tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post5972183944807707340..comments2024-03-19T09:19:45.353+00:00Comments on Dan's Adventures in Fiction: The Myth of "Prestige"Dan Purduehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-2879705519904129442015-04-21T11:34:48.874+01:002015-04-21T11:34:48.874+01:00I understand where you're coming from, Liz, bu...I understand where you're coming from, Liz, but I'd say there's a big difference between the cost of driving or taking a bus to an open mic evening, and paying the organiser to take part. I'm sure there can't be many open mic nights where the performers have to pay for the privilege of reading to an audience (who may also have had to pay to be there, or at least buy some drinks). It would take a pretty unscrupulous organiser to make money from both the talent and the audience!<br /><br />But it's not the paying to take part that I disagree with in this case (I'm a fan of writing competitions, and I've paid many an entry fee). In this case the organisers are working like one of those dodgy literary magazines that does not pay for publication rights, but also charges a submission fee. That's a principle I find highly objectionable.<br /><br />I think they're relying on this idea some of us writers have that if you get your work alongside the big names then their success will rub off on you. People will pay for the chance of this happening to them. But experience has taught me, and lots of other writers I know, that more often than not, this just isn't the case.Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-32646912997830478282015-04-16T10:14:31.043+01:002015-04-16T10:14:31.043+01:00I am absolutely of the opinion that if you appear ...I am absolutely of the opinion that if you appear anywhere you should be paid. <br /><br />Ad if you write for a commercial venture, that you should be paid. <br /><br />But for instance if there was an open mic group in your local city and you decided to go to read out (probably not among those who are going to pounce upon your work and publish it), but for the enjoyment, the chance to judge reactions to your work,the camaraderie, the celebration of the word, then you would be paying about £10 in petrol to get here. <br /><br />Playing the Devil's Advocate, the chance to have one's work read alongside the above would be a pull, i think. Particularly as short works of fiction have been mostly ignored by publishers and this is an initiative to bring them into focus.<br /><br />I agree there needs to be a balance. On the whole I think you must be paid, don't devalue yourself and everyone else who is trying to write for a living, but in this sort of case, I'm not so sure. Liz Brownleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00391982640958944942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-25794371063409119522015-04-15T08:05:03.991+01:002015-04-15T08:05:03.991+01:00Context is obviously important, Patsy. I doubt mos...Context is obviously important, Patsy. I doubt most of the people (readers/listeners at least) who'd look on the Pin Drop site aren't likely to know the winner of this contest had to pay to get their story considered, so the fact that it's a good looking site with some famous names on it means the story will gain prestige.<br /><br />Exposure is important - as you say, obscurity is the main obstacle for most writers trying to make a living. But it's not a reward in itself and I'd advise any writer to think very carefully about what the net benefit will be before paying for such exposure.Dan Purduehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01633271913854946500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942294427695379658.post-86035904701690972812015-04-14T16:45:11.949+01:002015-04-14T16:45:11.949+01:00Prestige? How much prestige is there in having peo...Prestige? How much prestige is there in having people see you value your work so highly that you either give it away or pay people to read it?<br /><br />Exposure is a ittle more valuable, I think. No one can buy our work if they've never heard of us and reading something we've done for free just might prompt them to look out for more. Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.com