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kinzelIf you're not a beer salesman like James McMurtry*, making a living in the arts is a pretty precarious way to make a living. The music industry, especially the local in-the-bar music industry, has always been about selling more beer and wine for the house; it was only the exalted groups that got to put on concerts.... the other singers and groups were busy doing three sets and out, with lots of mentions of the tip jar, remembering to tip the waitress and bar tender, and as Billy Joel alluded, much of the music was designed to let people forget.... And on the whole, the small time practitioner gets a cut of the door, free beer-and pretzels, and an occasional tip from admirers. Health care is not paid for by the bar...
And hey, guess what? Most genre fiction writing performs that piano bar function: something to do at the end of the day to unwind, something to do at lunch that gets you away from your boss, something to fill the weekend with other than the worries about Iraq, oil, global warming, cancer clusters, taxes. In a lot of ways writers *are performers* and for the most part they lack that face to face opportunity... and while they may get a small advance to often don't get a cut of the door, and if they do it isn't until well after the royalty period is over. Health care is not paid for by the publisher...
Some writers have noticed this similarity between writing and the performing arts: here's Don Sakers online article about sponsorships for writers.
We've been lucky -- we've been guests, special guests, and guests of honor at conventions. We've had a few meals paid for, a few glasses of wine and plates of cheese covered, some parties flung in our honor....and so in some ways we've been able to benefit from the support readers have for writers, that fans have for their favorite books. On the other hand we're told at conventions and signings -- usually be people holding a dog-eared edition of a book held-together by tape -- "I wish I could do more for you guys."
There it is: in general there's not an easy way for readers to throw an extra buck into the tip-jar on after they've just finished a book. So we're joining in the movement Don Sakers mentioned, but rather than a tip jar... for us it's The Liaden Universe®
World Tour Trip Jar... use only as directed.
*and by the way, I am not throwing rocks at James McMurtry -- he's a great song writer and performer please visit his site, go to his performances...
And hey, guess what? Most genre fiction writing performs that piano bar function: something to do at the end of the day to unwind, something to do at lunch that gets you away from your boss, something to fill the weekend with other than the worries about Iraq, oil, global warming, cancer clusters, taxes. In a lot of ways writers *are performers* and for the most part they lack that face to face opportunity... and while they may get a small advance to often don't get a cut of the door, and if they do it isn't until well after the royalty period is over. Health care is not paid for by the publisher...
Some writers have noticed this similarity between writing and the performing arts: here's Don Sakers online article about sponsorships for writers.
We've been lucky -- we've been guests, special guests, and guests of honor at conventions. We've had a few meals paid for, a few glasses of wine and plates of cheese covered, some parties flung in our honor....and so in some ways we've been able to benefit from the support readers have for writers, that fans have for their favorite books. On the other hand we're told at conventions and signings -- usually be people holding a dog-eared edition of a book held-together by tape -- "I wish I could do more for you guys."
There it is: in general there's not an easy way for readers to throw an extra buck into the tip-jar on after they've just finished a book. So we're joining in the movement Don Sakers mentioned, but rather than a tip jar... for us it's The Liaden Universe®
World Tour Trip Jar... use only as directed.
*and by the way, I am not throwing rocks at James McMurtry -- he's a great song writer and performer please visit his site, go to his performances...
The value of genre fiction
2006-05-02 06:16 (UTC)----------------------------------------
Steve,
That's a great summation of what genre fiction is all about. I'm currently working on an MFA in Popular Fiction at Stonecoast/USM. Unfortunately, the administration and a lot of the faculty have little understanding of, or empathy for, genre fiction. Their attitude is that if fiction isn't depressing or inaccessible to average readers, it cannot possibly be worthwhile.
I guess I've whined enough for one day. Back to work now...
Thanks and take care,
Patrick Shawn Bagley
http://hillbilliesandhitmen.blogspot.com
Re: The value of genre fiction
2006-05-02 10:01 (UTC)you *are* the Patrick from my old writing class in Skowtown, aren't you?
In any case, perhaps you can tell us who to contact about having us come lecture/talk/argue the genre fiction-as-piano bar metaphor... I mean, FWIW, you can let them know that we're award-winning writers who have been Guests of Honor, speakers, and speakers at genre conventions and libraries from coast-to-coast...
Re: The value of genre fiction
2006-05-02 13:29 (UTC)Do you know Jim Kelly? He is one of the two pop fiction faculty members at Stonecoast. We're trying to get the administration to at least hire a mystery writer. We would also like to eventually get a fantasy and horror writer, and maybe another science fiction writer. It's a real struggle. Popular Fiction is kind of the red-headed stepchild of the MFA world.
Patrick Shawn Bagley
http://hillbilliesandhitmen.blogspot.com
Re: The value of genre fiction
2006-05-02 13:31 (UTC)Patrick