I was one of the lucky ones to receive the blanket statement from Smashwords on Friday – for my account, my personal one. As far as I know, since my work does not contain any of the objectionable material, it will remain on the site. Mark did mention that some works may be accidentally removed during the sweep, and gave instructions on how to remedy the situation should that happen.

On a business level, I can understand his wanting to protect his company. When a major player in virtual cash decides to say “You will do as demanded or else” we business owners tend to start perking our ears and being obedient. We’re not (as some have said) thinking only of ourselves and our bottom line. We’re thinking of the authors and readers and everyone involved, should said company suddenly decide a rule is broken. See – they get to keep all the money in frozen accounts. If Mark fought, and that company said fuck it, and seized his account? None of us get paid.

However, as has been mentioned by a few folks the last few days, why hasn’t he looked into alternative forms of payment, both on the site and to the authors/publishers/agents? I know PP is the one used by so many people, but I also know they seem to have caved in when trying to enforce other stupid rules on people and companies. It isn’t easy to switch over within a matter of days, and it’s hard to please everyone all the time.

Also, to beat yet another dead horse – the parent company of said cash player allows the same and sometimes worse material sold on its own site. Are they trying to force a switch to personally selling ebooks by auction? Or are they attempting to put in a ‘quiet’ shut-down on other companies, ahead of starting something of their own?

On a personal level, I have to worry about where it will stop. Said major virtual cash player made demands for the removal of certain types of erotica, which would fall under various fetishes. Said major player could suddenly decide they don’t want to allow erotica of any sort. Perhaps it’ll go so far as no sex whatsoever, in any book. How long before it’s no pagan materials, no paranormal? How about the horror genre? How long before said virtual cash changer says if there is splatter-gore-violence-etc., it’s banned?

Once censorship starts, where does it end?

For now, most of us have no choice but to keep calm and carry on; keeping our heads will allow those that need to, to find another way for payments to be made; instead of threatening to boycott or leave or whatever, give the man some room to make changes that are necessary – and stop making it out to be Smashwords and only Smashwords… There are other companies involved as well.

I find the idea of completely boycotting any of these companies ridiculous, based simply on the fact that I can not afford it, and I know others are in the same position.

I will not pull my titles. I will not close my accounts.

If that makes me a sell-out (pointed out elsewhere when I said I agreed in part with Mark’s actions) so be it. I’ll sell everything if it means my stories are read and enjoyed, my kids have a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, with a chance – slim as it is – at a better life.

Does it always have to come down to money? No, it doesn’t. But it usually does, anyway.

I want to write, I want to edit. I want to publish. I don’t want to try doing those things with no means to continue.