So, Writing Workshops. Everyone remember how Neil Gaiman said everyone should do Clarion and SFF exploded for a few months? Not weeks, but M O N T H S.
It went through all the stages of Discourse. Twitter threads, subtweets, counter subtweets, blog posts, counter blog posts, nonfiction pieces in sff pubs, counter nonfiction pieces in sff pubs. It was...wow. Kinda amazing, but also like wow, shit.
The main takeaway from that for me was: workshops are not just about honing craft, but are part of the Business of SFF, and as such are also about connections, networking, and gatekeeping.
But talking baldly about the Business of SFF is divisive, bc the whole thing is framed as being about talent and merit, when it also has lots to do with money and privilege.
Talking about either the talent & merit aspects, or the money & privilege aspects, put ppls backs up bc it means success is even more complicated, when it was ALREADY very complicated.
Writers constantly run against this thing within SFF where every good thing (every publication, project, payday, etc.) isn't Enough. We're still stuck in jobs we'd rather not work, still struggling to pay bills, still fighting against our weasels, markets, etc.
Even the bigger names in the field struggle with money, with output, with balancing pain and productivity. SFF is an incredibly competitive field and as such it can be hard to celebrate everyone else's victories when we feel we deserve more ourselves.
Workshops condense a lot of this, bc Workshops are often ways of having more direction & assistance in a field that often feels hostile, crushing, & uncaring whether or not any specific writer gets up in the morning and produces art.
Not gonna lie, having even a week of instruction and time to write sounds magical and I cannot afford it for a number of reasons. Not just the cost of the program, but what it would cost me to take that time off of work, away from home, chores, life, etc.
And I'm not alone in that. Many people just can't afford to go. Which sucks, because Workshops are powerful. Gaiman wouldn't have said everyone should do it if there wasn't the thought out there that To Be A Serious Writer, You Do Workshops.
For some, success doesn't depend on going to a workshop or not. But going to a workshop can Make A Difference, and that's something many can never expect to experience because of money and gatekeeping.
I personally think it's about time that something like the SFWA's mentoring program came along, which you can find more about here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…
Bc yeah, connections matter. Ppl who can go to workshops, attend conventions, have time to be involved with the power structures of SFF...well, some gates open for them. Those are tools, and they cost $$$.
And look, the whole system is kinda fucked. It's not fair. It's still, well, it's still capitalism. And saying ppl should be kept out bc capitalism isn't supposed to work for them or bc they hate capitalism is just bullshit.
Crowdfunding itself isn't fair, either. Who you know still dictates a lot of what you can expect to be supported. It still keeps ppl out. But it isn't immoral & ppl who opt to try & use it to further their career...more power to them.
Just like Patreon, just like Ko-fi or any other crowdfunding platform, probably we shouldn't shame ppl for trying to live & trying to navigate a system that pretends to be fair but really, really isn't.
Also fuck, treating it like people opting to crowdfund are immediately not only going to fund but haven't already exhausted their other options is bullshit. And telling ppl to wait is JUST DON'T DO THAT.
I swearing to fucking glob, this mentality that waiting is financially responsible or morally right bc such or such isn't "necessary" is the same toxic shit writers & ppl have to fight against all the time, for so many pains.
decided to crowd fund or seek help FOR ANYTHING carries with it shame and doubt, not least of which bc ppl come out of the woodwork to say things like "why don't you just wait until you can afford it."
what if we can never afford it? what if that never happens, & life is just jumping from one sinking ship to another until you run out of ships and drown? & just a little help once is enough to change that, to help get to somewhere stable?
Hi, I'm a Millennial. I have no faith that things will just get better. I have no faith that waiting for justice is enough. We need to take it now. In politics AND in business. We need to fund justice. We need to fight for it now.
If that's upsetting, okay. But maybe don't join the chorus of ppl telling struggling and/or marginalized writers that they need to work harder and wait for justice. There's enough of that. Fuck.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the Discourse on this one, bc these sorts of discussion need to happen. Cheers!
& bc this is about crowdfunding, here's my links
Patreon: patreon.com/quicksipreviews
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/A4273CFM
Patreon: patreon.com/quicksipreviews
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/A4273CFM
