AW Hasn't Been Back A Week and Already Bashing Howey

20Books just mentioned it as an opportunity with the caveat to "read everything". That's about it. No sky is falling like AW seems to be making it out as.

Funny, I wandered over there the other day but immediately felt exhausted over the new layout. It's horrible to navigate and it seems like they are still up to their old tricks. I agree about the coddling. I thought 20Books did it right (something I thought I would never say) when they mentioned it, gave a heads up and kept it moving. The hand holding from AW seems like concern trolling to me .

AW is pathetic. Now some poster posted that Hugh is being disingenuous by calling these "submissions" when they aren't and that's a BIG RED FLAG.

Uh, this poster obviously doesn't know what the definition of submission is. A submission is anything you present; document, proposal, whatever.

They are SO ridiculous over there. I see more than ever why someone knocked their behinds off line for weeks!

I am the same way with how I handle any decision. And yes, some folks act like Hugh is some God but he's just an author. I don't get it. I don't know anything about Hugh accept that he became a bestseller and guru. I don't read the genre he writes, etc. I am not one who fawns over people so I just don't get how crazy some people get over authors or anyone. But back to the point, THIS is why I say people need to research themselves. Why does AW think they have to warn others when they aren't even giving out specific info as to why they find it a bad service? What I have seen from Hugh through the years is he seems to be a standup guy and I can't see him out there doing something to purposely hurt authors but we shall see. None of us know for sure. That's my point. It's dangerous to jump up and spread stuff when you don't have all the facts. And if this is a shady operation, it's up to the authors involved to know what they are getting into or to research. 

As for his motives, he claims he might start doing anthologies so I would guess he is going to be keeping his eye out on things that really shine. So, yes he probably is doing this to further some project or if the rumors or true, maybe open a publishing company. Usually when folks ask for submissions it's for a reason other than just looking at the stuff. This is a question I hope authors who are submitting have sense enough to ask. I'd want to know right off his intentions for my work.

But hypocritical AW is not posting this just to warn others. No. AW has a vendetta against Hugh and that's why I do not believe they are doing this in "good faith". They hate Hugh over there and hated him even more when he got successful and he was banned before he became a bestselling author. They are doing this it seems to shame Hugh or to once again have a reason to be negative to an indie.

I have seen many opportunities on AW like this offered from trade publishers, magazines, and trade authors and have never seen them say, "Oh, this is alarming, etc." No. If Nora Roberts or Simon and Schuster were doing this, they'd be celebrating it. That's the problem with AW. They are so blatantly anti-indie over there (dog whistles and all) that any time an indie does something they have to find something negative to say.

If I saw this on a site for indies, I wouldn't have been so suspicious but on AW? Please. I trust them with mainstream industry news but not indie information (unless it's coming from a real indie over there and not the publisher worshipers). 

It's irresponsible to label stuff scams or whatever without having any sort of proof and it's happening more and more. I had to correct a new author the other day who on a public board flat out called Draft2Digital a scam because he didn't understand how it worked! He thought them getting a cut made them a scam. See? You can damage a business if you go spreading stuff like that when you don't know what you are talking about.

Also, AW is so used to treating writers any kind of way, but they need to be careful with people like Hugh who have the means to fight back legally. There is a fine line between questioning a service and calling it a scam and  just a few wrong words or phrases could end up a lawsuit.  

Great point. I agree that Hugh really, really needs to be careful. No way would I do something like this and I can't see many other authors offering to review someone's work this way. It's too risky. There are some writers out there who would send him work just to accuse him of stealing it. Hugh is putting himself in a sticky situation especially if there are no contracts signed and nothing spelled out. Anyone can come back and say he stole their work and as popular as he is, they'd do it just for publicity if not money.

Also, someone actually made a good point on that AW thread. They mentioned how this could open a writer up to serious ridicule, etc. I wonder if the authors have thought about that. From my understanding he will be reading these and reviewing them online and who knows how followers will act toward the writers because of this. We know how vicious the Internet can be.

Yep, risky on both sides. 

Curious, but did this Hugh thing ever take off? Someone mentioned some interview he recently did and I just remembered this project. I haven't heard anything about it since he first mentioned it when I started this post. No one's talking about it. It had a pretty lukewarm reception and I don't keep up with Howey so I was wondering if he is still doing this review/critique thing.

I don't think the idea took off. I've heard nothing about it since he first announced it. I don't think it got the reaction he hoped for. I didn't see many authors signing on to it except for a few on Kboards. Didn't hear a peep about it on FB.