Comments on: My new Authonomy addiction http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/ about the craft and business of fiction Wed, 23 May 2012 23:52:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Satima Flavell http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106104 Satima Flavell Thu, 19 Mar 2009 03:46:27 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106104 A friend of mine made it to the "editors desk" and recieved such a damning, unkind critique that it's made me extremely wary of the whole process. It's an interesting point that the three or four people who've been picked up by HC from Authonomy all seem to have been found by editors skimming the subs, not from reaching the editor's desk through "the system". A friend of mine made it to the “editors desk” and recieved such a damning, unkind critique that it’s made me extremely wary of the whole process. It’s an interesting point that the three or four people who’ve been picked up by HC from Authonomy all seem to have been found by editors skimming the subs, not from reaching the editor’s desk through “the system”.

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]]> By: Vic http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106083 Vic Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:01:38 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106083 I'm sorry Ray, but I wouldn't touch Authonomy with a ten foot pole. Except maybe to push my computer further away if it accidentally logged on... Victoria Strauss says it better on her Writer's Beware site, and if you google around you'll find several interesting blogger accounts by people who've been used and abused by the system. What to watch out for? Mainly, a large writers group that promote each others' work, and an issue with rising in the ranks often being due to popularity, networking and influence rather than actual quality of work. (There's apparently a system that rewards talent spotters, and if they bookshelf you their opinion is worth more ranking points, so of course everyone befriends the talent spotters... and so it goes.) The other issue I personally think is paramount is the enormous time vortex of Authonomy. I've seen several friends dive into the addiction, and few have returned with their own work still in progress. Nathan Bransford did an interesting post on this some weeks back, and made the very valid point that many Authonomaniacs (his word, not mine) are enthusiastic to the point of being obsessive. (I'm paraphrasing here, so best check out his words directly.) The comments section to his post is especially interesting. The other issue that no one is mentioning and everyone should be is idea theft. Sure, 'there's no new concept under the sun, and delivery makes all the difference' - but actually, there are concepts and ideas worth guarding, especially for Sci-fi/fan writers. I wouldn't suggest putting any original - especially unpublished - concepts and ideas on Authonomy for other people to 'interpret'. My suggestion is, treat Authonomy with care. Best, Vic. I’m sorry Ray, but I wouldn’t touch Authonomy with a ten foot pole. Except maybe to push my computer further away if it accidentally logged on…

Victoria Strauss says it better on her Writer’s Beware site, and if you google around you’ll find several interesting blogger accounts by people who’ve been used and abused by the system.

What to watch out for? Mainly, a large writers group that promote each others’ work, and an issue with rising in the ranks often being due to popularity, networking and influence rather than actual quality of work. (There’s apparently a system that rewards talent spotters, and if they bookshelf you their opinion is worth more ranking points, so of course everyone befriends the talent spotters… and so it goes.)

The other issue I personally think is paramount is the enormous time vortex of Authonomy. I’ve seen several friends dive into the addiction, and few have returned with their own work still in progress.

Nathan Bransford did an interesting post on this some weeks back, and made the very valid point that many Authonomaniacs (his word, not mine) are enthusiastic to the point of being obsessive. (I’m paraphrasing here, so best check out his words directly.) The comments section to his post is especially interesting.

The other issue that no one is mentioning and everyone should be is idea theft. Sure, ‘there’s no new concept under the sun, and delivery makes all the difference’ – but actually, there are concepts and ideas worth guarding, especially for Sci-fi/fan writers. I wouldn’t suggest putting any original – especially unpublished – concepts and ideas on Authonomy for other people to ‘interpret’.

My suggestion is, treat Authonomy with care.

Best,
Vic.

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]]> By: Eisley Jacobs http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106043 Eisley Jacobs Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:56:05 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106043 Awesome! I will have to check it out. Thanks! Awesome! I will have to check it out. Thanks!

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]]> By: Kristan http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106032 Kristan Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:47:47 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106032 Interesting. This seems like a long-term version of Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Award, no? Maybe I'll check it out after ABNA. (I am still reeling from even making it to the quarterfinals! My entry, The Good Daughters: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UG3AIM/ ) Interesting. This seems like a long-term version of Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award, no? Maybe I’ll check it out after ABNA. (I am still reeling from even making it to the quarterfinals! My entry, The Good Daughters: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UG3AIM/ )

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]]> By: Margay http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106022 Margay Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:38:14 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106022 I've read a lot about this site, good and bad, so I am torn over whether or not to trust it. Margay I’ve read a lot about this site, good and bad, so I am torn over whether or not to trust it.
Margay

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]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106021 Therese Walsh Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:34:55 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106021 Thanks for explaining a bit more to us about Authonomy, Ray. I've registered and backed your book. Good luck! Thanks for explaining a bit more to us about Authonomy, Ray. I’ve registered and backed your book. Good luck!

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]]> By: Hannah Middleton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106018 Hannah Middleton Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:19:16 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-106018 Will do. You should also read "Good Omens" by terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It has the same... tone *giggle* as your Vampire Kitty book and gives you an idea of how very wonderful the two authors are. Will do.

You should also read “Good Omens” by terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. It has the same… tone *giggle* as your Vampire Kitty book and gives you an idea of how very wonderful the two authors are.

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/18/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-105845 Kathleen Bolton Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:51:55 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2009/03/19/my-new-authonomy-addiction/#comment-105845 Done and done! And being compared to Terry Pratchett is high praise indeed. Wow! Done and done!

And being compared to Terry Pratchett is high praise indeed. Wow!

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