I have a better anti-piracy device

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Truth! I have literally been there, done that. I bought into the Compute Science dream for a long time and do not really regret it -- as I said, it paid off my mortgage -- but I realized some 10 years ago exactly what you say...

I love (creating) technical computer programs, that make machines do work. One example is LaTeX: it basically is a compiler. You put flat text interspersed with some commands into it, and it blurts out a fully formatted PDF file with headings, chapters, and so on.

Another example is something such as, or like, a chess engine. You put a chess position in it, tell it to calculate for X minutes, and it tells you what it thinks to be the best move.

That's software of epic proportions. (Although chess engines seem to become commonplace nowadays).

After finishing my study in creating and engineering such programs, I discovered that nobody except for a very select few companies want or need that kind of software; and most of them are not in the Netherlands (anymore).

So now I maintain or write administrative software that stuffs things into a database, or websites (and they are, if you strip away the design, just representations of databases too, nowadays... sigh) for a living.

It's like studying to become a great writer, wanting to write great literary works, just to end up writing manuals for the next Braun toaster.

[kennyc]

Yep.....interestingly as you say, most writers end up there too, editing, teaching, writing tech manuals instead of the writing Great Novels, Great Literature! Only a few survive.

(and then some anti-piracy program comes along and changes their words! )

[cfrizz]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yep.....interestingly as you say, most writers end up there too, editing, teaching, writing tech manuals instead of the writing Great Novels, Great Literature! Only a few survive.

(and then some anti-piracy program comes along and changes their words! )

Thanks Kenny, now that I'm through choking, I have to clean vitamin water off of my monitor!

[mike_bike_kite]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I love creating technical computers programs ...
Another example is something such as, or like, a chess engine ...
So now I maintain or write administrative software that stuffs things into a database

I design databases for a living but I quite enjoy writing technical programs too. Here's my attempt at a chess program - it took me quite a while to get it to play reasonably well but I'd say it gave me the same satisfaction to write as writing a semi decent novel. If you don't like chess then I've done checkers, connect 4 and othello. I blame it on my kids never wanting to play any games against me.

PS you can play each of them in your browser but you need Java to run them

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by cfrizz

Thanks Kenny, now that I'm through choking, I have to clean vitamin water off of my monitor!

Vitamins are good for you.

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yep.....interestingly as you say, most writers end up there too, editing, teaching, writing tech manuals instead of the writing Great Novels, Great Literature! Only a few survive.

(and then some anti-piracy program comes along and changes their words! )

That's progress for you!!!

[crich70]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yep.....interestingly as you say, most writers end up there too, editing, teaching, writing tech manuals instead of the writing Great Novels, Great Literature! Only a few survive.

(and then some anti-piracy program comes along and changes their words! )

Sort of ironic isn't it. The more successful a writer is the less time he/she has to devote to actually writing more of what made him/her successful in the 1st place.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I guess I'm in the minority. I'm not uplifted or inspired by a story of people churning out books to make a quick buck.

Why not? There's something wrong with being prolific now?
They didn't scam anyone into buying them, or say "please buy these to save our house."

They were able to quickly produce stories that people are willing to pay for, and seem to want more of. I wish I could. As far as I can tell, it's no sure thing to make a living as a self published writer, period.

The news story here is just that things fell into place for them right when they most needed it to. That's nice.

As for the piracy angle....nah, I doubt any pirate will care.

ApK

EDIT: P.S. I just noticed there were two more pages of this thread that I haven't read. Sorry if this was redundant.

[mike_bike_kite]

Originally Posted by ApK

Why not? There's something wrong with being prolific now?

I think it's more the quality and style of literature being output that some might object to. The fact they produce tonnes of it doesn't really improve matters. I guess it would be possible to write a program to produce this type of stuff endlessly.

NAME = pick(John, Jack, James, Timothy)
ACTION = pick(brushed, ran, pawed )
DESC = pick( pale, dark, thin, chubby )
PART = pick( thigh, breast, flat stomach, chin )
THOUGHT = pick( do away with, take, slap )
PLACE = pick( pantry, kitchen, bedroom, cellar )

print "As "  + NAME + ACTION + "his hand across her" +
      DESC + PART + "she thought she must" + 
      THOUGHT + "him in the" + PLACE

This sort of thing could be equally prolific with a little effort. You could then just sit back and listen to the accolades.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by crich70

Sort of ironic isn't it. The more successful a writer is the less time he/she has to devote to actually writing more of what made him/her successful in the 1st place.

That was not what was meant. What is ironic, is that there are many, many people who study something, and never get the chance to do what they actually studied, for one reason or another.

If you study Computer Science with the goal to write websites later, then there isn't a problem. If you study CS because you dream of creating something that rocks the world ("Because everybody says that's possible if I do such and such"), then you'll probably be very disappointed.

Same with regard to studying the arts. Accomplished photographers often end up taking product snapshots, writers end up as writers of manuals, painters and musicians end up as teachers in their art instead of performers... not because they're not good, but just because they don't happen to be lucky enough to end up in the top few of the world. (Which can often be because they're just not discovered or something.)

[ApK]

Originally Posted by mike_bike_kite

This sort of thing could be equally prolific with a little effort. You could then just sit back and listen to the accolades.

I think that's been done actually.

Nonetheless, if one could make a living creating stuff that way, everyone would be doing it. Try it. Let us know.

There is talent involved in what they did (even if it may not be classically artistic literary talent) and not everyone can do it at all. To do it prolifically and make an honest living at it (by 'honest' I mean people are actually buying the stories because they like the stories. They were not tricked or 'gimmicked' into buying) is impressive.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by mike_bike_kite

I think it's more the quality and style of literature being output that some might object to. The fact they produce tonnes of it doesn't really improve matters. I guess it would be possible to write a program to produce this type of stuff endlessly.

NAME = pick(John, Jack, James, Timothy)
ACTION = pick(brushed, ran, pawed )
DESC = pick( pale, dark, thin, chubby )
PART = pick( thigh, breast, flat stomach, chin )
THOUGHT = pick( do away with, take, slap )
PLACE = pick( pantry, kitchen, bedroom, cellar )

print "As "  + NAME + ACTION + "his hand across her" +
      DESC + PART + "she thought she must" + 
      THOUGHT + "him in the" + PLACE

This sort of thing could be equally prolific with a little effort. You could then just sit back and listen to the accolades.

Yep, go for it!

I love how it's so easy to criticize successful people on the interwebz.

These people (regardless of speed of production) are obviously doing something right, creating books readers want to buy if they are making enough money to live on, particularly paying a mortgage. You don't even have a clue as to the quality which must be good enough to sell books. Mikey I"m wondering if you are a student, living in the dorms or with your parents?

[mike_bike_kite]

The question I was trying to answer was whether there's anything wrong with being prolific. To me the number of these books sold tells me more about the audience than anything else. There's certainly nothing wrong with doing what they're doing though and, judging by the video, they'd be the last ones to pretend they're producing anything other than pulp fiction. By all means, good luck to them, but it doesn't mean I have to like the stuff.

You did ask a specific question and it seems a little unfair to criticise when people give you an answer.

Mike

PS I'm well past my college years but I do remember them fondly

[kennyc]

Ill be watching for your name on the bestseller lists.

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by mike_bike_kite

The question I was trying to answer was whether there's anything wrong with being prolific. To me the number of these books sold tells me more about the audience than anything else. There's certainly nothing wrong with doing what they're doing though and, judging by the video, they'd be the last ones to pretend they're producing anything other than pulp fiction. By all means, good luck to them, but it doesn't mean I have to like the stuff.

You did ask a specific question and it seems a little unfair to criticise when people give you an answer.

Mike

PS I'm well past my college years but I do remember them fondly

Since I bought a few of these books (way before I knew this story), what is it about me does that show? I am very curious to know. My parents always told me that if you have nothing good to say, just don't say it. Just give the people credit (or not) and just move on. Believe me, the world is not going to care one way or the other.