Nickerson says $50 dollars is above standard even though Writer’s Union of Canada says otherwise

Well what a surprise, I guess Billeh Nickerson the co editor of the gay anthology just informed me that he reads my blog. Well Billeh sure told me girlfriend.  Nickerson just e-mailed me and said “shame on you.” Okay girlfriend you sure told me LOL!  No Billeh SHAME ON YOU and shame on Arsenal Pulp Press trying to rip off a young gay black writer and artist. $50 dollars is shit pay and only a moron would accept that kind of shit. I’ve freelanced for CBC radio and got broadcast on CBC  Outfront this year I think I might get into radio the pay is really good LOL! 

 I will NEVER be part of any anthology EVER again. I made that decision to myself and I will keep it. There is simply too much bullshit going on. Who in the world  would give up world  rights to such a duplicitious publisher for only $50 dollars? I certainly won’t. And according to the Writer’s Union of Canada “Anthology Rates and Contracts” I am indeed right. I know my rights and I know Arsenal Pulp Press is WRONG. No one should be forced or pushed into doing something they don’t want to do.

 I am a professional writer and I have been paid well over the past six years for my work. However, I have principles and I refuse to be DISRESPECTED. $50 dollars is below the standard and it is totally unacceptable. And according to the Writer’s Union of Canada its incredibly unprofessional also. It just is plain slackness on Arsenal Pulp Press part they want to rip me off yet they sure will make a tidy  profit off this book. After all the retail price for Seminal is over $24 dollars per copy.

Also Billeh in case you are reading my blog. I never signed a contract and I will NOT sign a contract until the proper terms are met.  I didn’t even think anyone ready my crappy blog anyhow. It so refreshing to know that Nickerson reads my blog.  And maybe now Nickerson could “get it”.  Its about prinicple. Arsenal Pulp Press has money. I’ve been writing for over six years. My work has been published in the Toronto Star, Philadelphia Inquirer and just a few days ago in the New Zealand Herald. I have never been offered such cheap payment and I will NOT ACCEPT cheap payment either. Its a matter of PRINICPLE. I will NOT allow Arsenal Pulp Press to disrespect me as an aritst and as a black gay man.

Only an idiot would accept a contract where the poet gives up world rights for a mere $50 dollars  and his work can be republished WITHOUT PAYMENT. I would NEVER do something like that because I am not STUPID.

 According to the Writer’s Union of Canada for an anthology per poem poet should receive around $500 dollars  to $2000 or more. In fact, I am actually reading my copy of the Writer’s Union of Canada Anthology Rates and and Contracts right now. Its a great book. Once again for anyone reading this crappy blog here is the address of the Writer’s Union of Canada. WWW.WRITERSUNION.CA. 

Arsenal Pulp Press sends contract I reject it and mail it back the Cheap $50 dollar contract Expresspost

Well around noon today I received two copies of the gay anthology “Seminal” and a contract from Arsenal Pulp Press. And sure enough the contract had a lot of ludicrious and very unprofessional clauses. First, I thank god that I bought the Writer’s Union of Canada’s book on Anthology Contracts and Rates. Arsenal Pulp Press unprofessionalism to dupe me to accept $50 dollars for my poem is bullshit. Arsenal Pulp Press also wanted to have my poem republished in later editions. I DECLINED. I rejected it because its a matter of prinicple. I made sure of course that I photocopied the whack contract. And I mailed the two copies of Seminal, the horrible contract unsigned Expresspost. I refused the contract because I know Arsenal Pulp Press are unprofessional. Its really insincere that they feel they can dupe me out of my rightful compensation. I never signed the contract there is NO AGREEMENT. According to the Writer’s Union of Canada’s guidelines I can ask the publisher between $500 to $2000 dollars. And that’s exactly what I did. I cannot believe Arsenal Pulp Press.  It is really deleterious what they are doing. And I have to say to all those other writers that may be reading this post. I strongly suggest go to WWW.WRITERSUNION.CA  and please read about your RIGHTS. DO NOT accept ANYTHING FROM A PUBLISHER THAT YOU FEEL IS WRONG OR UNJUST. And that’s exactly what I did. I even sent back the two books expresspost because I am disgusted with Arsenal Pulp Press. My conscience is clear I am glad I was able to compose my letter to Arsenal Pulp Press and let them know they are unfair, cheap and wrong. As I wrote in my letter let me be blunt $50 dollars for my poem is cheap and then they want me to grant them additonal rights to publish my work in future publications absolutely not!!

The Writer’s Union of Canada Anthology Rates and Contracts

I am really shocked at how quickly I received my copy of the Writer’s Union of Canada’s booklet I mailed out the cheque on Thursday and got the book on Monday morning!  Anyone that wants to know about your rights with the Canadian publishing industry should really buy this booklet.  The booklet I bought was the  “Antholgogy Rates and Contracts. Well as I expected Arsenal Pulp Press are certified bottom feeders. According to the Writer’s Union of Canada booklet no writer should be offered $50 dollars per poem. Arsenal Pulp Press are classic cheap and tacky publishers. I am trying to do my best to rise above the negativity but its hard.

Its really hard because I’ve been though this shit before with TSAR. As far as I am concerned people will try to rip a writer off anyway they can. The thing is I have been trying to be more cognizant of my rights. I never signed anything with Arsenal Pulp Press. I had no idea that they would be this deleterious!  

 I  think this is the hardest part of the business of writing. The thing is I am glad I bought the book because I learning so much. I will say this anyone that is interested in writing please go to the Writer’s Union of Canada’s website knowledge is power and you have the right to know your rights. The Writer’s Union of Canada website is WWW.WRITERSUNION.CA I also want to point out the booklet that I bought was a fair price only nine dollars but the  information in it is simply incredible. Here is the thing though I NEVER was sent a contract by Arsenal Pulp Press. I will NEVER EVER send my work to an anthology again. Arsenal Pulp Press has NOT sent me a contract and they better not be sending some cheap cheque of a mere $50 dollars because that’s highway robbery and total bullshit! I doubt very much Arsenal Pulp Press offered a mere $50 dollars per poem to white gay writers RM Vaughn and Sky Gilbert. 

And see this is the reason why I don’t bother with the white gay community. I am being damn serious. I don’t got time for their games and their bullshit! Billeh Nickerson is full of shit when he told me that he did not have the time to send out all contracts to the writers.  I am sure Nickerson had the time to send contracts to the white gays that’s for sure.Why the fuck would Nickerson take on the job of being co editor of an anthology if he can’t even do the fucking job right? The anthology was published in April 2007 its not June 2007. I have spoken to another writer whose poem is in the anthology and he’s not happy either about it and neither am I.