[From the Archive] Ebooks, Piracy, and the Writer’s Life
This was from early 2010 — but are still issues today…
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I had a whole post written up about the “glamorous” life of being a writer, and then I read – with interest – a long, ongoing discussion on ebooks, piracy, and copyright on one of my mailing lists. They all seemed to tie together, and now I’m revamping the column. And it all stems from both a sense of entitlement and this idea that writers are swimming in money and shouldn’t care about getting paid for their work.
Many of my colleagues and friends spend valuable writing time surfing download sites, eBay, and other sites that pop up discovering places their work is available for free – and seriously ILLEGAL – downloads or have been scanned and are available for sale on an unauthorized cd. And when confronted almost invariably the person responsible says they’re “helping” the authors by getting their work out in front of more readers.
Unfortunately, what they’re doing is stealing the work of hard working writers and making it harder for those authors to write more books. There’s a vicious cycle out there. Where these illegal download sites and auctions may, as one article try to show, get an author a handful of readers, they’re “invisible” sales. In a way, so are used book stores which are a different argument and topic. The publishers don’t see those sales, and those aren’t considered when they look to see the bottom line numbers when offering (and retracting) new contracts.
The whole Amazon vs. Macmillan brought a bigger focus to ebooks and new technology. The publishing industry is still working to see what the future holds and advocates on both sides of the issue are making passionate arguments. Unfortunately, no one is in a position to see the future.
Just remember, when you look at free downloads – know where they’re coming from. If you get them FROM the author or legitimate publisher grab and enjoy. If you get them from any other kind of site, please reconsider. Many of us who are struggling to be working, producing writers have a second “day job”. Writing to entertain you is not as lucrative as the Stephen Kings, JK Rowlings, and Richard Castles of the world make it out to be. Most of us struggle from day to day. Paycheck to paycheck. Those conventions we come to are paid for out of our own pockets – just like the fans.
Respect the work. Respect the writer. When you’re enjoying a book, realize that most writers have given up time with family and friends to work a second job to write that book for you. We’ve provided it as cheaply as the economy will bear, and we don’t get paid enough to do it full time. The authors are not the greedy, money grubbing jerks the press and entitled-thinking pirates make us out to be. We’re struggling – like most readers. Please don’t make it harder.