Are we actually starting to be in control here?
Rush job Twitter transcript follows below, with minor cleanup for continuity; much cred to Rebecca Walker for saying “more please” at just the right moment. <3
Solidadrocks The problem w/ the old school publishing system is that it constantly feeds off of a writerly underclass; poets are a prime example. (more)
solidadrocks However, Amazon isn’t the solution; open source models + p2p is. If coders can do it, so can writers – musicians already are.
Elliotharmon @solidadrocks What’s that mean? Just distribute our writings by bittorrent and the like?
Solidadrocks @elliotharmon In part, yes. I think what’s still emerging is a means to capitalize on social media for writers specifically (more)
solidadrocks @elliotharmon (cont.) but look at open source software — small distributed model as a result of deflated costs. why publishing (more)
solidadrocks why *old school publishing models don’t work is that
solidadrocks @elliotharmon (cont.) is that digital media has flatted the costs of creating infrastructure, aka distribution. making that model (more)
solidadrocks @elliotharmon (cont.) work is our job. /fin
solidadrocks the irony here is that by pushing the costs of distribution off onto artists, it’s given us the ability to recoup profits directly.
Solidadrocks It’s as if we’re at the stage of building an audience. The expectation is “where’s the money?” but you need to build audience first.
Solidadrocks and fwiw, i have a much bigger audience on the web than i did without it. it’s the first step, but definitely not the last one.
Solidadrocks now, if you already have a large audience, this can seem like a pain. what folks need to consider is how much is getting opened up here.
Solidadrocks a very large, indeterminate number of artists who were heretofore under the radar suddenly have both a broadcast and a distribution model…
solidadrocks …for free. so i’m not exactly sweating copyright, if you get my drift, y’all. 
solidadrocks all i know is that the #hustle is my new currency. less of it means more slack = more time to write. sounds good to me 
rebeccawalker @solidadrocks more please.
solidadrocks @rebeccawalker will do – just getting started thanks
elliotharmon @solidadrocks It seems like it’s a much older question sans technology – the freedom of DIY vs. the polish of an established press.
Elliotharmon @solidadrocks Ultimately, the writers I’m most attracted to sort of straddle that fence.
Solidadrocks @elliotharmon like most upheavals in culture, it definitely has a history; as you said, it points back to DIY. free software mvmt, too.
Elliotharmon @solidadrocks The connection to open source is interesting, I hadn’t thought about that.
Solidadrocks I mean, consider the impact of this on an intersexed mixed-race lesbian author w/ radical politics. No longer just a whipping post 4 BillO.
Solidadrocks re IS mixed-race etc. author: not that I’m naming names here or anything. seriously, it changes things.
Elliotharmon @solidadrocks But most attempts I’ve seen to directly monetize online literature are pretty – dopey?
Solidadrocks @elliotharmon I think that’s because 1) digital distro is still new, and 2) consider who is making the platforms.
Elliotharmon @solidadrocks I’d rather to the monetizing in person; i.e., touring.
Solidadrocks @elliotharmon see that’s just it. the same thing is happening w/ musicians — you sell in concert, not through brick and mortar.
Solidadrocks It’s like that poet who is supporting the pirate bay — he’s famous, hell, seemingly he would have a lot to lose. but he notes…
solidadrocks…that audience is the first step. the existing models stifle creativity more than nourish it en masse. Winterston talks about this as well
elliotharmon@solidadrocks Yeah, I get you, and the internet has a pretty amazing ability to nurture marginalized communities, no question.
Solidadrocks @elliotharmon which in turn, opens the possibility for nurturing for everybody, not just the marginalized.
Solidadrocks re the platforms: i think free CMSes such as joomla and drupal, as well as semi-open platforms such as Ning, are the first step in what…
solidadrocks …is going to be a long process. writers and developers collaborating is a critical step in this process imo.
Elliotharmon @solidadrocks This is really interesting, I’ll try to send you an email, but now I gots to work.
Solidadrocks @elliotharmon coolness, please do.
Solidadrocks none of this is to say that people shouldn’t organize for better contracts – they should! but what if you have “the stuff”, but never get 1?
solidadrocks most of the writing contracts i’ve signed over the years have been shit – either $$ but work for hire, or shitty pay w/ some (or no) control
solidadrocks also, the work for hire contracts were for doing things i absolutely hate, like tech writing. UGH. still, i’m fortunate, rel. speaking.
