Hrm....

[alanajoli]

I've been hoping for the last few years to work up the kind of portfolio needed to join the SFWA. They have recommended markets for publishing, particularly periodicals, but also publishers, and I've been trying to focus on submitting to the folks on their list.

So it always surprises me when I hear that the SFWA is making a fuss about e-books and the like (them being familiar with technology as part of sci-fi, right?), particularly when they're doing something like misusing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to get non-fraudulent e-books removed from places like Scribd, a file sharing network. I do understand protecting copyright, but I don't understand what looks like blind fear of the platform/medium. (Doctorow's article gets into what actually happened quite a bit. It's just adding onto the Pixel-stained technopeasant wretches debacle in April.)

I'm still holding out hope that by the time I'm officially eligible to join, this sort of thing will be long in the past and the attitude will have swayed. (Based on the number of celebrants of the first International Pixel-stained Technopeasant Wretch day, I think it's possible.) In the meantime... hrm.

Comments

[bccreations.livejournal.com]

There are some errors in your entry that you need to fix.

As for the SFWA, I know more than one person that is a member and this kind of thing is not uncommon. It is a vocal minority that is attributed to doing the stupid shit, but unfortunately the non-vocal majority is too busy writing to see how stupid the minority is being.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

Erg, yes. I need to get better at my html coding.

From what I've seen from member responses, most of the folks are definitely not pro-luddite (though some of those vocal ones embrace the luddite label). Many of the anti-luddites embraced the Pixel-stained Technopeasant Wretch label, which gives me a great deal of hope. Of course, the only way to impact an organization like the SFWA is become a member and vote, from what I can tell, so I'm still a long way from being able to do anything other than express an opinion. ;)

[stargatedragon.livejournal.com]

it's rather scary when you think that obviously whoever did this had *no* idea of what it would entail...

makes you wonder what they actually think is OUT there on them there fancy computer thingies, eh?

:D

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

I talked to another off-line friend about this, and it still seems strange to both of us that there are the science fiction folks who don't embrace the technology that's likely to get them to their readers. (Of all of the readers out there ready to read e-books, I've always imagined the SF fans to be at the front of that curve.)

[dmoonfire.livejournal.com]

(Got a minor typo in your post, causing a LJ error).

I've looked at the SFWA membership guidelines and I'll admit, I'd like to join in. I know that (reading most of those pages from before), that it is the plans of higher ranks who may not survive a vote and every organization has their little quirks; yeah, its must be frustrating that this happens but I can only hope they learn copyright law a bit better and not use a shotgun approach to handling these problems.

[alanajoli.livejournal.com]

(Fixed. Sorry about that.)

I suspect that by the time I'm qualified (or within a few terms), most of the luddite faction will have been voted out. Or, at least, this is what I'm telling myself. ;)

Which is not to say that I think every author needs to have a website or a blog, either. But shying away from technology that will help you sell books seems to be blaming the medium for those who abuse it. (I'd hate to see the SFWA go the way of the RIAA!)