Grabbing Hold (The Motorcycle Kid #1)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: WE NEED TO TALK.

Guys, we need to talk. I know it's been forever since I posted something. That's a combination of writer's block, working all summer and sheer laziness at times. But that's not what I need to talk to you guys about.

Whoo. *deep breath*

Okay, so the majority of you guys know how much of a goal it is for me to eventually be able to publish this novel and the sequels that follow it. I can't wait to see the final product on a bookshelf somewhere knowing I wrote it.

This weekend, I came a little bit closer to making that a reality. Yeah, I got offered a contract for Grabbing Hold.

Initially, I was so excited, so happy that someone had approached me, noticed my hard work, and wanted to offer me a way to make some revenue on the side. It seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity up to this morning, when I ultimately declined the offer.

Before you call me an idiot, let me explain why. I won't disclose the company name, nobody's suing me. But here's a list of reasons why I said no.

1. First up, I'd have to start uploading immediately after signing the contract. Y'all know how untimely I can be. And those are weekly updates. I can't do that with new material, I take time to flesh things out and give them room to change.

2. The way "payment" works. They initially offered me US $4 per 1000 words for the book, with a chance to be added to a pay-to-read program once the novel hit 1500 follows. And, I'd only be getting 30% of the profits IF the revenue generated by the book exceeds all of the platform's costs and fees, including the US $4 per 1000 words.

3. My rights. The initial offer said I retain my rights to my work. Yet, when I read the sample contract, once I sign, they get exclusive rights to the completed material. Meaning, essentially, that I can only leave FIVE sample chapters here on Wattpad because of their terms and conditions about third parties. Guess who wasn't happy.

And, it's a five-year contract. I can't publish or sell anywhere else without their written permission, and the contract allows them to take 30% of my money if I do get published online anywhere else.

If I self-publish (and according to them, paperback only), then the money's mine. Either way, no one tells me what to do with my work.

Essentially, it's not worth it. I'm not going to be one of those authors that builds up a huge following on Wattpad and then pulls down 7/8 of the book because someone's offering me money. I've been a victim of that, and it feels like a slap in the face to know you've supported a writer from the very beginning only for them to disappear as soon as money shows up. It's disrespectful.

I wanted to do things differently, sigh, and put the final edit up for publishing with bonus content while retaining the original story here on Wattpad. May not make me much money, but the right people will support me.

And that's the thing, I never did this for the money. I write because I enjoy it, I love interacting with you guys, I love building something others can relate to. That's why I write, not so someone can pelt a couple dollars in my account at the end of every month at the expense of the people who made me who I am.

I would've loved to endorse the opportunity. Maybe I made the wrong decision. Nevertheless, it's a done deal. Something else will come. No couple of cents is worth losing you guys and what we've built together over the last five years.

This book is my baby, I'm not signing it over to anyone for fine change. I'll still be broke, but I'll be broke, happy, and still in charge of this huge aspect of my life.

I'm just gonna keep writing, because that's what I love to do.

Cheers,

A rather annoyed but logical McKenzie.