Comments on: But What Do The Rules Say? http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/12/10/but-what-do-the-rules-say/ by Elizabeth Burns Sat, 18 May 2013 16:15:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Liz B http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/12/10/but-what-do-the-rules-say/#comment-203372 Liz B Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:08:50 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=5413#comment-203372 Teri, thank you. I can't imagine how many books there are, especially adding self published, and people who "update" those books based on "feedback" so what is the right version/date, etc. And I'm also interested in seeing what happens w/ other awards. Has any self pub gotten on awards or lists? I imagine Amanda Hocking may have in the past years? Teri, thank you. I can’t imagine how many books there are, especially adding self published, and people who “update” those books based on “feedback” so what is the right version/date, etc. And I’m also interested in seeing what happens w/ other awards. Has any self pub gotten on awards or lists? I imagine Amanda Hocking may have in the past years?

]]> By: Liz B http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/12/10/but-what-do-the-rules-say/#comment-203370 Liz B Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:04:11 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=5413#comment-203370 Mark, I'm not complaining about eligibility! While POP was not a YA book, it was a publishing experience, from submittals to writing to editing etc., so I think there is a valid argument that YA book or no, the "debut" experience is over for me. Self published is such a huge area right now, and so many different things going on, that it can be a bit difficult to talk about because if I say x, someone else will say something else. So to try to condense, I agree that for some authors (esp since we see some people getting a bit more forceful w/ teens and self publishing) self publishing would be more juvenilia. But for some, that's not the case -- This muddyness is actually one of the reasons I'm glad that YALSA has a flat line "no" rule rather than "no, unless...." Mark, I’m not complaining about eligibility! While POP was not a YA book, it was a publishing experience, from submittals to writing to editing etc., so I think there is a valid argument that YA book or no, the “debut” experience is over for me. Self published is such a huge area right now, and so many different things going on, that it can be a bit difficult to talk about because if I say x, someone else will say something else. So to try to condense, I agree that for some authors (esp since we see some people getting a bit more forceful w/ teens and self publishing) self publishing would be more juvenilia. But for some, that’s not the case — This muddyness is actually one of the reasons I’m glad that YALSA has a flat line “no” rule rather than “no, unless….”

]]> By: Teri Lesesne http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/12/10/but-what-do-the-rules-say/#comment-203353 Teri Lesesne Wed, 12 Dec 2012 01:26:02 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=5413#comment-203353 As you point out, this is a relatively new award. As one of the former chairs of the committee. I can attest to the fact that self published works are an issue that need to be addressed and positions refined. It would seem obvious that previously published a book is clear. However, when we were vetting books, it became apparent that things are not as cut and dried as we like. YALSA will have to deal with self publications in other areas beside the Morris. I thank you and Kelly both for this discussion. The waters are muddied and, for the sake of the award process for all committees, clarifications are in order. As you point out, this is a relatively new award. As one of the former chairs of the committee. I can attest to the fact that self published works are an issue that need to be addressed and positions refined. It would seem obvious that previously published a book is clear. However, when we were vetting books, it became apparent that things are not as cut and dried as we like. YALSA will have to deal with self publications in other areas beside the Morris.

I thank you and Kelly both for this discussion. The waters are muddied and, for the sake of the award process for all committees, clarifications are in order.

]]> By: Mark Flowers http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/2012/12/10/but-what-do-the-rules-say/#comment-203307 Mark Flowers Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:47:13 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/teacozy/?p=5413#comment-203307 I definitely agree that if you can't win a Morris for a self-published work, it shouldn't count against an industry-published debut. This issue may be getting more complicated even as we speak, but it still seems to me that self-published books are a lot closer to juvenilia that authors in earlier eras would never have been able to get published in any venue, self- or otherwise. I have to say, I stopped short when you mentioned your professional title, Pop Goes the Library. It obviously makes the most sense to have an easy bright-line rule, but it seems kind of against the spirit of the award to deny you and Sophie a Morris nomination on a completely different type of book--fiction, YA--if you chose to write one. The spirit of the rule seems to me to be about preventing established adult novelists from sneaking in and grabbing a Morris with their "debut" YA book. I definitely agree that if you can’t win a Morris for a self-published work, it shouldn’t count against an industry-published debut. This issue may be getting more complicated even as we speak, but it still seems to me that self-published books are a lot closer to juvenilia that authors in earlier eras would never have been able to get published in any venue, self- or otherwise.

I have to say, I stopped short when you mentioned your professional title, Pop Goes the Library. It obviously makes the most sense to have an easy bright-line rule, but it seems kind of against the spirit of the award to deny you and Sophie a Morris nomination on a completely different type of book–fiction, YA–if you chose to write one. The spirit of the rule seems to me to be about preventing established adult novelists from sneaking in and grabbing a Morris with their “debut” YA book.

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