Comments on: Fully fathoming Full Fathom Five

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:42:14 +0000

Even if they can write, exploitation is bunk.

*Applause*

By: DGLM

DGLM — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:03:13 +0000

Hey Folks, thanks for all the interesting and enlightening comments. Just one additional note on I AM NUMBER FOUR–on submission, I actually thought the manuscript was pretty good! Despite it all, the man and/or his team can write… -JR

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:37:56 +0000

Aren't the publishers that choose to work with Frey equally culpable? They might claim they didn't realize what he was/wasn't paying his authors, but why in the first place are they buying books on spec from a known sleazebag?

Annie

By: Michael G-G

Michael G-G — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:44:51 +0000

Love him or loathe him (and I suspect most of us loathe him), there's no denying that James Frey is the quintessence of American capitalism, complete with the amazing publicity machine and the sweatshop. Since we live in the land of the Happy Meal, I'm betting that he will be financially successful.

Now I must go and ponder such concepts as hubris and karma. Thanks for alerting me to Full Fathom Five. (There's no denying the guy's good with a title, too.)

By: Writer Girl

Writer Girl — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:07:41 +0000

I guess it's just business isn't it? But like lots of business it's slimy and exploitative. As a struggling YA author i don't think i'd ever be desperate enough to get into business with frey. Surely there's nothing wrong with having a day job, at least you're not selling your soul right?

By: Kristi Helvig

Kristi Helvig — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:52:01 +0000

I'm impressed that you passed on I Am Number Four. I realize there are unethical people in every industry, but it's especially slimy when the person scamming writers is also a writer. In general, the news always makes me want to hit the showers (along with political ads).

By: Sara W.E.

Sara W.E. — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:48:18 +0000

Thanks for bringing up the point about responsibility in children and YA publishing. The last few days, there's been a lot of discussions among YA writers about James Frey, but I haven't heard anyone else bring this up. It is by far the scariest of all the things happening in this situation. I don't always love that writers have to pass through the editor gatekeepers, but this situation makes me appreciate the system!

By: Liz Czukas

Liz Czukas — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:33:36 +0000

To give the tiniest bit of credit where it is (possibly) due, I do think Frey is showing some innovation in the industry at a time when we're all questioning the future of publishing. And while movie-tie-ins prior to publishing sticks in the craw a little bit right now, maybe we'll all think NY/LA collaborations are SOP in a few years. Who knows? One thing is certain: James Frey is a manipulative, greedy slimeball.

LOVE that you passed on I AM NUMBER FOUR.

- Liz

By: Kristin Laughtin

Kristin Laughtin — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:07:53 +0000

I do feel the need for a shower, and I'm glad right now that I don't write YA; even the thought of being tempted to take him up on something like this is making me shudder a little. Then again, I'm not spending $45,000 on tuition and I don't expect to ever make a fortune writing. (If I do, hey, great! But I expect I'll have to keep a day job.) Fascinating article, though, if only for what it reveals about people's motivations to write and how some of the "big things" in the future might be produced.

By: Angela Perry

Angela Perry — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:13:52 +0000

Glad to hear you passed on it. That was what bothered me most about this deal–what it says about the publishing industry and readers. It seems some publishers will accept anything that might make them a quick buck, regardless of how exploitative it is toward the authors. And readers seem willing to overlook poor quality and formulaic writing if they are part of the next "cool" thing.