Authors Without A Yacht (AWaY) discussion

The whole lending controversy may not be piracy as such, but is interesting to follow.

Here are some instructive conversations around the internet.

http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/02/...

http://www.archive.org/post/349420/in...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-2004...

It makes me tired to keep hearing about how authors should be happy writing just for the sheer pleasure of it. Yet then they quote J.A. Kondrath and others who are making oodles of money from it. Promotion is difficult and time-consuming. Each eBook released is like a speck of dust in a sandstorm. To insinuate that authors wanting to be paid for their ideas is crass...well, that just puts frosting on the cake of entitlement for me. I already work 2 jobs...I may need to add a third. I sincerely hope it won't have to be waiting tables.

I agree. The majority of us struggle to make ends meet. Yes, I think feelings of entitlement are a big part of it. I'm tired of hearing these whiners complain about paying even $0.99 for an indie's upload when they'll blow their money at a bar or got to movies or buy a $5+ cup of Starbucks. It's me, me, me, want, want, want. Blah!

Who wants to read a novel length advertisement for Viagra?
That's the way literature will go, if those who want to see writers supported by the patronage of industrialists, tycoons, kings and politicians.