Let's pay authors directly

[starrigger]

Now you're in fantasy-land. The donation button has nothing to do with eliminating copyright. Eliminate copyright and anyone can put up your work and ask for a donation. In fact, even work that's put up for free benefits from copyright. People recognize that you're giving them a complimentary look at your copyrighted material, and they (sometimes) reciprocate accordingly.

[Giggleton]

You don't have to tell me where I am. For this to work we need an end to anonymity and total tracking control, internet 2.0

[anamardoll]

Complete off topic, but is there an "ignore" feature on this forum?

I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems like one or two posters have a hobby horse that they're determined to strong-arm into every discussion ever, including discussions of how to make the best mashed potatoes ever, how to wax your Kindle, how to create a snazzy Nook Color cover from repurposed junk mail and bread ties, etc.......

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Complete off topic, but is there an "ignore" feature on this forum?

I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems like one or two posters have a hobby horse that they're determined to strong-arm into every discussion ever, including discussions of how to make the best mashed potatoes ever, how to wax your Kindle, how to create a snazzy Nook Color cover from repurposed junk mail and bread ties, etc.......

Yes, you can ignore individual posters. Click on their name above their avatar and you'll get a drop down list of options; the bottom one, I believe, is the 'Ignore member' option.

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Complete off topic, but is there an "ignore" feature on this forum?

I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems like one or two posters have a hobby horse that they're determined to strong-arm into every discussion ever, including discussions of how to make the best mashed potatoes ever, how to wax your Kindle, how to create a snazzy Nook Color cover from repurposed junk mail and bread ties, etc.......

Copyright affects all of those things.

[Hellmark]

Originally Posted by Giggleton

Copyright affects all of those things.

But it doesn't need to be discussed. And despite effecting those things, it can still be considered off topic.

[dmikov]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Complete off topic, but is there an "ignore" feature on this forum?

I'm not trying to be rude, but it seems like one or two posters have a hobby horse that they're determined to strong-arm into every discussion ever, including discussions of how to make the best mashed potatoes ever, how to wax your Kindle, how to create a snazzy Nook Color cover from repurposed junk mail and bread ties, etc.......

There is also a report button which should be used when this behavior becomes too annoying and distracting for following original thread.
Which people should use, since it's not just certain people posts, but the whole thread get's hijacked by just one or two trolls.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by dmikov

There is also a report button which should be used when this behavior becomes too annoying and distracting for following original thread.
Which people should use, since it's not just certain people posts, but the whole thread get's hijacked by just one or two trolls.

But then the thread gets locked so a new one needs to be created and it all starts again.

[Hellmark]

Well, hopefully the mods would not simply lock a thread, but rather prune it. Still, if the people would just not hijack the thread, it would be better for people who either A: want to discuss that topic but not that which the hijacker wants to talk about or B: wants to talk about what the hijacker wants but doesn't know about it since they had no interest in the original topic.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by PuxyYunm

There are several methods of obtaining books that leave the author uncompensated such as stealing them (including illegal downloads), borrowing from friends or libraries, and buying them second-hand.

But if one reads and enjoys a book obtained without any channel of recompense between the reader himself and the author, it would be nice to be able to make some sort of direct compensation to the author.

Would authors who made a PayPal account available for donations, for instance, be likely to be compensated by readers who have come across their books through "non-standard" channels?

Are there other kinds of compensation authors would welcome from those who can't afford the sometimes appalling prices charged for new books and who must choose between "alternate" sources or not reading the author at all?

I'd welcome the opportunity to put something directly in the author's pocket, even if it were just a chance to thank him personally.

In my case I'd take money from anyone who wanted to donate, but I'm greedy that way.

Seriously, though, I'm in a book club on another forum where about half the readers are Library and used-book buyers only (nothing wrong with that). However, they are also the loudest complainers when a publisher drops an author. I mean that. They go on and on griping about the publisher dropping the author...even though several of us (non authors too) have pointed out that, gee, if you really love an author, you have to support them by BUYING new. They just don't see it that way. And I'm not judging anyone or libraries (which I love.)

But the fact remains: If you have a favorite author, buy the book. If you want to support them after that purchase, gift the book by buying a second copy. If you don't want to spend additional money or can't--talk about the book and tell people you LOVE the book (if you really do. I am not suggesting you need to become a shoe salesman.)

Write a heart-felt review. Don't want to write something public?

Write the author a note. Trust me--some days--and we have those days--a simple note that says, "I loved your book" is enough to make an author do a BIG happy dance. Because some days it doesn't seem worth writing another single word.

Compensation is not made of money alone.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by taustin

Your premise seems to be based on the idea that nobody but the author contributes anything whatsoever to the production of the book. No editing, no layout, no marketing, nothing. And therefore deserves no compensation whatsoever for the book.

I have never, once, ever, seen anyone propose splitting their contribution between the author and the publisher. By rights, any such contribution should be split equally, because the publisher contributes about as many man-hours to the average book as the author does. According to at least one professional author, Charlie Stross.

I'm a slow writer then because there is no way a publisher could contribute the same number of hours it took me to write any of my books (anywhere from 2 years to 4 years.) Editors edit many books over the course of a year and while there is also copyeditors and marketing people and so on, the number of hours spent wouldn't equal the number of hours I spent on it. Not to say that the split shouldn't be even or whatever, and many writers are faster and better than I am. But as a blanket statement? No way.

[Giggleton]

I am very interested in paying authors directly, indeed this promise has been with us since the dawn of the digital age, unfortunately realizing this brave new world has been hindered by the limitations of the network. I could go on but I won't.

[DuskyRose]

Originally Posted by Giggleton

I am very interested in paying authors directly, indeed this promise has been with us since the dawn of the digital age, unfortunately realizing this brave new world has been hindered by the limitations of the network. I could go on but I won't.

It has nothing to do with the limitations of the network. Authors have been able to offer their own works for pay ever since there's been a way to do it online, like any other business. And there's nothing stopping people from offering their works for free. Just look at the millions of fanfic stories and other free works out there, easily accessable and available completely free.

What's seemed to have stopped a lot of authors is that they have to learn a new system of selling their work. Many do want to be published the old fashioned way, because there is a sense that having a publisher publish your work and getting to say that you are published is the 'Holy Grail' of writing.

For others, it's having to learn how to get their own sites set up and how to receive payments, while worrying about people taking their work without permission. So they have to no only have day jobs, and write, but then find time to learn how to manage a web site.

So many have gone to middlemen to handle the on-line publishing, so they can devote their time to writing when they can. For them, it's worth paying the middleman to not have to deal with the on-line part of the business.

So the 'limitation's of the network isn't high up on the list of why most authors don't sell from their own web sites. I think it's very low on the list, since the network as it stands now has all the tools they need if they want to use it.

[Giggleton]

Originally Posted by DuskyRose

For others, it's having to learn how to get their own sites set up and how to receive payments, while worrying about people taking their work without permission. So they have to no only have day jobs, and write, but then find time to learn how to manage a web site.

So the 'limitation's of the network isn't high up on the list of why most authors don't sell from their own web sites. I think it's very low on the list, since the network as it stands now has all the tools they need if they want to use it.

Having to worry about others attributing your work to them is one of the network's limitations. I suppose it might not be high on the list, but it is a major concern of some so maybe it should be a priority?

For new writers, the current tools are probably just fine, but for past and current writers they might be inadequate and overwhelming. I don't know how to make conversion of written documents into a digital format as easy as can be, besides setting up a table at my local library and offering free conversion services.

[DuskyRose]

Originally Posted by Giggleton

Having to worry about others attributing your work to them is one of the network's limitations. I suppose it might not be high on the list, but it is a major concern of some so maybe it should be a priority?

Which has nothing to to with a new 'Network', and has everything to do with people being able to make money off their work if they wish to.

Which means being able to keep control of their own works, and being allowed to continue to make their own choices about how it's presented, where it's presented, and for how much.

None of which will change by changing the way the internet information flows. They'll still end up with the same concerns no matter how information gets from one spot to another.

Originally Posted by Giggleton

For new writers, the current tools are probably just fine, but for past and current writers they might be inadequate and overwhelming. I don't know how to make conversion of written documents into a digital format as easy as can be, besides setting up a table at my local library and offering free conversion services.

Overwhelming, yes. Not everyone wants to learn how to mess with web site matainance and learning HTML. Which is why there are middlemen, who do have the skills that the writer may not be interested in learning themselves.

But how is the 'Newtwork' inadequate? Those who are interested in offering their works have been able to do so for ages, on their own sites. You've never pinpointed how the way the internet now works would be a sticking point for authors who wish to do their own thing. Nor pointed out how a new network would make their publishing chores easier.

Exactly how would it make it easier?