Not Exactly Picking Cotton

[Bryon Quertermous]

A few days ago, the outgoing vice-president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America made some stupid comments about electronic media and called any writer who gives work away online a "webscab." I'm from the union-heavy state of Michigan and the word scab ain't one we like so much around here. Many arguments and counter arguments were made but MJ Rose said it best today when she said it's really a non-argument. Poll after poll and study after study showing giving it away for free increases a product's customer base.

None of that really concerns me all the much, but one of the funniest thing to come out of all of it is the declaration of:

International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day!

Now technically, the official date isn't until April 23, but I want to do it today. Every few months I get an email from someone asking where they can get a copy of my first novel, Lunchbox Hero, so I've been thinking about posting it online in some form and I think this presents enough of an excuse to do it now. I still have some great fondness for this book and it was shortlisted for the 2003 CWA Debut Dagger.

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[Robert K. Foster]

Unfortunately webzines like mine are caught up in this whole issue. It's my opinion that any web site that can find a workable financial plan can and will pay Authors for their work. Giving work away for "free" is not what anyone wants, it is simply the only way that works right now for many sites on the Internet. Attaching derogatory terms to simple promotion by an Author is just really counter productive.