Solidarity, or Yikes, This Actually Affects Me!

by Michele                                                                     

(NOTE: I was going to blog about holiday shopping today, but since there are still 21 shopping days until Christmas, I decided to save that one for next Monday.  With apologies to our non-writer readers, I felt a rare but compelling urge to blog about something actually related to writing.  If you're not a writer, you should read this anyway.  It's really about how technology is changing the world, and how we'll all be consuming our entertainment in the years to come.)

In theory, from a distance, I've been supporting the screen and t.v. writers who are on strike in Hollywood and New York.  How could I not?  I come from a pro-union family.  I even had an uncle who was president of a local chapter of a major labor union.  I'm a writer, and I believe that many writers are underpaid (though I admit I hadn't previously felt the need to shed tears for the ones in Hollywood.)  Tina Fey was on the picket lines, and she can do no wrong in my eyes.  So from the beginning, I was willing to put aside my selfish interest in ensuring a steady stream of 30 Rock and The Office episodes and support my colleagues in their struggle.  But I never felt personally engaged, mainly because I didn't know what the dern heck the strike was about.

Now that I've informed myself, I actually really truly care.  In fact I'm waiting with bated breath to see what happens, and you should be, too. 

Turns out the Writers' Guild is striking over compensation for writers' contributions to new media -- in other words, how much they'll get paid when content they wrote is viewed on-line.  Read this excellent article in The New York Times, and you'll see exactly what the bones of contention are.  This issue matters more each day, because the shift to on-line viewing is happening with dizzying speed.  The Times reports that 100,000 new viewers begin watching t.v. on-line every day.  You read that right: 100,000 NEW VIEWERS ON-LINE EVERY DAY. 

I would find that hard to believe, except for the fact that I only recently starting watching t.v. on-line, and now suddenly I do it a lot.  It's either that or DVR, but one thing I absolutely positively never do any more: watch an episode of a t.v. show at its regularly scheduled air-time.  That's over.  Permanently. (The last thing I watched at its scheduled time was The Sopranos finale, and I can't imagine I'll ever care that much about a t.v. show again.      )    The same way people don't buy albums anymore because they'd rather download singles to their iPods, I have stopped watching regular network t.v.  Why should I interrupt my schedule when I can see an episode at my convenience?  And while I still love the old-fashioned romance of going to the movies -- the darkened room with sticky floors, the smell of stale popcorn and fake butter, the endless previews -- come to think of it, I could live without it.  If I had my druthers, we'd already be at that moment where every major motion picture was downloadable the second it hit the multiplex. If that were true, I would've already seen No Country For Old Men. 

Now, how does this relate to books, those old-style things that I and the other Tarts write? 

It's really hard to predict where books are going, technology-wise.  Lots of people who love to read will tell you that they need the sensual feel of the bound volume in their hands, or that they can't get into a story on a little screen. But those people are usually my age, or my mother's.  My kids -- that's another thing altogether.  Sure they love to read, and they love books, but boy, do they love screens.  Reading a story on a tiny little screen would not faze them in the least.  They're what the techies call "format-neutral" that way.   Apparently lots of people agree, since the Kindle is now out of stock.

Selling downloadable books on-line is an easy one.  Publishers can figure out how to pay writers for downloads of their books, and already do.  But what about all the free content writers are producing, like blogs?  Blogs are taking over the world.  How much time do you spend reading The Lipstick Chronicles?  (C'mon, admit it, you can't get enough of us.)  Writers who blog do it as a labor of love, with some small hope that blogging will help their book sales, but they don't get paid for it.  Can that continue forever? 

The fact is, nobody's really figured out yet how to monetize the internet.  (If you figure that out, shoot me an e-mail, would you?)  In the meantime, I'll be sending thoughts of solidarity to my colleagues in the Writers' Guild. 

   

Comments

[Ann]

30 Rock is sharp, witty, and very, very funny, in part because of the excellent performances from the entire cast. However, the music does not stop this from being one of the best comedy dramas on television. Probably the strongest aspect of 30 Rock is its characters and their relationships to each other, all of whom have a great deal of potential.

[Kathy Reschini Sweeney]

I support the writers too - and I hope the publishers are paying attention.

Michele is right - the kids in the next generation read on their phones. Internet publishing is already here.

I know that self-publishing is an obscenity to many people (in part because there is still a lot of fraud in that business) but if the mainstream publishers don't start figuring electronic media out, they're going to be left wondering how they ended up like the record business.

[J.D. Rhoades]

I had this conversation with Joe Konrath not long ago, and upon reflection, I think he's right: the way to make Internet publishing pay is through advertising. Can't say I look forward to it, but there it is.

[michele]

Joe does a lot of thinking on these issues, and I think he's right about that one, Dusty. Let's see, what should we advertise here at The Lipstick Chronicles? How about . . . shoes??

Kathy, that's really interesting about reading on phones. My kids don't have their own phones yet, but they read on their computers. What types of stuff do your kids read on their phones? Is it more than text messages?

Ann, I agree -- 30 Rock rules.

[Maryann Mercer]

My home PC isn't advanced enough for all the bells and whistles of on-line viewing, and I admit to being spoiled by my comfy chair and big screen, not to mention the comforting feel of paper in my hands as I read the latest from the Tarts or any other author I love. Call me old-fashioned :o) but there's an intimacy about reading books that hasn't yet translated into reading from my phone or laptop. Maybe it never will.
That said, there will come a time when I as a consumer will be forced to consider these things as an option. For example, by 2009 HD TV will be the only way to view most channels (if not all channels...I'm fuzzy on that) which means I will have to give up my perfectly good television to do "an upgrade" if I want to continue to see Men In Trees or NCIS. So, do I buy a new TV or a new PC? Hmmm.....
If online reading is indeed the way of the now and the future, then writers need to be compensated (royalties or whatever term you choose) for that is an equitable way. Joe Konrath indeed has a valid point when it comes to how to pay for internet publishing by advertising. It's also a good way to control just what ads do appear. If we're taking suggestions, I'd suggest (other than shoes)really good chocolates and Travelsmith!
Thanks for the heads up Michele...I would never have considered online compensation as part of the reason for the writers' strike. Good to know. Go, writers!

[Michael]

I've been a union member my entire professional life. I even served as a union officer for over 5 years, so my default position is to support any organized labor self help action. This particular issue I think goes way beyond the level of a single union. It's a fundamental shift in the nature of our economy, and it needs to be addressed.

The Internet is changing EVERYONE'S business, and not always for the better, depending on your point of view.

It seems like the one common thread is a drastic reduction in the revenue streams of the 'traditional' businesses; music, publishing, or in my case, travel.

Consumers have absolutely zero brand loyalty when it comes to online purchases. Gordon Bethune had a study done a few years back that documented people switching brands over a $5 difference in fares on a $1200 cost to coast airline ticket. Think about his: When was the last time you DIDN'T buy your airline ticket online?

You can make the argument that Internet commerce has contributed to the current state of the domestic airline business. I say "Good, bring it on." I just wish the government would have let the dinosaurs die off instead of artificially prolonging the suffering. You guys are lucky in that your industry isn't considered part of the national infrastructure, so government meddling won't work against you like it has in my business.

I'm a big fan of the idea of the free market economy, and letting market forces dictate the success or failure of a given business. You're all correct when you say the genie is out of the bottle; Internet commerce is accelerating corporate evolution like no other external market force in history.

Welcome to the jungle baby.

[Nancy Martin]

Yes, I am now ready for an e-book reader. After lugging many pounds of books on my vacation, I really saw the beauty of the e-reader. I'm actually disappointed that the KIndle is out of stock at the moment, because I would buy one. Thing is, you can only buy books for the KIndle from Amazon, right? (Talk about built-in brand loyalty!) To stay alive, bookstores are going to need to figure ways to make their products available for e-readers.

My daughter is buying a Sony e-reader.

As long as there are writers who are eager to write for free, writers are going to have trouble making a living at writing. Which makes this blog important for everyone, Michele. The more we know, the more we can built solidarity. Thanks for the info----and the NYTimes link.

[michele]

HD is great but it sure ain't cheap. Here's hoping that prices come down by the time you're forced to switch, Maryann.

Yeah, it really is a jungle out there, isn't it? Thanks for the broader perspective, Mike. This shift really is affecting everything.

Nancy, let us know how you like the ebook reader!

[William Simon]

Harlan Ellison summed it up nicely a couple of years back:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

The writers are asking for fairness. After decades of being treated badly ("Oh yeah..the writer. Get someone to put it all down for you, then hire someone else to clean up the commas and shit, and there you have it!"), all they want is a fair share of monies made from their work.

Knowing Hollywood, I don't think they'll get it. What will most likely happen is the shift will be made to outright sales, no rights retained, etc. Sounds okay, but that will raise the price of a script/treatment/novel. And maybe it should....

[Elaine Viets]

Good issue, Michele. I'm tired of reading about Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Britain has a strong writers union, and I wish we had it here.

[Harley]

Go, WGA.

If we're advertising, I think we must include . . . uh, LIPSTICK! (And I'd pay a lot for a lipstick that stays on for more than 17 minutes and doesn't get goopy on the corners of my mouth.)

Michele, this is a big wake-up call for me. I've had my head in the sand over this, but yesterday my 7-year old and I had a date in the mall and you know the store that excited her most? The Apple Store. She wanted a $400 iPhone. Why? Because you can watch TV on it. I told her that was pricey, even for Santa.

[Kerry, The Martial Tart]

I can read books on my Palm Pilot, and always keep a set stashed there for emergencies. But nothing is as comfy as curling up with a real book. Plus, I don't have to worry about my battery dying.

Thanks, Michele, for blogging about this. I was thinking just yesterday about how different this world is. My musings were prompted by the discovery that someone videotaped a martial arts demonstration I did last summer and posted it, without my permission, to YouTube. Someone clearly gave no thought to intellectual property or privacy rights. (Now that it's up, though, feel free to check it out -- the video quality isn't great, and I look like hell in that white gi top, but it's still kind of fun . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVTEw7uIYMk).

I'm now in the process of incorporating lecture podcasts into my teaching repertoire, and know I'll run into some of the same issues. How do I keep kids from sharing this stuff on-line? Should I?

I have nothing but sympathy for the writers and hope we all start to figure this stuff out pretty soon!

[Amy]

While I am guilty of downloading TV shows and movies like a madwoman, I have to say I'm an old-fashioned girl when it comes to books. I want it in my hand, crisp and clean. There's nothing like the smell of a bookstore, and walking among the racks gives me a thrill. I don't think I can ever say I'll be ready for an e-book reader.

That said, I do support the writers, even though my tv-watching schedule is getting thrown off more every day. Fair is fair.

[Tom]

If you're not a writer, I hope you kept reading, because Michele is smack-dab on target.

The Mighty Wurlitzer of Disinformation has painted unions and union members as lazy slobs. So if you didn't click Michele's link to the NYT, here's the shortest version of the strike cause I've yet heard:

"(The media companies) get paid for the rerun of the TV show or the resale of the movie or whatever, so they certainly understand and embrace the concept of getting paid when a piece of work has enduring value. It's just that some of them want to keep it all for themselves." – Mark Evanier

And this seems just a teensy-tiny bit inequitable. There's nothing wrong with The Stones earning current royalties on current sales of 'Brown Sugar,' is there? Download, cd, vinyl - it's their work, and they should receive some profit from it, right?

Same thing for our Tartly Lovelies, and for their colleagues-in-text on the picket lines. What's so great about cheating writers? Does it make a corporation more virtuous when it swindles?

If you're a writer, you probably support the strike. If you're a person who buys entertainment in any form, I hope you will support the strike.

[Mary Storyteller]

(C'mon, admit it, you can't get enough of us.)
So true, but for sustained reading I still prefer a book. I mentioned once to a student that reading too much on a screen makes my eyes hurt. He said that happened to him when he read from paper, so it apparently is a generational thing. It always seemed, though, that my students' on-line reading was really skimming, not settling in to really read. I admit also that I'm more willing to buy a book or CD or newspaper than to pay for a download, which seems so intangible. However it's done, though, I support payment for the writers, musicians, storytellers. I have a strong union bias also -- I even know some of the old IWW songs . . .

[michele]

Harley, a seven-year-old wanting an iPhone to watch t.v. blows my mind, and yet it's what we all know is happening. We need to face the fact that our business is changing. Heck, it's already changed.

Many thanks to Tom and William for sharing that info, and to all who've said they support the strike.

Kerry, I'm headed over to Youtube to watch you kick some butt. As for the law around these issues, I imagine that if somebody puts video of you online without your consent you can contact Youtube and get it pulled. This issue affects us all more than we'd like to think. Here's an example -- My 11-Y-O and his friend love to make silly videos. It's boy-stuff -- funny voices, action figures doing crazy stunts, that kind of thing, but the boys are in the picture. Just recently a third buddy was about to put their latest masterpiece on Youtube and my son's friend was pretty upset. The school administration got involved and it became a big deal! Just goes to show, Youtube is everywhere.

Come to think of it, Youtube is another format that the creative people don't get paid for. Yet many mainstream directors are now producing content for it the hope of getting picked up by a traditional network.

[Cheryl]

I hope that these links work, they are videos made by the writers of The Colbert Report and The Daily Show. They get the message across and really make the crux of the matter accessible to the masses:

http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20071116_colbert_writers_score_big_with_strike_parody/

http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20071114_the_winter_of_writers_dissed_content/

[Darlene]

"As long as there are writers who are eager to write for free, writers are going to have trouble making a living at writing."

Too true.

I turned down a A-V script job a couple of weeks ago because not only was the only compensation the "prestige of working on this project," I would have also had to sign away all my rights to use the research for any other project in any media available now or not yet invented.

They didn't have any problem finding someone to do the job. Sigh.

[janetlynn13]

I sit at a computer for 8 hours a day - I don't even turn on my home computer if I can help it. When I want to read a book, you can bet it's not on a screen! But my new love is books on tape. If you get a great narrator, it adds a whole new dimension to 'reading.' And makes it possible to 'read' while driving.

I didn't think about getting 'free writing' on this blog until now. It makes me even more appreciative to be able to read these wonderful insights every day - without even advertisements.

[Kerry, The Martial Tart]

Michele, I did ask YouTube to pull the video, but haven't heard back from them. And honestly, if the person had asked and had not included my name, I probably would have given permission.

I firmly believe in paying artists for their work, just as I expect to be paid for mine.

[Karen Olson]

I have to admit that the thought of having a bunch of books downloaded into one little thin, easy to carry device is rather intriguing. And since we all work on computers anyway, what's the difference whether we're reading a book or a screen? At least we're reading.

As for writing blogs for free, when I worked at the New Haven Register, a bunch of us were asked to write blogs (I wrote a travel blog because I was the travel editor) but we were not paid any extra for the extra job. And it was an extra job, because it was time consuming.

I don't mind writing on First Offenders once a week, that's not a big deal, but I do think professional writers should be compensated monetarily for their work if it's for someone other than themselves.

And speaking of making money off the Internet, how many here read Dooce every day? She's supporting her family, paying a mortgage off the advertising she's got on her blog. So it can be done.

[ArkansasCyndi]

janetlynn13 - audiobooks - I LOVE 'EM! I have one going in my car at all times. I just can't stand all the chatter on the radio and I'm not a big music listener.

The more I read about the writers' strike, the more I agree with them. I have watched tv on the internet. The watch THE LOT (FOX show) totally on the internet. I'm also a BIG DVR fan.

Kerry - I didn't find the YouTube video of you so maybe it's gone?

[Harley]

I'm reminded of my mom--years ago I gave her a computer for Christmas, thinking how she'd love e-mailing all her kids and grandkids. The look on her face when she opened it up was pure terror. You'd think I'd given her an AK-47.

I am now turning into my mother! I don't want an iPhone!

[Pam aka SisterZip]

Harley, that is so funny. My husband & I were the first in my family to have a computer but the last to upgrade the technology. My mother was second and she is an email wizzard! She keeps in touch with everyone she ever knew by email

I am totally for the WGA. If you write it, you should be paid for it. I am a union baby. My dad is a retiree from General Motors as a UAW member. I grew up and survived all of the strikes in the 60s. We ate a lot of mac & cheese in those days. While I understand both sides of an issue, let the PTB take less of the profit to pay for the contribution of others. When the contracts were last signed, no one ever thought the internet would explode like it has.

[Kerry, the Martial Tart]

It's still there -- if you search on Kerry Kilburn it pops right up . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVTEw7uIYMk