Helping Authors in Need
Aug. 23rd, 2012 10:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellenkushnerA couple of very dear old friends (and fellow-Bordertown authors!), Steve Brust and Emma Bull, both had serious surgery recently. And dear new friend Scott Lynch has decided to help them, bless his open spirit and generous heart!
When I posted about it on Facebook, one friend there who is himself in seriously straitened circumstances wanted to contribute. Which brought me to think of telling him, and you all, this:
If you're not in a position to make a donation, here's what Everyone can do to help support authors you love: BUY THEIR BOOKS (incl. Audio & E-Books)!! Retail, not used. Seriously; your $7.99 may not go directly to the author - but the cold, hard numbers of Sales Figures are increasingly important to one's career these days. Every sale counts. Also, Amazon stars. Really.
It may seem like not much to you - but together we are mighty!
We all want to be in a position to support ourselves. I know brilliant writers who cannot sell their next book because the last one's sales figures were too low. Rather than waiting til they need hundreds of dollars for mortgage or medical care, please do what you can to keep their numbers high and make it possible for them to continue doing what they do best.
(And, yes, I know that there are increasingly creative ways to make an income writing, self-publishing, etc. But (a) Some of us are not cut out for that; (b) It's nooooot faiiiiiir! Also: I am not against online fundraisers. Not at all, as you very well know. I just find that people who are themselves in serious financial need are often the most generous when it comes to others' needs - and I want to try to make it just a little easier for everyone to help. From each according to their ability; to each according to their need. Seems to simple, really!)
Love you guys. Lots.
When I posted about it on Facebook, one friend there who is himself in seriously straitened circumstances wanted to contribute. Which brought me to think of telling him, and you all, this:
If you're not in a position to make a donation, here's what Everyone can do to help support authors you love: BUY THEIR BOOKS (incl. Audio & E-Books)!! Retail, not used. Seriously; your $7.99 may not go directly to the author - but the cold, hard numbers of Sales Figures are increasingly important to one's career these days. Every sale counts. Also, Amazon stars. Really.
It may seem like not much to you - but together we are mighty!
We all want to be in a position to support ourselves. I know brilliant writers who cannot sell their next book because the last one's sales figures were too low. Rather than waiting til they need hundreds of dollars for mortgage or medical care, please do what you can to keep their numbers high and make it possible for them to continue doing what they do best.
(And, yes, I know that there are increasingly creative ways to make an income writing, self-publishing, etc. But (a) Some of us are not cut out for that; (b) It's nooooot faiiiiiir! Also: I am not against online fundraisers. Not at all, as you very well know. I just find that people who are themselves in serious financial need are often the most generous when it comes to others' needs - and I want to try to make it just a little easier for everyone to help. From each according to their ability; to each according to their need. Seems to simple, really!)
Love you guys. Lots.