Comments on: Crowdfunding the creatives: should writers ask for money before they write? http://futurismic.com/2010/02/19/crowdfunding-the-creatives-should-writers-ask-for-money-before-they-write/ Presenting the fact and fiction of tomorrow since 2001 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jan Oda http://futurismic.com/2010/02/19/crowdfunding-the-creatives-should-writers-ask-for-money-before-they-write/comment-page-1/#comment-76557 Jan Oda Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:56:35 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=10488#comment-76557 Interesting article. I'm seeing this more from the fiction angle then the non-fiction and journalism, but I do believe that crowdfunded creativity is going to play a bigger part in the writing business in the future. And it is happening already, for example, Catherynne Valente recently published her book The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland online, one chapter at a time, each chapter only published whe she had reached a certain amount of donations. http://www.catherynnemvalente.com/fairyland/ MCM is publishing all his books online for free, some under the Serial+ system (one update a week, if you want to read it faster, you can buy the whole ebook for $5), but most simply depending on donations, or print and ebook sales. http://1889.ca/ Personally I think the pay before I write system would only work if there is a big enough amount of content freely available as a tastemaker. Interesting article. I’m seeing this more from the fiction angle then the non-fiction and journalism, but I do believe that crowdfunded creativity is going to play a bigger part in the writing business in the future.

And it is happening already, for example, Catherynne Valente recently published her book The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland online, one chapter at a time, each chapter only published whe she had reached a certain amount of donations.
http://www.catherynnemvalente.com/fairyland/

MCM is publishing all his books online for free, some under the Serial+ system (one update a week, if you want to read it faster, you can buy the whole ebook for $5), but most simply depending on donations, or print and ebook sales.

http://1889.ca/

Personally I think the pay before I write system would only work if there is a big enough amount of content freely available as a tastemaker.

]]> By: david geertz http://futurismic.com/2010/02/19/crowdfunding-the-creatives-should-writers-ask-for-money-before-they-write/comment-page-1/#comment-76516 david geertz Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:21:56 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=10488#comment-76516 This was a great article and perhaps I can help by making a suggestion. I'm the founder of a crowdfunding platform that is currently in BETA at www.biracy.com, that is a science fiction film project. We have spent years looking at how to optimize, monetize and assist creative people in how to engage with an audience and make a living. We are going to be looking for writers of both fiction and non fiction to use our platform very shortly. We are based in Vancouver, Canada but are open to creative people all over the world. If you're interested in knowing more about how we work please get in touch. I'd also be interested in speaking with some futurists about our science fiction screenplay contest that we are having. We're looking for judges, and could use the assistance of some forward thinkers. thanks This was a great article and perhaps I can help by making a suggestion. I’m the founder of a crowdfunding platform that is currently in BETA at http://www.biracy.com, that is a science fiction film project. We have spent years looking at how to optimize, monetize and assist creative people in how to engage with an audience and make a living. We are going to be looking for writers of both fiction and non fiction to use our platform very shortly. We are based in Vancouver, Canada but are open to creative people all over the world. If you’re interested in knowing more about how we work please get in touch.

I’d also be interested in speaking with some futurists about our science fiction screenplay contest that we are having. We’re looking for judges, and could use the assistance of some forward thinkers.

thanks

]]> By: Patrick H http://futurismic.com/2010/02/19/crowdfunding-the-creatives-should-writers-ask-for-money-before-they-write/comment-page-1/#comment-76472 Patrick H Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:17:35 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=10488#comment-76472 Oh to have those sorts of problems! I have a friend whose first novel was recently published (hm, let's out her as Amy Sackville, author of The Still Point) and she told me that she spent a day with the publicity people at her publisher going over he life to see if there was anything that'd make a good feature for the Guardian Family section or even the magazine, if particularly juicy. (Alas, she is disappointingly well-adjusted and her family history drearily content and stable.) I think that hand in hand with the growth of broadcast technology (since the printing press, in fact) there has been a gradual evolution in the theory and practise of marketing. Writers with high profiles always do better than those that don't (eg, "public intellectuals") and publishers/agents etc have become acutely aware of this. Hence, the rabid appetite for authors who already havea high profile, ie celebreddeeeees. I think this is somewhat different from the DIY ethic inherent in crowd-sourcing. The author is providing some content and raw material for another creative professional (marketeer) to work their voodoo on. In The Future there may evolve some kind of symbiosis between the more nuerotic type of artist and freelance publicity generators. Oh to have those sorts of problems! I have a friend whose first novel was recently published (hm, let’s out her as Amy Sackville, author of The Still Point) and she told me that she spent a day with the publicity people at her publisher going over he life to see if there was anything that’d make a good feature for the Guardian Family section or even the magazine, if particularly juicy. (Alas, she is disappointingly well-adjusted and her family history drearily content and stable.)

I think that hand in hand with the growth of broadcast technology (since the printing press, in fact) there has been a gradual evolution in the theory and practise of marketing. Writers with high profiles always do better than those that don’t (eg, “public intellectuals”) and publishers/agents etc have become acutely aware of this. Hence, the rabid appetite for authors who already havea high profile, ie celebreddeeeees.

I think this is somewhat different from the DIY ethic inherent in crowd-sourcing. The author is providing some content and raw material for another creative professional (marketeer) to work their voodoo on. In The Future there may evolve some kind of symbiosis between the more nuerotic type of artist and freelance publicity generators.

]]> By: Cheryl http://futurismic.com/2010/02/19/crowdfunding-the-creatives-should-writers-ask-for-money-before-they-write/comment-page-1/#comment-76442 Cheryl Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:34:04 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=10488#comment-76442 Patrick, aren't authors having those tasks pushed more and more to them by their publishers anyhow? My friends with book contracts seem to be doing a lot of complaining in that direction. Patrick, aren’t authors having those tasks pushed more and more to them by their publishers anyhow? My friends with book contracts seem to be doing a lot of complaining in that direction.

]]> By: Patrick H http://futurismic.com/2010/02/19/crowdfunding-the-creatives-should-writers-ask-for-money-before-they-write/comment-page-1/#comment-76424 Patrick H Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:31:25 +0000 http://futurismic.com/?p=10488#comment-76424 I think what's being talked about is devolving the marketing role to the artist. I think that works well for a number of creators, but there are others who need someone that believes in them to do it for them - a patron, an agent a publisher etc. I've freelanced at various time in my chequered career, but as much as I initially enjoy working in pyjamas and drinking black Russians all day, it's my feeling that you end up with two jobs instead of one: the job you're doing, and the job of selling and marketing your skills. Some people thrive on that, but I ain't one of them. (On the other hand after five years behind a desk I inevitably self-destruct, so I dunno if I'm quite suited to the other model either.) I think what’s being talked about is devolving the marketing role to the artist. I think that works well for a number of creators, but there are others who need someone that believes in them to do it for them – a patron, an agent a publisher etc.

I’ve freelanced at various time in my chequered career, but as much as I initially enjoy working in pyjamas and drinking black Russians all day, it’s my feeling that you end up with two jobs instead of one: the job you’re doing, and the job of selling and marketing your skills. Some people thrive on that, but I ain’t one of them. (On the other hand after five years behind a desk I inevitably self-destruct, so I dunno if I’m quite suited to the other model either.)

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