17. The Board formed a task force to investigate the language regarding the RITA entry qualifications in the P&PM.
A message from Diane Pershing, President of RWA
The phrase “mass-produced” as it pertains to the RITA contest, is intended to define eligible books as those that are produced in sufficient quantity by the publisher to be offered for sale to the trade (booksellers and librarians) at standard discount rates and returnable. As the term has caused some confusion, the RWA board, during its meeting this past weekend, formed a task force to study the language further, but current rules and interpretation of those rules remain in place for this year’s contest. Contest rule changes—if any–never apply to contests in progress and are therefore only considered during the July meeting.
and how do we feel about this?
And that means exactly what? The whole paragraph is an exercise in vagueness. I’ve heard numbers from 500 to 5,000 – a pretty big difference. How about a, you know, actual number? Which makes it a rule instead of a bunch of words intepreted and enforced depending on who is speaking at any given time.
I don’t have to like the rule, but it’s my belief that a rule, especially for a contest entry, should have a concise definition.
I’m glad it came up for discussion, but as for the comment that the current rules and interpretation will stay in place this year – which well, refer to what I just said above.