I’ve been reading a lot of backlash lately about traditional writers insisting that anything put up on the web is not “real” writing. I’ve also been reading online, rather absurdly, that anyone who puts their stuff on the web for free are not “real” writers, since they’re not being paid and the free stuff cuts into the market of the “real writers.” Why the backlash?
Writing on the internet is writing in its most raw form. It’s not perfect, but nothing ever is. You do get the hacks, who can deal out endless tirades of junk that really has nothing to do with nothing except self-glorification. Then there are those who put up propaganda, and those who just write just to write. Then there are those who brilliantly craft words into paragraphs into pure works of art, the real undiscovered talents. Maybe these are the ones that the “real writers” fear, those whose raw talents will one day take over their space. And they’re doing it for next to nothing, and have a wider audience.
You’d think that all writers would embrace the internet as a new way to get their material out there. You do reach a huge audience: an international one. You can get your stuff up quickly and painlessly, cutting out any major publishers. You can put out the material you want with out an editor hacking out the pieces they don’t like because, in their opinion, the book won’t sell. You can put out endless amounts of material: hard drive space is relatively inexpensive nowadays, and there’s plenty to go around. You can even get paid for it through donations or well placed ads (there’s an idea that no one’s thinking about- placing ads alongside your stories. Come on people get to it!) You can even get instant feedback about what you’re putting up. Current copyright laws even protect your work- if it’s up, and on the internet, its copywritten. So, what’s the fuss again?
I’m not a writer (most would agree), I consider myself a comic-book guy (some would argue this point). I do notice that the comic book community is openly embracing the Internet rather than lashing out against it. I’ve not found a comic professional who is anti-internet yet, most comic professionals embrace it because it’s a good way to promote your work and get in touch with their fan base. Fans eat this stuff up because before they couldn’t directly connect with their favorite creators (besides going to the conventions), and now many are just a mouse click away. The point is, we, as fans get it. And the creators, even their companies, get it too.
So internet writers, bloggers, what have you, keep it up. You have a big fan in me. You have bigger fans out there, just waiting to eat up your work. Who cares what the traditionalists say- keeping your work offline is a greater offense than not putting your work out at all.
