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I’m not publishing with CCC Press.

I had almost decided on it last night and had drafted the withdrawal letter. But I wanted to be very sure and was still waiting for some more opinions.

But the morning decided me.

They have written to me that they’re removing me from the anthology for discussing the issue on my blogs! And for Sharon’s blog!

I’m so so relieved I won’t be part of their anthology now. I wrote back of my withdrawal of course.

What with their terms of wanting to be able to abridge the writer’s story, and the intent to charge sub-licensing rights for any future publication, and now their “barring the writer for daring to discuss the issue”, my only regret is I did not pull out earlier. No self-respecting writer could work with such a Press.

But this experience has taught me a lot: taught me how to analyze a contract, how to learn from others and choose a home for my work. I’m particularly grateful to all the people in the publishing industry who have voiced support for my point-of view.

Most of all, it has taught me to be patient, because frankly, some parts of the situation I’ve been in would test most peoples’ patience. I have written to the person in charge of contracts several polite emails and always got somewhat abrupt responses.

I wish the other writers in the anthology all the best, and sincerely hope they would come out of the experience unscathed.

Two others have already withdrawn/ ‘ been removed’, because they raised the same issues as me.

And as to CCC Press, my only advice is they would look around a bit and objectively evaluate what the contracts of other publishing houses are like.

Perhaps they could try to be more courteous to writers in their contracts.

I have discovered through my experience of the past few days that an overwhelming number of people in the publishing business are.

Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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4 Comments

  • Damyanti says:

    Thanks to everyone who has weighed in on the discussion.

    I have moved on now, reading new books, writing new stories, and going ahead with my daily life.

    I have learned a few lessons from my experience, and continue to remain positive….what is most important is that I write like the devil on the days it is easy, push ahead on the days it is not, and thrive in the constant tug-of war between fulfillment and agony that is a writer's life.

  • John says:

    'No self-respecting writer could work with such a Press.'

    Dear, oh dear- just a few online discussions and maybe some attempts at resonable negotiations on your part and CCC Press wants to remove your story.

    Do not have business relations with such publishers. You have done the right thing.

    The Cs in CCC Press also stand for 'communism'!

  • Damyanti says:

    Am glad too PW.

    They have cancelled the anthology, and that's not a great thing because the other writers who wanted to accept the terms must now feel cheated.

    But that is my only regret now.

    I'm sure deserving writers will always be able to find welcoming homes for their work.

  • Wow. Just wow. I'm so glad you didn't get involved with that company. And I'm glad you posted about this so I don't get involved with that company.