(no subject)

[olivermoss]

* And the WGA strike is on. *builds blanket fort and curls up with Kindle* Wake me when it's over.

* In related news I am going to at least start the 27 or so books on my kindle. I've had a kindle a long time but I don't use it much. I've accumulated a lot of books and things. I am currently on Dead Collections which I picked up after the author was on a episode of the DIY MFA podcast that I listened to. I'd been looking for writing pod casts and this one... if okay if I know the author or it's a very relevant topic. I nabbed that ep randomly and then the book.

Comments

[muccamukk]

Is there anything we're supposed to do to support the WGA? I saw a petition to sign, but it looks like it's for USians.

Good luck with the reading clean out. I always just seem to pick up three more for every one I read.

[olivermoss]

I posted a very good take by a WGA member to tumblr, because people making it clear on they are for the writers in various spaces does help. And, this morning I see that Diane Duane said roughly the same thing.

I don't know if you are on any blue hellsites, so that may not be useful to you. But, she does also talk about writing emails or snailmails to companies.

I also like boosting well informed takes by actual members where I can.

[muccamukk]

No, I left the blue hellsites in part because of the way they outsourced content moderation. Which is also on topic, today, apparently. I'll keep an eye out for a list of who to write to.

[oracne]

Go you on your Kindle challenge!

[olivermoss]

Thanks! I think a lot will hit my DNF pile, but it's time I gave each and every a fair shake.

[mistressofmuses]

*sigh*

I was so hoping that the various studios/their reps would cave, and I'm disappointed that they didn't. Full support to the WGA and to the strike; I just wish it hadn't been necessary.

Man, I've got so many things on my kindle (well, the kindle app on my phone.) I get a free book each month with Prime, or I've grabbed interesting sounding things when they're on sale or recc'd, or I've bought something solely to support a writer I like as a person (even if I haven't read their work)... and I'm SO BAD at reading ebooks that I never finish anything.

[olivermoss]

Same, I wish they'd just give in. This is BS, without writers scrambling during the pandemic to deal with changing schedules and restrictions that profit boom would not have happened. Just pay the writers.

Part of the problem is that I look for leads on good books, buy a few at a time and if the first didn't work out I just get the blahs. A lot are likely to be DNFs for me, but I need to sort through it all.

[mistressofmuses]

Right? PAY YOUR FUCKING WRITERS. Stop hiding behind this "but but but streaming is such a ~new thing~ we just ~don't know how it'll work out~"

Yeah. I know that a lot of mine are likely to be DNFs (and DNF'd by choice because I don't like them) because I got them for free or because I bought it to be supportive even if it didn't really appeal, or because it sounded good but I just didn't end up liking it. In practice, everything gets DNF'd because I *forget I'm reading it* the instant I close the app, lmao.

[olivermoss]

You can't get good product out of making the artists suffer. Video game companies tried that and it really, really didn't work. Bethesda got a reminder yesterday. Also, a lot of people are sick of the people who actually make the things they like being treated like trash.

I am just in a terrible cycle of looking for reccs in the worst possible places. Then I buy some because I want to keep trying and then... urgh... Still, something in this pile is going to be what I've been wanting and I'll be kicking myself for not trying sooner. Just need to sludge through.

[mistressofmuses]

The romance of the "suffering artist" is nonsense. It does not make better art, particularly not when you're talking about commercial products like games or television series. I'm glad that it seems like more and more people are aware of the conditions that a lot of creatives work under, and don't want that to be abusive.

And yeah... I know that feeling. I hate knowing that SOMEWHERE OUT THERE is the perfect thing that I would love, and will become my favorite thing ever once I read it... but I have to find it first. :/

[olivermoss]

Yeah, gamers used to romanticize devs needing to 'crunch' to make games, like the depth or meaning or immersive qualities were dependent on artists utterly immersing themselves in it for years to the point of nothing else mattering. They were like 'it may suck but without it we wouldn't have uniquely compelling games.' That idea is not thoroughly dead.

Yeah, and finding books I actually like will help my writing! arg....

[mistressofmuses]

Yeah. I know that *individual* artists can sometimes transfer their own pain or struggle into art... but that argument absolutely doesn't apply to the creators behind big, commercial projects. It's frustrating that the idea of how artists (game devs, writers, etc.) should be "grateful" to be exploited, because they "should" be doing it for love of the product, and wanting to make a living is somehow greedy.

Right? It's so frustrating! I know the good shit is out there, but I can't trust anyone to help point me to it!

[olivermoss]

Also, while past pain can inform things... it's not good for the actual writing process! Stress and needing to steal food from the netflix cafeteria hurts the output!

It's that somewhat-recent chestnut, Van Gogh made unique paintings but he was only able to keep painting and be seen because he was loved and supported and fed.

I'd also write a lot better with less shit in my past weighing me down.

Yeah, I need to plow through all these books... once I finish this video game, a youtube essay and oh I should write tonight... Oddly, I read so little in the novel form I need to like make an effort to make time. It's not the thing I think I read for when I've got time

[mistressofmuses]

Right? Most people are going to make much better art when they've got food and shelter and emotional support and the like.

And yeah, that gets brought up a lot, but it's because it's true. If it weren't for people who loved and cared for him, he wouldn't have been able to continue painting, and the painting he did would likely have been forgotten.

Also truth, if a bitter one. Turning personal experience into richer writing can be a great thing... but there's also baggage that does nothing but weigh you down and make everything harder, including creative output.

Hahaha. I definitely struggle with making time and space to read. To an extent, both time and space are genuinely limited, but on the other hand, it's often not what I have at the top of my priority list.