The Value of the Written Word
Strike!
So, in case it's missed your notice the past few weeks/today, the Writers Guild of America have gone on strike.
Now, this isn't a blog to comment on the hows and the whys of the strike - I am about as clueless in union matters as a non-union worker in a relatively non-union-friendly state can be. Nor am I going to address it as someone who truly understands what it's like to have your income depend on what you write - I do intend to have my SF works published and hope to one day live off my writing, but until that time, I am not a part of the people who are striking. To give any commentary on what they experience would be, in my opinion, irresponsible of me.
What I am going to address, however, is something a coworker and I got into a conversation about months ago and what does have a direct impact on my job as an editor and my dream goal as a writer (as well as incorporates my thoughts on the debacle that is JKR):
The value of the written word.
Now, as I see it, there are four types of written communication (which, of course can be debated)
1) Casual writing (emails, text messages, letters from mom, etc...)
2) Business writing (proposals, white papers, business letters, reports, contracts, etc..)
3) Creative writing (fiction, non-fiction, articles, blogs, script writing, etc..)
4) Fact writing (nutrition labels, instructions, street signs, etc...)
For instance, one would never (at least, you would hope one would never) write to a CEO of a major healthcare system "Hey, whassup? didn't the Huzkerz blow?" Nor would you write "the weather outside, though blustery, was a beautiful shade of autumn; the perfect juxtaposition of summer and winter, of golden, burnished sunset and russet apple harvest. Amidst the crisp nip in the air carrying the cheers of thousands fold, Nebraska battled against a mighty Titan and fell, tumbling further into the sorrow of the Husker faithful." Nor would you simply write "KU - 76, NU - 39." However, depending on the relationship, you might begin the letter, "Did you enjoy the game this past weekend? We're pretty disappointed in our Husker defense, but it's good to see the Jayhawks change their program so dramatically."
As any editor worth their weight in grammar rules, spelling and coffee knows, the written word has more meaning than just the text in print. No matter the type of written communication, tone, context, and recipient make all the difference in the world.
Within each type of communication, there are also two subdivisions - quality and quantity. This is the difference between Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and JKR's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I could write a shit ton of words, filling hundreds of pages in multiple volumes, but if they mean little or have little substance, then those words are worthless. They are no more than pixels or molecules on a white sheet, lacking any value other than to calculate weird and useless trivia for the bored (ie "if you laid out all the pages of the HP:DH book, end to end, that were sold in the first day, they would stretch to Mars and back." - I have no idea if this is true, but you get what I'm saying).
This brings me to the notion of the value of the written word. Primarily, the written word when viewed as art (the creative writing aspect). As is being demonstrated today with the WGA strike, the value of the written word is, to put it bluntly, completely fucked up and meaningless.
Perspective: a four-year old can smear fingerpaint onto a canvas and sell it for tens of thousands of dollars. The WGA is fighting for $.04 per DVD sale and -anything- on new media sales (iPod d/l's, phone d/l's, internet d/l's etc...) for the writers.
I got into a discussion with someone at work regarding capitalism and how it stifles or strangles the creative mind. His take (versus a more socialist form of economy) was that he didn't want to throw money into the same pool to support an artist for art he didn't like. According to him, in a capitalist society, artistic quality and value is determined by demand, and isn't that how it ought to be?
That might work for paintings, but as we have seen today, that is not truly applicable to the written word.
For any author who has stared at a blank white document, the curser blinking ominously at you, taunting your inability to push the thoughts in your mind into the tips of your fingers, the task of writing can be almost excruciatingly painful. And now imagine taking that internalized frustration and self-recrimination with pressures from TPTB to hit specific target audiences to get the biggest bang for the buck while creating an entire fictional world with fictional characters, fictional plots, and fictional action to fill 20 episodes. All while watching the network suits bring in millions in advertisements, the actors and actresses paid tens of thousands per episode to act out what you wrote, and weekly polls saying your writing garnered millions of viewers from across the US and international.
And imagine all that, on a salary of $30k. In Hollywood.
In a capitalist society where demand dictates value/cost, why aren't the writers/editors the most highly paid on the set or in the office? If the show's writer(s) were not good at what they did to draw the millions of viewers because of the story and characters, then TPTB lose advertisers and thus, lose money. Why is the quality of the writing of absolutely no value?
A quality piece of creative writing takes a lot more skill than simply throwing a million words down into book-form and calling it a 'novel' or 'television script'. One could argue that the writer/editor doesn't need an education (or advanced degree), unlike "skilled" professions such as medicine, law, business, etc... which means they should get paid less than those skilled professions.
Obviously, these people arguing this point has never read a book written by an inexperienced writer or watched a soap opera.
Or have they so easily forgotten "Drive"?
Which brings us back to the tale of two stories and the value of the written word.
Tale of Two Stories - #1
Don't get me wrong - I would love to be in JKR's shoes with billions in the bank and the most popular/profitable series, book or movie 'verse. However, as much as I would love to have the fame and the money, I would rather be known for integrity and skill, not by how much my marketing and legal teams can make me a few $$s.
See, the books aren't great, high quality pieces of literature. They tell a good story, sure. But outstanding depth, lessons/morals/values, character complexity and long-lasting/future-forward social/humanistic impact/vision - the books fall way short.
But it's just a children's book series, you say? Not true. In early interviews, JKR said this was to be an adult series (sorry, I'm missing the specific quote). Additionally, this has exploded into a cultural phenomenon, impacting adults and children (over 325 million books sold for first 6 books, 11 mil for the 7th book on the first day), our film industry (most successful film franchise worldwidew coming in at over $4.47bil, with two more films to go), video games (i'd quote more but dammit, i'm getting tired of finding these links ;) ), candy, toys, clothing...the list goes on. this is more than just a children's book series.
The Harry Potter series is a prime example of capitalism at work - through a prime marketing and legal team, JKR has become the wealthiest person in Britain and the wealthiest author. They created a demand, and people bought. But the problem lies not in the fact that she was a successful author - she was a successful author of a poorly written series with elitist morals and shallow plot. So this is an example of capitalism in full mode - the actual value of the word is less important than the marketing and legal team you hire.
Tale of Two Stories - #2
OMG DUMBLEDIDDY'S TEH GAY!!!!1111
Yes, for those of you who were unaware, in a recent interview post-book release, JKR stated "Dumbledore is gay."
Now, minding the incorrect verb tense, I find this whole situation hilarious and insulting. Why? The whole aftermath of the Deathly Hallows has been an examination of an author who has gained fame by popularity, not by skill (in addition to using/abusing the most flamboyently dressed, eccentric, codgery old hippie as the one 'example' of a gay character who fell in love in his teens/20s and hasn't loved since).
Since the publication of the final book in the massive series (and by massive, I mean quantity), she has not only demonstrated that you don't need to be a quality, creative writer to succeed in novel writing, but she has destroyed artistic integrity of the written word. It no longer matters as to the actual content of what is written, what matters is how many press junkits you can hit on your book tour following the final installment of your series (both creating new canon and destroying established canon). Pay no mind to the actual written word. What matters is what you say.
And this brings us all back to the value of the written word.
What value is there in the creative written word when the very artists who's financial careers depend on the word ultimately destroy the value? What value is there in the written word when the word is not accepted and respected as the artistic endeavor that it is? What value is there in the written word when studio execs refuse to acknowledge the skill a quality script requires to be born into existence? What value is there in the written word when to be a successful writer, you need a marketing and legal team to make the living?
I want to see the four year old who can smear together a bunch of words and create a piece of high quality literature or a 'Heroes' script.
Acknowledge the skill required to create a universe like 'Lost' or news programs. Reward the artist who can craft complex stories, characters, and intricate plots and subplots. Don't treat writers like nothing. They are everything to what you watch/read. They create what you enjoy. What you demand. In a true capitalist society, they are the kings in entertainment. It takes skill to do what they do. While they may not have an MD or a PhD or an Esq. following their name, their craft takes an equivilant mental power, it's just in a different fashion.
They are artists. The writers/editors think outside the box. They create worlds.
It's time to respect the writer.
It's time to respect the creative word.
It's time to restore the value in the written word.
So, in case it's missed your notice the past few weeks/today, the Writers Guild of America have gone on strike.
Now, this isn't a blog to comment on the hows and the whys of the strike - I am about as clueless in union matters as a non-union worker in a relatively non-union-friendly state can be. Nor am I going to address it as someone who truly understands what it's like to have your income depend on what you write - I do intend to have my SF works published and hope to one day live off my writing, but until that time, I am not a part of the people who are striking. To give any commentary on what they experience would be, in my opinion, irresponsible of me.
What I am going to address, however, is something a coworker and I got into a conversation about months ago and what does have a direct impact on my job as an editor and my dream goal as a writer (as well as incorporates my thoughts on the debacle that is JKR):
The value of the written word.
Now, as I see it, there are four types of written communication (which, of course can be debated)
1) Casual writing (emails, text messages, letters from mom, etc...)
2) Business writing (proposals, white papers, business letters, reports, contracts, etc..)
3) Creative writing (fiction, non-fiction, articles, blogs, script writing, etc..)
4) Fact writing (nutrition labels, instructions, street signs, etc...)
For instance, one would never (at least, you would hope one would never) write to a CEO of a major healthcare system "Hey, whassup? didn't the Huzkerz blow?" Nor would you write "the weather outside, though blustery, was a beautiful shade of autumn; the perfect juxtaposition of summer and winter, of golden, burnished sunset and russet apple harvest. Amidst the crisp nip in the air carrying the cheers of thousands fold, Nebraska battled against a mighty Titan and fell, tumbling further into the sorrow of the Husker faithful." Nor would you simply write "KU - 76, NU - 39." However, depending on the relationship, you might begin the letter, "Did you enjoy the game this past weekend? We're pretty disappointed in our Husker defense, but it's good to see the Jayhawks change their program so dramatically."
As any editor worth their weight in grammar rules, spelling and coffee knows, the written word has more meaning than just the text in print. No matter the type of written communication, tone, context, and recipient make all the difference in the world.
Within each type of communication, there are also two subdivisions - quality and quantity. This is the difference between Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and JKR's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I could write a shit ton of words, filling hundreds of pages in multiple volumes, but if they mean little or have little substance, then those words are worthless. They are no more than pixels or molecules on a white sheet, lacking any value other than to calculate weird and useless trivia for the bored (ie "if you laid out all the pages of the HP:DH book, end to end, that were sold in the first day, they would stretch to Mars and back." - I have no idea if this is true, but you get what I'm saying).
This brings me to the notion of the value of the written word. Primarily, the written word when viewed as art (the creative writing aspect). As is being demonstrated today with the WGA strike, the value of the written word is, to put it bluntly, completely fucked up and meaningless.
Perspective: a four-year old can smear fingerpaint onto a canvas and sell it for tens of thousands of dollars. The WGA is fighting for $.04 per DVD sale and -anything- on new media sales (iPod d/l's, phone d/l's, internet d/l's etc...) for the writers.
I got into a discussion with someone at work regarding capitalism and how it stifles or strangles the creative mind. His take (versus a more socialist form of economy) was that he didn't want to throw money into the same pool to support an artist for art he didn't like. According to him, in a capitalist society, artistic quality and value is determined by demand, and isn't that how it ought to be?
That might work for paintings, but as we have seen today, that is not truly applicable to the written word.
For any author who has stared at a blank white document, the curser blinking ominously at you, taunting your inability to push the thoughts in your mind into the tips of your fingers, the task of writing can be almost excruciatingly painful. And now imagine taking that internalized frustration and self-recrimination with pressures from TPTB to hit specific target audiences to get the biggest bang for the buck while creating an entire fictional world with fictional characters, fictional plots, and fictional action to fill 20 episodes. All while watching the network suits bring in millions in advertisements, the actors and actresses paid tens of thousands per episode to act out what you wrote, and weekly polls saying your writing garnered millions of viewers from across the US and international.
And imagine all that, on a salary of $30k. In Hollywood.
In a capitalist society where demand dictates value/cost, why aren't the writers/editors the most highly paid on the set or in the office? If the show's writer(s) were not good at what they did to draw the millions of viewers because of the story and characters, then TPTB lose advertisers and thus, lose money. Why is the quality of the writing of absolutely no value?
A quality piece of creative writing takes a lot more skill than simply throwing a million words down into book-form and calling it a 'novel' or 'television script'. One could argue that the writer/editor doesn't need an education (or advanced degree), unlike "skilled" professions such as medicine, law, business, etc... which means they should get paid less than those skilled professions.
Obviously, these people arguing this point has never read a book written by an inexperienced writer or watched a soap opera.
Or have they so easily forgotten "Drive"?
Which brings us back to the tale of two stories and the value of the written word.
Tale of Two Stories - #1
Don't get me wrong - I would love to be in JKR's shoes with billions in the bank and the most popular/profitable series, book or movie 'verse. However, as much as I would love to have the fame and the money, I would rather be known for integrity and skill, not by how much my marketing and legal teams can make me a few $$s.
See, the books aren't great, high quality pieces of literature. They tell a good story, sure. But outstanding depth, lessons/morals/values, character complexity and long-lasting/future-forward social/humanistic impact/vision - the books fall way short.
But it's just a children's book series, you say? Not true. In early interviews, JKR said this was to be an adult series (sorry, I'm missing the specific quote). Additionally, this has exploded into a cultural phenomenon, impacting adults and children (over 325 million books sold for first 6 books, 11 mil for the 7th book on the first day), our film industry (most successful film franchise worldwidew coming in at over $4.47bil, with two more films to go), video games (i'd quote more but dammit, i'm getting tired of finding these links ;) ), candy, toys, clothing...the list goes on. this is more than just a children's book series.
The Harry Potter series is a prime example of capitalism at work - through a prime marketing and legal team, JKR has become the wealthiest person in Britain and the wealthiest author. They created a demand, and people bought. But the problem lies not in the fact that she was a successful author - she was a successful author of a poorly written series with elitist morals and shallow plot. So this is an example of capitalism in full mode - the actual value of the word is less important than the marketing and legal team you hire.
Tale of Two Stories - #2
OMG DUMBLEDIDDY'S TEH GAY!!!!1111
Yes, for those of you who were unaware, in a recent interview post-book release, JKR stated "Dumbledore is gay."
Now, minding the incorrect verb tense, I find this whole situation hilarious and insulting. Why? The whole aftermath of the Deathly Hallows has been an examination of an author who has gained fame by popularity, not by skill (in addition to using/abusing the most flamboyently dressed, eccentric, codgery old hippie as the one 'example' of a gay character who fell in love in his teens/20s and hasn't loved since).
Since the publication of the final book in the massive series (and by massive, I mean quantity), she has not only demonstrated that you don't need to be a quality, creative writer to succeed in novel writing, but she has destroyed artistic integrity of the written word. It no longer matters as to the actual content of what is written, what matters is how many press junkits you can hit on your book tour following the final installment of your series (both creating new canon and destroying established canon). Pay no mind to the actual written word. What matters is what you say.
And this brings us all back to the value of the written word.
What value is there in the creative written word when the very artists who's financial careers depend on the word ultimately destroy the value? What value is there in the written word when the word is not accepted and respected as the artistic endeavor that it is? What value is there in the written word when studio execs refuse to acknowledge the skill a quality script requires to be born into existence? What value is there in the written word when to be a successful writer, you need a marketing and legal team to make the living?
I want to see the four year old who can smear together a bunch of words and create a piece of high quality literature or a 'Heroes' script.
Acknowledge the skill required to create a universe like 'Lost' or news programs. Reward the artist who can craft complex stories, characters, and intricate plots and subplots. Don't treat writers like nothing. They are everything to what you watch/read. They create what you enjoy. What you demand. In a true capitalist society, they are the kings in entertainment. It takes skill to do what they do. While they may not have an MD or a PhD or an Esq. following their name, their craft takes an equivilant mental power, it's just in a different fashion.
They are artists. The writers/editors think outside the box. They create worlds.
It's time to respect the writer.
It's time to respect the creative word.
It's time to restore the value in the written word.