16:58:00.000-04:00It isn't the initial rants she's talking about, Ca...It isn't the initial rants she's talking about, Candy. It's a fact that we will probably not see the same widespread coverage of the board's decision, nor letters of thanks with a gazillion names on it. <BR/><BR/>Sort of like newspapers that have a misleading story plastered all over page one, then print the retraction in a tiny box on page tweny-three.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118522874854810692005-06-11T16:47:00.000-04:002005-06-11T16:47:00.000-04:00Thanks for the update! As for this, though:"No, it...Thanks for the update! As for this, though:<BR/><BR/>"No, it's much more exciting to rant."<BR/><BR/>Do you honestly think they would've rescinded the standards and taken action as quickly if there HADN'T been widespread outrage and rantiness on various blogs?<BR/><BR/>I doubt it. If you study how things have been handled historically, from relatively small things such as this brouhaha to larger things like the civil rights movement, action wasn't taken until people started yelling their heads off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118128429780006062005-06-07T03:13:00.000-04:002005-06-07T03:13:00.000-04:00I have to agree with Mir. Once the RWA endorses fi...I have to agree with Mir. Once the RWA endorses fiction like that, they can't backtrack and complain about covers. Besides which, a lot of Blaze covers aren't the most innocent.Camy Tanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14577747925320907186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118097550705974332005-06-06T18:39:00.000-04:002005-06-06T18:39:00.000-04:00RWA gave full recognition to publishers of romance...RWA gave full recognition to publishers of romance-porn (eg. Ellora's Cave). Since they did so, how can they now say they don't want graphic covers? Graphic stories of boinking and general kinkiness--- ok?! We'll give it the "romance genre" thumbs up. Graphic covers showing not even 1/100th of what goes on inside? Naughty-bad-booboo? Oh, please. How hypocritical. If the romance-porn horse is already in the barn, you can't really start complaining about how its tail looks.<BR/><BR/>MirAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118092378594314982005-06-06T17:12:00.000-04:002005-06-06T17:12:00.000-04:00Don't belive a word he tells youDon't belive a word he tells youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118090822742388922005-06-06T16:47:00.000-04:002005-06-06T16:47:00.000-04:00I must get to know this "Chris" person. LOLI must get to know this "Chris" person. <BR/>LOLRobin Baynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02640632701164428942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118090081479649462005-06-06T16:34:00.000-04:002005-06-06T16:34:00.000-04:00Chris, your hopeless;-DChris, your hopeless<BR/>;-DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118088566970724082005-06-06T16:09:00.000-04:002005-06-06T16:09:00.000-04:00What?! He can't hunger for her and lunch at the sa...What?! He can't hunger for her and lunch at the same time? He's an efficient multitasker. <BR/>--Chris (dFm)Mikesellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522375368851193970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118082972859852502005-06-06T14:36:00.000-04:002005-06-06T14:36:00.000-04:00You tell him Brenda, Chris I'm shocked that you wo...You tell him Brenda, Chris I'm shocked that you would say something like that, just SHOCKED<BR/>:-OAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118080483004534892005-06-06T13:54:00.000-04:002005-06-06T13:54:00.000-04:00Dee, I don't have any connection with RTB other th...Dee, I don't have any connection with RTB other than the column I send in every month (I'll have one up tomorrow, by the way). But if you have a blog that focuses on romance--reading, writing, or the industry--they'll put up your link without even requiring a reciprocal link. I think several reviewers are listed under "Readers' Blogs".<BR/><BR/>Also, if you're interested in being considered for a guest-blogging spot, they're taking entries right now to post in August. I, for one, would love to see you do an essay over there. <A HREF="http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/index.php?p=209" REL="nofollow">Go here for details.</A><BR/><BR/>der Fieldenmarshal, somebody really ought to take you down a peg. ;-)Brenda Coulterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528691681455659296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118079059991526532005-06-06T13:30:00.000-04:002005-06-06T13:30:00.000-04:00No comment about RWA. This is my last year as a me...No comment about RWA. This is my last year as a member, but not for that reason.<BR/>However, I do have a comment for romancing the blog. You don't have a reviewer link on there. Why not?<BR/>I am a Romantic Times reviewer would love to get feedback from the authors I review.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07932082084523211319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118078830269633082005-06-06T13:27:00.000-04:002005-06-06T13:27:00.000-04:00Chris only you could say something like that!Chris only you could say something like that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118074497384802852005-06-06T12:14:00.000-04:002005-06-06T12:14:00.000-04:00After seeing the cover on anon's link, I totally h...After seeing the cover on anon's link, I totally have to agree with the RWA on this. The dark roots on the woman with the "red" hair were terrible. No way is that appropriate.<BR/><BR/>Still, it's unfair to punish an author for a bad marketing decision made by her publisher.<BR/><BR/>Fortunately there's no CBA restriction on trailer-trash hair, so I'm still safe.<BR/><BR/>Brenda, she could have been wearing a pastie (or maybe a pasty and the guy's ravenously devouring it).<BR/><BR/>--Chris (dFm)Mikesellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13522375368851193970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118074177410943352005-06-06T12:09:00.000-04:002005-06-06T12:09:00.000-04:00I did check Technorati before I posted this entry,...I did check Technorati before I posted this entry, but only three blogs (besides Booksquare and RTB, which I linked to) came up in a search for "RWA graphical standards", and none of them mentioned the author or her book by name. I was glad to see she has finally been interviewed. Thanks for the link.<BR/><BR/>I will add only that whether one agrees with the graphical standards or not, that cover clearly violates them, as it shows a man's face pressed against a woman's bare breast. ("...the following shall not be depicted or represented: ...hands or mouth covering naked female breasts...")Brenda Coulterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528691681455659296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9791523.post-1118070880438464472005-06-06T11:14:00.000-04:002005-06-06T11:14:00.000-04:00Here's a fact for you:http://pbackwriter.blogspot....Here's a fact for you:<BR/><BR/>http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/2005/06/ann-jacobs.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com