tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post9085018801098648698..comments2023-11-18T03:15:19.102-06:00Comments on Straight From Hel: A Million Little Pieces, Not DollarsHelen Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-83495118935950622482011-02-17T11:09:31.667-06:002011-02-17T11:09:31.667-06:00Thank you for posting this. I didn't realize. ...Thank you for posting this. I didn't realize. <br /><br />It reminds me of The Edward Stratemeyer Syndicate. Remember Bobbsey Twins, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, among others? Yeah, those were all written by authors who largely remain unknown to this day. Unless you do the research of course. However, it was worse than Frey's syndicate. Back in the day, people signed contracts promising to never reveal themselves. They were paid very little to be ghost writers.<br /><br />Thanks to this new light on Hughes, who wouldn't pick up this author's next book? Sad about the first, real bummer for sure, but the author should have known better. As luck may have it, controversy is propelling the future of this author's career. The author should be so lucky. Most writer's go unknown forever, hardly being read. <br /><br />Frey is dirty. I'm smart enough to know better and I would hope the same for others. But it's quite something to be part of this scandal. We'll always remember Hughes and the $500 that made him and his story famous.Patricia A. Timms-McGeheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08989800584001861716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-54363128280746825922010-12-01T17:09:26.213-06:002010-12-01T17:09:26.213-06:00As much as I would love an opportunity to be publi...As much as I would love an opportunity to be published (and for my work to be made into TV or a movie) I wouldn't want to sacrifice integrity for the sake of a quick buck (or 500). Even with potential profit stakes, it would no longer be my work, it would be the possession of this company whose selection criteria isn't literary worth but potential for profiteering.Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-43890983561749104282010-12-01T13:31:41.371-06:002010-12-01T13:31:41.371-06:00Thanks for good stuffThanks for good stuffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-68055738232373710462010-11-30T20:36:09.613-06:002010-11-30T20:36:09.613-06:00Eew. This turns writing into a completely "fo...Eew. This turns writing into a completely "for profit" grind...sure, I'd like to make millions, but since I won't, I'll be happy if my effort, as evidenced by MY name, provides some joy. Writing is in the doing, not the earning.Lizahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16170701034715108039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-76131378075268934362010-11-30T16:45:36.611-06:002010-11-30T16:45:36.611-06:00I've done work for hire, so I'm not saying...I've done work for hire, so I'm not saying I wouldn't do something like this, but I'd want a bigger piece of the profits.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-52622915887020477472010-11-30T12:11:32.686-06:002010-11-30T12:11:32.686-06:00I wouldn't accept the work for hire deal unles...I wouldn't accept the work for hire deal unless I had nothing better to do. After interviewing six Hollywood screenwriters and learning what happens to scripts after they're written, I'm not interested.Jean Henry Meadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08146960738692672013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-20272304051487988452010-11-30T08:42:24.133-06:002010-11-30T08:42:24.133-06:00Book packaging is nothing new, but I think the dea...Book packaging is nothing new, but I think the deal Frey is offering authors isn't that great. I have done some collaborations on scripts with a modest upfront payment and a percentage of the profits from the movie and ancillary sales. Still waiting for the profits.<br /><br />On the other hand, Frey does have some pull in the industry, so maybe the profits will start coming to his writers sooner. I, still, would not do this at this point in my career. I would rather focus on my mystery series.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-64891176546350112182010-11-29T22:57:22.972-06:002010-11-29T22:57:22.972-06:00Maybe.
I don't think I'd mind the risk th...Maybe.<br /><br />I don't think I'd mind the risk that it would never sell - but I'd opt for a percentage of the sales for sure. A long term investment, so to speak.<br /><br />I've been interested in ghost writing, so that's probably why I don't see what the big deal is here. Except the small pay amount.<br /><br />Well, the lack of pressure has its appeal is all I'm saying.<br /><br />.......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-72250566825468663492010-11-29T22:55:22.208-06:002010-11-29T22:55:22.208-06:00Laura's description is pretty apt. Trouble is ...Laura's description is pretty apt. Trouble is with writers, we are taken advantage of all the time! We do mainly write for free! Maybe 500 bucks is big money. Ha Ha. Also true that the writer may well end up rolling in it after the movie comes out. Smacks of extortion though..:)Denise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-39134153435146815012010-11-29T20:15:20.578-06:002010-11-29T20:15:20.578-06:00My guess is they're doing it so they can work ...My guess is they're doing it so they can work with a guy who seems to know how to produce hits, and they can prove they can also write hits, and then possibly get a deal of their own under their own name. It can't be for the money.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-31435104944287709772010-11-29T17:26:41.880-06:002010-11-29T17:26:41.880-06:00I’ve been reading about this and I must not fully ...I’ve been reading about this and I must not fully understand it. I can’t see why anyone would agree to write a book that gets the author so little money and no name recognition.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-16854893859569612292010-11-29T17:23:57.287-06:002010-11-29T17:23:57.287-06:00What?! That's just wrong. And how did he sudde...What?! That's just wrong. And how did he suddenly become a reputable big publisher with distributors and movie deals?L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-90917495950697013992010-11-29T10:37:18.205-06:002010-11-29T10:37:18.205-06:00I think Laura nailed it.
This feels like what hap...I think Laura nailed it. <br />This feels like what happened to the cast of Giligan's Island. They were paid for the time they were on the show, but they saw no royalties afterwards- even though decades later it's still running and garnering income for the producers of the show. I think the creative talent and the people who bring the characters to life get left out of the residual packages so much that it seems like a normal thing to do in the broadcasting industry. <br /><br />I suggest that we have a writer revolution.<br /><br />Anybody want to work on slogans with me? <br /><br />[I promise not to address anyone as "comrade"] <br /><br />:0)Karen from Mentorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03685540761526680384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-30086318989951404972010-11-29T10:32:58.794-06:002010-11-29T10:32:58.794-06:00I find this rather disturbing. I want recognition ...I find this rather disturbing. I want recognition for what I write. It's hard enough to break in, let alone be ignored for creating a good book.<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, fantasy author</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-74578996408038437422010-11-29T09:55:52.299-06:002010-11-29T09:55:52.299-06:00No. Not my thing. At all.No. Not my thing. At all.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-66776810911499071152010-11-29T09:43:51.031-06:002010-11-29T09:43:51.031-06:00totally would IFF: I am allowed to let those in t...totally would IFF: I am allowed to let those in the publishing industry know it was mine (so it helped in future book sales) and the money portion was iron clad. In fact this isn't so different from my Cozy Mystery under a pen name bit, but my chances of getting rich are significantly slimmer. This sounds like a pretty darned good schooling to me.<br /><br />These are probably NOT going to be great quality... a person is probably better off not having it tacked to them forever, but this inside deal has some lessons.Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-88360969568111785412010-11-28T20:36:05.911-06:002010-11-28T20:36:05.911-06:00Yikes! The things I learn from you Helen. I like L...Yikes! The things I learn from you Helen. I like Laura's description of this!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-82994086636278381262010-11-28T16:29:33.601-06:002010-11-28T16:29:33.601-06:00It has a certain appeal, an upside, but ... nah, d...It has a certain appeal, an upside, but ... nah, don't think I would. I want MY name to build, so ... even though the chance to meet and collaborate with heavyweights is there, seems like a dead end for actual name recognition.<br /><br /><a href="http://theoldsilly.com" rel="nofollow">Marvin D Wilson</a>The Old Sillyhttp://theoldsilly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-80417164210157094002010-11-28T15:34:16.330-06:002010-11-28T15:34:16.330-06:00I bet he has a high turn over of writers. But what...I bet he has a high turn over of writers. But what would he care? I think a lot of writers would see it as a great stepping stone. I don't think I would do it though.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-66770947809573243132010-11-28T14:14:50.048-06:002010-11-28T14:14:50.048-06:00As an author, probably not but as a businesswoman ...As an author, probably not but as a businesswoman I sure can appreciate his business model.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-36289648682434831712010-11-28T09:33:51.555-06:002010-11-28T09:33:51.555-06:00Hi Judy. :-)Hi Judy. :-)Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-9438842359366941162010-11-28T05:21:53.856-06:002010-11-28T05:21:53.856-06:00Nope. I wouldn't even like to write with a co-...Nope. I wouldn't even like to write with a co-author let alone someone like James Faust, er, I mean Frey.<br /><a href="http://judycroome.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Judy(South Africa)</a>Judy Croome | @judy_croomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455755011354905278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-18780829764046005722010-11-27T18:13:27.281-06:002010-11-27T18:13:27.281-06:00Maybe writers should form their own "club&quo...Maybe writers should form their own "club" where they throw around ideas and plot points. One person has an idea and the group offers more ideas and things that could happen. Then the next goes through the brainstorming session with their idea. Be your own plot mill and see where it goes.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-73534018767294075212010-11-27T17:34:49.276-06:002010-11-27T17:34:49.276-06:00Five hundred dollars? Would you have to clean his...Five hundred dollars? Would you have to clean his toilets too? It sounds like slave labor to me.Sanctuary Homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09693272837246529866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-62545152378873271032010-11-27T16:27:00.001-06:002010-11-27T16:27:00.001-06:00Nah, I don't think so!Nah, I don't think so!Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.com