I wrote this up, this morning after having spent several weeks thinking about it. I've talked about this with a lot of people who buy books, and most people share the same complaints.
See, the thing is, I don't like monopolies. I've never been published by Amazon, and I have heard some great things about their e-publishing services, as well as their audiobook department. Be that as it may, I worry about getting too bound to one business to sell books. I don't believe any ONE company should run the market, and I don't feel I can trust a company that seems determined to own the market and crush any competition.
That said, Barnes and Noble doesn't 'own' me either. Frankly if I'm buying an e-book I prefer to download it directly from the writer as a .pdf when available so I can avoid a host of DRM problems. I shop indie bookstores when I can. Yet because they are geographically closest to me, Barnes and Noble gets a lot of my business. (To be honest, I'd probably like Amazon a whole lot more if they had an actual STORE I could go to, where I could walk in and touch the books. I'm a tactile person, physical presence with a product is important to me.)
In any event, regardless of my loyalties, when I see an easy solution to a problem I like to offer it up, so today I wrote to Barnes and Noble customer Service. Below is exactly what I sent, and I'd be interested to hear feedback from other shoppers/readers if I got it right or if I missed anything obvious.
"Dear Barnes and Noble,
As a frequent customer, I'd like to see your business continue to exist. The thought of physical bookstores not existing is something that would be a terrible loss to my community. Having made use of your services, I have a few suggestions.
First, your site to store ordering system is a brilliant tool, that is in your case, fundamentally flawed. Comparing your system to say, Walmart, with Walmart I can add ANY item and pick it up in a physical store, prepaid. With your system it relies on the stores existing inventory. MOST of the time when I go to your site to find a book, it's because I'm already having trouble finding it in store. I don't WANT to have it shipped to me in bad weather, I want to go pick it up.
Additionally, ANY feature that gets people to physically visit your store makes you money. If I walk into the store for ONE book, I will often leave with two or three. Especially if I have kids, friends, or family with me. Updating this feature in your system will make you money by getting people to the store.
Secondly, shipping. Your store relies solely on UPS from your distribution Warehouse. Believe it or not, MANY people do not like UPS. Their delivery times are slower than average, and in many areas they don't even deliver the package themselves. If you provide a secondary option of USPS or even FedEx, and LIST IT as that company, many people will pay MORE to get it shipped through a company they trust. Especially when you're competing with Amazon, that has millions of individual sellers with flexible options, you need to be flexible to stay ahead in the changing marketplace.
Paper books still sell, contrary to sale projection analysts, I know I will continue to buy 95% of my books in PRINT, and the e-books I read are either free, or not available in print. Don't focus solely on the e-book market when there are plenty of ways to increase the sales potential of your existing physical locations.
I hope this suggestion helps.
Liz"
So readers, what do you think about it?
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Modern Healthcare in America: A personal story.
This is going to be a personal blog post. It's about me, my experiences, and my issues. I'm not spouting off about politics, I'm not using hyperbolic examples of what I may think people go through, this is all true. Many people have it much worse than me. I really don't consider myself 'poor' but at the same time it doesn't mean things are easy. It doesn't mean I don't struggle. It doesn't mean I don't desperately hope for some kind of change.
As I've announced, I'm happily pregnant with my 2nd child. The last time I got pregnant was in 2006. Back then I'd only just married my husband, and we both worked low end jobs at Sears. He had a blue collar position as an auto-mechanic, doing back-breaking dirty labor under cars in a barely climate controlled garage. I worked on my feet all day behind the counter, selling customers tires and auto services. I loved my job, but it paid dick. Not only was I paid less than 7$ an hour, but since our dept had no room for 'full time' employees, I was there, 38 hours a week, with no benefits. We finally decided for my health that I'd quit before the baby was born, that way I could be home with her. We just had to survive on less than $36K annually, before expenses. The good news was, we made it work.
Back then with our meager earning and bills, we qualified for State Medicaid (now Medicare), for mothers and children. This left my husband without insurance, while he did the hardest work of all, but my prenatal care, my ultrasounds, even our babies expensive treatment for jaundice, was all covered by our insurance. We got the bills, and we sent them to Medicare, and we didn't pay a dime. It was the least stressful visit to the hospital I've ever had. I saw some of the bills, of course, they didn't want to wait to be paid by the state so they often tried to scare us into paying out of pocket. Thousands of dollars for a special hospital lamp to help a newborn deal with jaundice, thousands more for infant bloodwork. The numbers were shocking.
Fast forward, now it's 6 years later, through careful saving and family assistance we now have a house of our own. We have a mortgage and home owners insurance and property taxes too. These are the commitments of owning a home. We also have one less person living with us, one less person bringing in any contribution to the bills. The good news is my husband has a better job. He sits at a desk for a salary, works tireless (and mostly uncompensated thanks to his salary) overtime, and he commutes a lot farther to get there.
We make about 12K more than we used to. With the new baby on the way, that money has to stretch to cover another person. We also exceed the cap for state healthcare. We barely qualified for 'low income child' coverage, which allows us to keep our daughter on a separate health insurance plan. This is the good news.
The bad news is this, after six years of being able to get by with minimal medical influence, with a baby on the way, now we have to spend a lot on prenatal care. For the first time, I'm seeing the bills, and the bills are real.
Remember I said we make $12K more than when we were young and broke? It's an important number. Now for two adults we pay five thousand dollars annually in insurance premiums. That's just what we pay for the privilege of having insurance, whether we use it or not. We also have an office copay, a specialist co pay, a hospital copay, an Urgent Care copay, and an ER copay. It seems anywhere we might go, we're paying just to get in the door, before we even get treatment.
Having actually had to see an OB and have my first pregnancy checkup, the insurance has generously promised not to charge me a co-pay -every- time I see my OB, but they make up for it in labwork. Any labwork that totals less than $250 a visit becomes my bill.
The insurance promises that the hundreds of dollars I'm currently paying is MUCH LESS than than what I would pay if I was uninsured, but I'm not exactly sure why that's supposed to be reassuring. Since the Insurance is profiting off of me and my premiums they negotiate with the Doctors/Labs to gouge me slightly less on pricing? Less than if I were... say... a professional writer with NO insurance trying desperately to pay for things out of pocket? It strikes me as a disturbingly incestuous relationship if that's the case, punishing people for the crime of being unable to buy insurance.
But back to the numbers... My Ob's lab wants $250 (out of pocket) an ultrasound, he also recommends getting at least 3, possibly 4, given my health history. (*ca ching*) I also have a thyroid issue, that requires blood work at least once every 3 months, for around $50 out of pocket. So for labwork ALONE I'm paying $1150 out of pocket. But that means I meet my deductible! I should be home free!
No, reading further, the insurance specifies that after meeting my deductible the insurance will INCREASE the percentage of bills they pay for... After I meet the 250$ for labwork and pay my copays. So all that means is until I pay another $4000 out of pocket, I will continue to pay a large chunk of any further labs, bloodwork, testing, office visits, and even after all that is met... I still pay my copays, I still pay my premiums.
To summarize the numbers, I make approximately $10K "too much" per year to qualify for state assistance, yet in the course of a year, I will pay $5K dollars in premiums, more than likely I will pay at least $5K dollars in out of pocket medical expenses, and that's not even touching all the non-medical expenses that come with having a new child. Diapers, bed, bottles, blankets, and finding some kind of insurance for the baby.
This is all assuming no one actually gets sick this year. This is assuming there are no injuries to me or my husband, no complications with the pregnancy. For two perfectly healthy people to bring a perfectly healthy infant into the world, I'll be spending as much as I would no buy a brand new low end car.
Oh, and did I mention that we are lucky to have this insurance? It's provided through my husbands employer. If we needed to pay for a plan as individuals, we'd probably be paying twice as much for a much higher deductible! This generous insurance plan also offers a family plan. I could add my children to the plan for the low low cost of.... doubling my premiums. So instead of 5K annually, we'd be shelling out ten thousand dollars, just to say we have insurance.
Over 6 years of working, hard qualifying for promotions, and living as frugally as possible to avoid debt and keep the bills paid, one year of medical bills can pretty much wipe all that progress away.
I am lucky. I know most of you reading this probably pay much more. Maybe you pay twice as much and still can't see the doctor you want to see because the HMO won't let you. Maybe your copays are okay, but the one medication that actually works is denied by your coverage. Or maybe they just want you to pay hundreds more for medication that you need.
I am lucky because we have some savings, we have a tax return coming, we have family and friends who can donate all the non medical needs, like baby swings and cribs and toys and clothes. I'm lucky because probably, after all these damn bills are done, I will still have the means to feed my children.
It just kills me that it has to be this way in the first place. I know people who make hundreds of thousands more per year... And subsequently wind up paying tens of thousands more for insurance plans and pills. At the same time I have a friend who's father died, at home and in pain, because his small business didn't allow him to have insurance, and even after a devastating accident, he simply couldn't afford a hospital stay.
The system is broken. Every pill should ultimately cost the same, whether its handed to you inside a hospital by a nurse, over the counter at Walmart, or purchased in bulk over Amazon. Every prescription costs the same to manufacture, why does the cost vary so much to the consumer? Every blood test is the same. Every Ultrasound machine uses the same amount of voltage and costs a flat fee to purchase, even if an ultrasound tech is more experienced, it's shouldn't cost that much more per hospital per visit just to wave a wand around and correctly read the picture.
Yet we're all unable to combat the system. The friends I know who are so much richer, what do they say, "Oh it's always been like this." Why? It feels like madness, a rigged system. People are ruthlessly profiting off the sick and the dying and everyone who just needs a prescription. I rage at the insurance companies, but I can't even be sure they're the problem.
I just wish I knew how to fix it.
I'm posting my story, because I feel trapped. Mostly because I know for all I'm struggling, there are thousands of people telling the same story. Worse stories. People who are suffering and at their wits end because they have to choose to live with untreated pain and illness, or be unable to pay their bills. I've been there. I'm also telling this story for all the people who are delightfully above this problem, people who are happily insured and happily making money and haven't ever had to weigh the cost of of a prescription against the cost of groceries. If you are that lucky, I envy you. I also hope this might be a story that makes you realize real people, who may not seem 'poor', have to fight each month just to pay for healthcare we need.
If you don't believe me when I say the system is broken, I'm not the only one writing about it. Time magazine has this to say: http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/
It's long, and detailed, but worth a look.
As I've announced, I'm happily pregnant with my 2nd child. The last time I got pregnant was in 2006. Back then I'd only just married my husband, and we both worked low end jobs at Sears. He had a blue collar position as an auto-mechanic, doing back-breaking dirty labor under cars in a barely climate controlled garage. I worked on my feet all day behind the counter, selling customers tires and auto services. I loved my job, but it paid dick. Not only was I paid less than 7$ an hour, but since our dept had no room for 'full time' employees, I was there, 38 hours a week, with no benefits. We finally decided for my health that I'd quit before the baby was born, that way I could be home with her. We just had to survive on less than $36K annually, before expenses. The good news was, we made it work.
Back then with our meager earning and bills, we qualified for State Medicaid (now Medicare), for mothers and children. This left my husband without insurance, while he did the hardest work of all, but my prenatal care, my ultrasounds, even our babies expensive treatment for jaundice, was all covered by our insurance. We got the bills, and we sent them to Medicare, and we didn't pay a dime. It was the least stressful visit to the hospital I've ever had. I saw some of the bills, of course, they didn't want to wait to be paid by the state so they often tried to scare us into paying out of pocket. Thousands of dollars for a special hospital lamp to help a newborn deal with jaundice, thousands more for infant bloodwork. The numbers were shocking.
Fast forward, now it's 6 years later, through careful saving and family assistance we now have a house of our own. We have a mortgage and home owners insurance and property taxes too. These are the commitments of owning a home. We also have one less person living with us, one less person bringing in any contribution to the bills. The good news is my husband has a better job. He sits at a desk for a salary, works tireless (and mostly uncompensated thanks to his salary) overtime, and he commutes a lot farther to get there.
We make about 12K more than we used to. With the new baby on the way, that money has to stretch to cover another person. We also exceed the cap for state healthcare. We barely qualified for 'low income child' coverage, which allows us to keep our daughter on a separate health insurance plan. This is the good news.
The bad news is this, after six years of being able to get by with minimal medical influence, with a baby on the way, now we have to spend a lot on prenatal care. For the first time, I'm seeing the bills, and the bills are real.
Remember I said we make $12K more than when we were young and broke? It's an important number. Now for two adults we pay five thousand dollars annually in insurance premiums. That's just what we pay for the privilege of having insurance, whether we use it or not. We also have an office copay, a specialist co pay, a hospital copay, an Urgent Care copay, and an ER copay. It seems anywhere we might go, we're paying just to get in the door, before we even get treatment.
Having actually had to see an OB and have my first pregnancy checkup, the insurance has generously promised not to charge me a co-pay -every- time I see my OB, but they make up for it in labwork. Any labwork that totals less than $250 a visit becomes my bill.
The insurance promises that the hundreds of dollars I'm currently paying is MUCH LESS than than what I would pay if I was uninsured, but I'm not exactly sure why that's supposed to be reassuring. Since the Insurance is profiting off of me and my premiums they negotiate with the Doctors/Labs to gouge me slightly less on pricing? Less than if I were... say... a professional writer with NO insurance trying desperately to pay for things out of pocket? It strikes me as a disturbingly incestuous relationship if that's the case, punishing people for the crime of being unable to buy insurance.
But back to the numbers... My Ob's lab wants $250 (out of pocket) an ultrasound, he also recommends getting at least 3, possibly 4, given my health history. (*ca ching*) I also have a thyroid issue, that requires blood work at least once every 3 months, for around $50 out of pocket. So for labwork ALONE I'm paying $1150 out of pocket. But that means I meet my deductible! I should be home free!
No, reading further, the insurance specifies that after meeting my deductible the insurance will INCREASE the percentage of bills they pay for... After I meet the 250$ for labwork and pay my copays. So all that means is until I pay another $4000 out of pocket, I will continue to pay a large chunk of any further labs, bloodwork, testing, office visits, and even after all that is met... I still pay my copays, I still pay my premiums.
To summarize the numbers, I make approximately $10K "too much" per year to qualify for state assistance, yet in the course of a year, I will pay $5K dollars in premiums, more than likely I will pay at least $5K dollars in out of pocket medical expenses, and that's not even touching all the non-medical expenses that come with having a new child. Diapers, bed, bottles, blankets, and finding some kind of insurance for the baby.
This is all assuming no one actually gets sick this year. This is assuming there are no injuries to me or my husband, no complications with the pregnancy. For two perfectly healthy people to bring a perfectly healthy infant into the world, I'll be spending as much as I would no buy a brand new low end car.
Oh, and did I mention that we are lucky to have this insurance? It's provided through my husbands employer. If we needed to pay for a plan as individuals, we'd probably be paying twice as much for a much higher deductible! This generous insurance plan also offers a family plan. I could add my children to the plan for the low low cost of.... doubling my premiums. So instead of 5K annually, we'd be shelling out ten thousand dollars, just to say we have insurance.
Over 6 years of working, hard qualifying for promotions, and living as frugally as possible to avoid debt and keep the bills paid, one year of medical bills can pretty much wipe all that progress away.
I am lucky. I know most of you reading this probably pay much more. Maybe you pay twice as much and still can't see the doctor you want to see because the HMO won't let you. Maybe your copays are okay, but the one medication that actually works is denied by your coverage. Or maybe they just want you to pay hundreds more for medication that you need.
I am lucky because we have some savings, we have a tax return coming, we have family and friends who can donate all the non medical needs, like baby swings and cribs and toys and clothes. I'm lucky because probably, after all these damn bills are done, I will still have the means to feed my children.
It just kills me that it has to be this way in the first place. I know people who make hundreds of thousands more per year... And subsequently wind up paying tens of thousands more for insurance plans and pills. At the same time I have a friend who's father died, at home and in pain, because his small business didn't allow him to have insurance, and even after a devastating accident, he simply couldn't afford a hospital stay.
The system is broken. Every pill should ultimately cost the same, whether its handed to you inside a hospital by a nurse, over the counter at Walmart, or purchased in bulk over Amazon. Every prescription costs the same to manufacture, why does the cost vary so much to the consumer? Every blood test is the same. Every Ultrasound machine uses the same amount of voltage and costs a flat fee to purchase, even if an ultrasound tech is more experienced, it's shouldn't cost that much more per hospital per visit just to wave a wand around and correctly read the picture.
Yet we're all unable to combat the system. The friends I know who are so much richer, what do they say, "Oh it's always been like this." Why? It feels like madness, a rigged system. People are ruthlessly profiting off the sick and the dying and everyone who just needs a prescription. I rage at the insurance companies, but I can't even be sure they're the problem.
I just wish I knew how to fix it.
I'm posting my story, because I feel trapped. Mostly because I know for all I'm struggling, there are thousands of people telling the same story. Worse stories. People who are suffering and at their wits end because they have to choose to live with untreated pain and illness, or be unable to pay their bills. I've been there. I'm also telling this story for all the people who are delightfully above this problem, people who are happily insured and happily making money and haven't ever had to weigh the cost of of a prescription against the cost of groceries. If you are that lucky, I envy you. I also hope this might be a story that makes you realize real people, who may not seem 'poor', have to fight each month just to pay for healthcare we need.
If you don't believe me when I say the system is broken, I'm not the only one writing about it. Time magazine has this to say: http://healthland.time.com/2013/02/20/bitter-pill-why-medical-bills-are-killing-us/
It's long, and detailed, but worth a look.
Friday, February 8, 2013
News from the Book World! And Don't Pirate books!
Apparently writing a blog is not something you can easily fake. It requires, you know, actual writing. Planning and editing and all that stuff. So while I'm mired between family birthdays, random school holidays for my child, and the occasional spontaneous illness, I'm just going to pass along more exciting news from other authors in case you missed it.
First up is a BIG announcement I'm REALLY excited about. The fantastic Seanan McGuire has a NEW book coming out in 2014. This is in addition to the Toby and the InCryptid books. Seanan writes awesome urban fantasy with strong female protagonists who are completely real and still utterly bad-ass. This new book she's announced follows that theme, and it's my absolute favorite: Sparrow Hill Road.
I read the first 'version' of this novel when it was published online, Seanan says it's been edited and improved with new content and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. It's the story of a hitchhiking ghost who lures truckers to their death... At least, that's one story they tell about her. The real story of Rose Marshall is much more complex, and tragic than those poor truckers could imagine.
It's a fantastic tale of the open highways and of the ghosts who ride the roads. It has a haunting feel of a classic fifties ghost story. Even as Rose travels the roads of the modern day, the strains of the jukebox and the smell of the malt shop seem to cling to her. It's ethereal and real all at the same time. I love it, and I cannot wait to buy my copy.
For more details get the facts straight from Seanan at her blog here. Rose Owls and Pumpkin Girls
Keeping with the 'books coming sometime down the line' my buddy Chuck Wendig has announced that his previously indie-published (And Kick Starter-ed) books in the Atlanta Burns series, "Shotgun Gravy" and "Bait Dog". I confess I've not (yet) read them, but I'm always excited to see good authors come to print. Atlanta Burns is a teenager, and these books are going into the Young Adult market, so if you've read Blackbirds and are expecting more of the same here... No, they aren't the same. Chuck's also been contracted to write a third Atlanta novel to add to the set, loosely titled 'Frack You', and I can't wait to see what he comes up with. More details are readily available on Chuck's blog, Terrible Minds.
Now, February 6th, is the new Official "Don't Pirate My Book" day for authors.
I periodically rant about the writing/publishing business. It's my dream to someday be shouting out "Hey! Buy MY book!" but it's a dream I approach realistically. I had my eyes opened some years ago to the not so glamorous truth about writing. Writing, even writing successfully, does not make you rich. Yes, there are always exceptions to this rule, but it's a fools errand to believe "I'm going to be the next JK Rowling!".
No, you probably won't be. Not that you should give up on writing, because daddy always said you should go to business school and get a real job. It just means that realistically, especially in genre fiction, you are going to have to work much harder and longer to become lucrative.
So don't look at writing as a 'gold mine', or an 'easy job'. Writing has a lot more in common with running your own business. You become your own boss, which can be great, but means you are personally liable for your success or failure. No one else will make you work. No one else can make you improve. If you don't work, and work hard, and work often, your writers cart will sit mired in the mud of obscurity and no one will notice you.
Yes, I'm probably being very dour about the whole thing, and it may sound like I'm just trying to rain on your dreams. That's not it. I'm trying to dispel a myth. The myth that writers are worshiped as gods, gold flows from their fingers and once you get published all the money will rain down on you. No. Not happening.
The reason I wish I could stand on my soapbox and shout this to the world, is because so few people grasp the reality of a writers living wage and a writers lifestyle, so they think it's fine to pirate ebooks. IF they even give a thought to the author it's along the lines of "they're so rich, who cares?" This lie makes starving writers cry.
Now internet file-sharing, copyright infringement, DRM licensing and the notion of copying and sharing all sorts of 'files' for free is a muddy water. I can understand the frustrations and desires that fuel piracy, really I CAN. I don't even have CABLE. Do you know how LONG it takes to see the next season in a current series on Netflix? But that's a different rant. Basically, I'm not going to wade in and make a bunch of dogmatic statements... I'll just link you to everyone ELSE's authors blog and let you read what THEY have to say on the matter.
Suffice to say, my choice, for me, is ALWAYS acquiring books legally. I enter giveaways (and I've won a few), I go to the library, I wait until books are in paperback and then buy them, and I use coupons. But I always get them legally. For me, it's not about me getting something, it's about me funding the author. If I steal a book, it's like I'm stealing from a guy I admire. That's my logic. I wouldn't break into an authors house and copy a manuscript off his computer, likewise, I'm not going to copy someone's file of an e-book. They need the sales, the need the sales NUMBERS, and thwarting the tracking system of book sales with shady deals makes kittens sad.
That bizarre rant concluded, I now direct you to some of our friendly neighborhood authors (they might not be that friendly, in fact, some may bite.) and what THEY have to say about internet piracy.
Chuck Wendig kicked the movement off, so we'll start with his post here at Terrible Minds. http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/02/06/why-i-hope-you-dont-pirate-my-book/
Seanan Mcguire wrote her take, so we should go back to her Blog too. http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/493792.html
Dan O'Shea wrote a profanity flecked piece on his anti-piracy stance here. http://danielboshea.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/you-arent-a-pirate-youre-a-thief-asshole/
Those are the links I have now, I'll edit to add if I'm lucky to find more.
Finally, our moment of zen for the end of post. John Scalzi did something that I find in parts equally hilarious and inspiring, and if I had his means I'd totally do it too. In response to an internet troll using his name, he's now going to donate money, on behalf of the troll, to charities the homophobic, misogynistic, racist troll finds unappealing. Namely, Civil Rights, Gay Rights, and women's rights.
But don't take my word for it, read the whole awesome recap here at Scalzi's blog Whatever.
Tons of people offered to contribute as well, and it's now up to 60,000 dollars. Pretty cool right?
That's the news from my corner of the internet! Hope you enjoyed it.
First up is a BIG announcement I'm REALLY excited about. The fantastic Seanan McGuire has a NEW book coming out in 2014. This is in addition to the Toby and the InCryptid books. Seanan writes awesome urban fantasy with strong female protagonists who are completely real and still utterly bad-ass. This new book she's announced follows that theme, and it's my absolute favorite: Sparrow Hill Road.
I read the first 'version' of this novel when it was published online, Seanan says it's been edited and improved with new content and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. It's the story of a hitchhiking ghost who lures truckers to their death... At least, that's one story they tell about her. The real story of Rose Marshall is much more complex, and tragic than those poor truckers could imagine.
It's a fantastic tale of the open highways and of the ghosts who ride the roads. It has a haunting feel of a classic fifties ghost story. Even as Rose travels the roads of the modern day, the strains of the jukebox and the smell of the malt shop seem to cling to her. It's ethereal and real all at the same time. I love it, and I cannot wait to buy my copy.
For more details get the facts straight from Seanan at her blog here. Rose Owls and Pumpkin Girls
Keeping with the 'books coming sometime down the line' my buddy Chuck Wendig has announced that his previously indie-published (And Kick Starter-ed) books in the Atlanta Burns series, "Shotgun Gravy" and "Bait Dog". I confess I've not (yet) read them, but I'm always excited to see good authors come to print. Atlanta Burns is a teenager, and these books are going into the Young Adult market, so if you've read Blackbirds and are expecting more of the same here... No, they aren't the same. Chuck's also been contracted to write a third Atlanta novel to add to the set, loosely titled 'Frack You', and I can't wait to see what he comes up with. More details are readily available on Chuck's blog, Terrible Minds.
Now, February 6th, is the new Official "Don't Pirate My Book" day for authors.
I periodically rant about the writing/publishing business. It's my dream to someday be shouting out "Hey! Buy MY book!" but it's a dream I approach realistically. I had my eyes opened some years ago to the not so glamorous truth about writing. Writing, even writing successfully, does not make you rich. Yes, there are always exceptions to this rule, but it's a fools errand to believe "I'm going to be the next JK Rowling!".
No, you probably won't be. Not that you should give up on writing, because daddy always said you should go to business school and get a real job. It just means that realistically, especially in genre fiction, you are going to have to work much harder and longer to become lucrative.
So don't look at writing as a 'gold mine', or an 'easy job'. Writing has a lot more in common with running your own business. You become your own boss, which can be great, but means you are personally liable for your success or failure. No one else will make you work. No one else can make you improve. If you don't work, and work hard, and work often, your writers cart will sit mired in the mud of obscurity and no one will notice you.
Yes, I'm probably being very dour about the whole thing, and it may sound like I'm just trying to rain on your dreams. That's not it. I'm trying to dispel a myth. The myth that writers are worshiped as gods, gold flows from their fingers and once you get published all the money will rain down on you. No. Not happening.
The reason I wish I could stand on my soapbox and shout this to the world, is because so few people grasp the reality of a writers living wage and a writers lifestyle, so they think it's fine to pirate ebooks. IF they even give a thought to the author it's along the lines of "they're so rich, who cares?" This lie makes starving writers cry.
Now internet file-sharing, copyright infringement, DRM licensing and the notion of copying and sharing all sorts of 'files' for free is a muddy water. I can understand the frustrations and desires that fuel piracy, really I CAN. I don't even have CABLE. Do you know how LONG it takes to see the next season in a current series on Netflix? But that's a different rant. Basically, I'm not going to wade in and make a bunch of dogmatic statements... I'll just link you to everyone ELSE's authors blog and let you read what THEY have to say on the matter.
Suffice to say, my choice, for me, is ALWAYS acquiring books legally. I enter giveaways (and I've won a few), I go to the library, I wait until books are in paperback and then buy them, and I use coupons. But I always get them legally. For me, it's not about me getting something, it's about me funding the author. If I steal a book, it's like I'm stealing from a guy I admire. That's my logic. I wouldn't break into an authors house and copy a manuscript off his computer, likewise, I'm not going to copy someone's file of an e-book. They need the sales, the need the sales NUMBERS, and thwarting the tracking system of book sales with shady deals makes kittens sad.
That bizarre rant concluded, I now direct you to some of our friendly neighborhood authors (they might not be that friendly, in fact, some may bite.) and what THEY have to say about internet piracy.
Chuck Wendig kicked the movement off, so we'll start with his post here at Terrible Minds. http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/02/06/why-i-hope-you-dont-pirate-my-book/
Seanan Mcguire wrote her take, so we should go back to her Blog too. http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/493792.html
Dan O'Shea wrote a profanity flecked piece on his anti-piracy stance here. http://danielboshea.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/you-arent-a-pirate-youre-a-thief-asshole/
Those are the links I have now, I'll edit to add if I'm lucky to find more.
Finally, our moment of zen for the end of post. John Scalzi did something that I find in parts equally hilarious and inspiring, and if I had his means I'd totally do it too. In response to an internet troll using his name, he's now going to donate money, on behalf of the troll, to charities the homophobic, misogynistic, racist troll finds unappealing. Namely, Civil Rights, Gay Rights, and women's rights.
But don't take my word for it, read the whole awesome recap here at Scalzi's blog Whatever.
Tons of people offered to contribute as well, and it's now up to 60,000 dollars. Pretty cool right?
That's the news from my corner of the internet! Hope you enjoyed it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)