Will We Survive
October 24, 2000
7:40 a.m.
Lisa recently gave me Stephen King's new book on writing. I'm about a third of the way through and so far I would have to say it's a fascinating book, as much autobiography as anything else. I stayed up way too late last night reading it.   Being a bit behind in the world these days, I saw where Amazing was just purchased by Galaxy Online, who intends to publish it as a CD. In addition, the rumor has built (and I think been confirmed) that Gordon Van Gelder has left St. Martins Press and bought complete ownership of F&SF. Interesting times, eh? All in all, it just adds more fuel to the fire of controversy as to whether the short fiction market has any legs to carry it forward or not. Of course, I think it does. Obvioulsy, GVG does. The only question is how people will pay for it, of course, and if so, how much. Short fiction is an artform that will continue because it's an artform unto itself. Nothing else does what short fiction does. And somehow people will continue to pay their artists. That's how it has always worked since time eternal. The system of payment will likely change, and is changing. There will be more and more valid methods of receiving payment--be they micro-payments, or dumps from advertisers, or direct contracts with "publishers," or whatever. But the obvious fact is that our business continues to retool itself. Blink (or go to Cookeville for three days) and the entire landscape is different. It's a little scary, isn't it? How do you sort it all out? Heck, I don't know. In the end, it's always you who has to sit down and perform. It's you who writes the material, you who creates the characters and the situations, and you who gets that first rush of "yes, this is exactly the story I want to tell." This is the important part. It's you who does the work. It's you who creates the art. This cannot ever change--and this is why the short form will never go away. So I try not to worry about it. I try to focus on the story. Focus on the work. It's the beautiful part, you know. It's where you find elegance and clarity. Pay attention to the business. Take advantage of anything you feel comfortable with. Wallow in the work. Everything else will work itself out. Have a great day.  Yeah, Ron, but what about that man with the knife behind your desk...? Daily Persistence is © Ron Collins |
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