Discussing the Writing Challenges -- November and December 2010

[Teresa Edgerton]

Oh yes, the worsery thread didn't exactly peter out – though I had prepared versions for both the pumpkin eater and the pepper picking pickler – it was just that it was only me doing them, which was a bit sad.

You were the one doing most of them, not the only one doing them at all. Could it be that you've already forgotten my masterpiece? And The Judge's? And TDZ's? And Peter Graham's?

I am sure that I speak for the others when I say that we are all deeply wounded.

It's not everybody's cup of tea.

Well, it's not that, and it's not about getting away with it. For one thing, we have writers here who can get rather intense on the subject of violation of copyright and respecting intellectual property. There would be blood in the forums if we had a fan-fiction contest. And we like to keep the peace here.

 

[Bella Donna]

Dear me, we can't have that. Fair enough -- I've seen how some writers twist the characters out of recognition, and I really can't blame authors for wanting to prevent that.

 

[chrispenycate]

You were the one doing most of them, not the only one doing them at all. Could it be that you've already forgotten my masterpiece? And The Judge's? And TDZ's? And Peter Graham's?

I am sure that I speak for the others when I say that we are all deeply wounded.

Mia culpa. Yes, all right; I wasn't doing the best ones. But I'd done three in a row, and it felt as if I'd worn out the interest in the subject.

Well, it's not that, and it's not about getting away with it. For one thing, we have writers here who can get rather intense on the subject of violation of copyright and respecting intellectual property. There would be blood in the forums if we had a fan-fiction contest. And we like to keep the peace here.

Not only writers (amongst whom I cannot yet class myself). I live in the same city with the WIPO (um, that must be 'world intellectual property organisation' or summat like that; I think of them as the OMPI), occasional clients, and have watched the collapse of the music industry. The same could happen to book publication if the 'everything non material should be free to all comers' mentality continues to swell.

And that wouldn't be good for anybody but a tiny group of third world children with nothing to read. And surely we can find a way to handle that problem that doesn't require 'professional writer' to become a term for someone who produces advertising copy?

 

[Bella Donna]

Not only writers (amongst whom I cannot yet class myself). I live in the same city with the WIPO (um, that must be 'world intellectual property organisation' or summat like that; I think of them as the OMPI), occasional clients, and have watched the collapse of the music industry.

The music industry's collapse? I may have contributed to that by posting YouTube videos here. Actually, I reckon it's a bit counter-productive to the music industry to pander to the lowest common denominator. I'll get back on topic now.

The same could happen to book publication if the 'everything non material should be free to all comers' mentality continues to swell.

I don't like the idea that people's intellectual rights should be simply brushed aside because their products are online. However, fanfiction is generally not about violating copyright but about expanding on an existing universe. What the objectors actually object to as a rule is that their characters are often rewritten to a point where they are unrecognisable from the original.

The serious fanficcers actually purchase the source materiel, e.g. books and DVDs to further their knowledge and understanding of their fandom of choice. That's why the Tolkien Estate, to the best of my knowledge, has never sued the fanficcers -- because they make money from them.

A Harry Potter writer did get into trouble for selling mugs and t-shirts depicting characters she had created, though. Bad idea.

Despite my (occasionally) favourable opinion of it, I respect the opinions and wishes of the mods and would never seek to change them.

And that wouldn't be good for anybody but a tiny group of third world children with nothing to read. And surely we can find a way to handle that problem that doesn't require 'professional writer' to become a term for someone who produces advertising copy?

Fair dues.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Must have been a good theme, better than I thought earlier. All entries are nice so far.

 

[Bella Donna]

They're very good indeed. I'm beginning to dread the thought of voting -- it'll be a killer to choose between the excellent entries we've had so far.

 

[sloweye]

It was nice not to write about Christmas
I was expecting a Yule theme.

 

[Culhwch]

I was dreading a Yule theme...

 

[Bella Donna]

Oh, goodness, no. The sacrifice theme is brilliant!

 

[R M Tobias]

Oxman's is my favourite so far.

 

[digs]

Not only writers (amongst whom I cannot yet class myself). I live in the same city with the WIPO (um, that must be 'world intellectual property organisation' or summat like that; I think of them as the OMPI), occasional clients, and have watched the collapse of the music industry. The same could happen to book publication if the 'everything non material should be free to all comers' mentality continues to swell.

But has the music industry actually collapsed? I've read quite a few pieces recently that have said that the music industry is still growing, though by a smaller margin than in previous years. This was in part because lives shows are becoming more spectacular, more popular and more expensive - I guess that's not an option open to authors though. Unlesssssss...

 

[Bella Donna]

Yeah, that's pretty good.

 

[Bella Donna]

Oxman's entry? Yeah, that's pretty good.

But has the music industry actually collapsed? I've read quite a few pieces recently that have said that the music industry is still growing, though by a smaller margin than in previous years. This was in part because lives shows are becoming more spectacular, more popular and more expensive - I guess that's not an option open to authors though. Unlesssssss...

The music industry is not what is was because the music we get today is more generic. There's less room for new styles than there was before. I mean, I doubt that The Cure would be able to get a record deal in today's climate, and it's unlikely that they'd make it to the final of X Factor, even though they're flippin' brilliant. If that's a collapse, I agree.

Authors don't generally have people disseminating their works on t'internet in the way that songs and movies are, so their problems are more likely to be about being overshadowed by copycats. There was a story in the press about JK Rowling being sued by a guy who had written a boy wizard story. I'm not sure what happened next.

 

[J Riff]

The music industry needs to collapse, finally, please...and pray that it can be controlled by musicians this time, or at least people with a music bone or two in their body. It looks like they will get away with the stolen millions/billions but it would be nice to have it back.

 

[chrispenycate]

The music business goes on. There is still need for backing music for films and television shows, games, commercials, and concerts are pulling in more than ever, despite prices having gone up like rockets.

But the music industry failed to adapt to advancing technology and, with a couple of noticeable exceptions, the book publishing industry shows fair to follow the same path. Ostrich tactics are not the optimum recipe for survival, and whimpering about it to the horse after the stable door is gone might be very satisfying for both of you, but doesn't win any prizes.

It looks like they will get away with the stolen millions/billions but it would be nice to have it back.

You don't think the accountants that the shareholders chose to replace the original music savvy but financially – not over gifted?– directors and producers will have left any of that money, do you? They were employed to maximise return, and that meant minimum new investment, and betting on sure things, groups that already functioned, and cutting back on risk, meaning anything new and untested. And they consolidated, internationalised and attempted to dictate taste by reducing choice. Then the concentrated on getting recordings that had already sold well on vinyl and cassette, and putting them, 'digitally remastered', onto CD – negligible cost, relative to bringing a new group into the studio, and doing all the essential advertising.

Very successful, for a few years, then…

 

[R M Tobias]

When I think 'music industry," I think of the relatively small group of artists and execs who control a large portion of the monetary flow. Self congratulatory televised 'events' like the GRAMMYs and ARIAs only seek to reinforce this small club of buisness minded individuals whose ultimate goal is not to create music but to maximise profits.

I agree with chrispenycate about dictating taste by reducing choice. If anything the emergence of the internet has only greatened profit based entities strangehold on the general public as they seek to manipulate ideas of 'infinte choice and access' that the web seems to promise and funnel it into a narrow set of ideals that suit the needs of pockets of a very, very, almost insignificantly small, group of people.

This is plain fact as well. I don't think theres anything scandalous or left field in saying that the 'music industry' is a profit based concept designed to maximise the revenue of their controlling entities. Music itself has never been healthier or more vast and available. It's just getting past those first barriers to find it.

If anything, authors should look to hype-and-funnel based marketing that fuels these 'industries' as the enemy to our craft. The 'music industry' is just one of many 'industries' that brutalises the meaning of words. Think Coca cola (tm) Always (tm). Think Nike (tm) Just do it (tm). Is it really fair that words and phrases can belong to a something. Not even a person, a thing that can be dissolved and recreated at any point or place in time yet still bear the rights of a human?

Of course the literary publishing world is not outside of this. But as authors we have to think of ourselves as more aware of the impact of words then any other artists. The relationship between reader and writer is far more intimate then any other artist/consumer relationship.

This should be the focus of authors going forward. In a world that in smaller, yet seemingly so broad and shallow, I beleive most people are crying out for a deeper relationship with their art and entertainment. I'm not saying we all have to turn into french existenialists over night, but I think there's some food for thought there when it comes to giving people what they (secretly) want.

End Rant. Font changed to Comic Sans MS to lighten the mood.

 

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

When did this thread get to be about the music industry?

 

[J Riff]

Sorry.*
Greaaaat stories last month...really the best ever..and this month is starting off well, as well.

 

[R M Tobias]

I didn't start it. But it looks like I sure as hell finished it.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Hmm ... Chrispy, I was thinking of a Peter Pumpkin Eater story, too, but I didn't get to it! I may have more time to think of the Worsery Time thread now that I'm not NaNoing every second. Although I'm sure my time would be better spent in finishing that story instead.

Excellent theme, Karn, and great and daunting entries so far!