🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jun4.205246.28845@netwise.com> hilary@netwise.com (Hilary Lane) writes:
>In article <gradyC83qK0.AGy@netcom.com> grady@netcom.com (1016/2EF221) writes:
>>RastocnyPM (pmr@drutx.ATT.COM) wrote:
>>
>>: CROW: SLAYING THE SLUSHPILE
>>
>>: Is it working? Absolutely. After three issues, over 70% of featured
>>: works have garnered at least one reply card expressing editor/agent
>>
>>:reviews of short works are 4 cents/word, $40 minimum. Classified ads
>>
>>
>>Since this is so likely to be a garden-variety scam, we will need
>>the names, address and telephone numbers of your customers along
>>with several examples of ms. and critique before this service 
>>sounds even slightly plausible.
>
>I happen to know the guy who started CROW, and can tell you it's no
>scam. I've read the newsletters and have seen some book reviews he
>and his reviewers have done. If you think it's a scam, why don't you
>call him and talk with him? I'm sure he'd be happy to give you some
>references. Before you start flaming, check out the facts.

I don't care if it's a scam or not.  This is a discussion group,
designed for people with similar interests to share information.  Not a
place where your friends can try to make money off of us.  So the flames
were deserved (if you really consider those responses flames - I don't).

Anyway, I see no advantage to the scheme.  In the end, editors will make
their own decisions about what to buy, based on the manuscript itself -
not what some mercenary outfit tells them.  This is true whether my
document gets to them through the slush pile or by way of your
acquaintance - only the book can sell itself.  My best chance is to
write the best story I can, and research my market.  If I do a good
enough job, I will sell my story, without needing to pay someone to give
me an advantage.  (That is my personal standard - I will know my stories
are good enough when people offer me money for them, instead of asking
*me* for money.)

At the very best, your acquaintace can match the services of an agent.
But I would never deal with an agent who required payment up front, and
I won't deal with this scheme.  Especially when the proponents are
unable to distinguish between a discussion group and a commercial ad
medium.  Usenet is useless to me if it becomes just yet another medium
to bombard me with ads; if it takes flames to protect Usenet, then
prepare your flame throwers!

       The Rhealist - nadeau@bnr.ca - Speaking only for myself