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The question of this week is very simple and direct.
During the book fair in Frankfurt, I told everyone there that they should share content freely in the internet. Either we share or the industry will die. Most agreed with me but still had to figure out how they could survive in this new model. I didn’t have a ready-made answer to this since I’m taking my steps. This need for them to have an answer also applies to music, films and any other type of art. So, how can we share contents freely on the web and still make a living out of it?
According to you, how will the new paradigm of internet apply to the cultural industries?
You answers will be shared by me with some of the people I meet in Frankfurt.
You can also read my speech on copyrights and about the future of the book by clicking here
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…the internet is not a substitute for reading books and having them on our shelves at our disposal to reread (or give to a friend to read- which is usually what happens with the books I buy), live concerts, nor going to the theater to see a movie. Personally, I am half ready to toss my laptop out the window for the sake of my psyche… well, maybe not *actually toss it out of the window*, but I am using it for alot less than I used to. I suspect that, in time, people may follow suit. Perhaps not, though I am fairly sure that most people would prefer to buy a book rather than download it if they can afford to. If you are writing books purely to make money, I suppose it would bother you that people aren’t obligated to donate to you in order to have the privilege of enjoying your art— but maybe those people don’t need to be writing books in the first place. When it becomes only about the money, the art is lost.
Thank You for sharing yours… it’s changed my life.
Dearest Paulo and friends,
A little while ago, my younger brother who is a typical teenager of this generation, was admiring original books, dvds and cds on my friend’s bookshelf. He looked at my friend, who is of course older and is working, and asked him why he bothers to buy cds if he can just download them for free. My friend smiled and replied, ‘When you’re older and earning your own money, you’ll realise that when you admire and love a piece of music, you will want to buy a cd and support that artist.’
He was completely right, because right now, every movie, song and even book for that matter is available online, yet artists are still surviving. People will always buy their work, although i must admit their sales could decrease, i doubt it would be to the extent of them not living very comfortably. When one thinks of someone making a living, we immediately assume its for necessities- food on the table, a roof over your head etc. With the technology these days, i can understand the worry an artist would have during this transformation, as they could lose alot of money, but i don’t think it would ever be to the point where they won’t have a good plate of food on the table or shelter etc. I think, people are more worried about the possibility of losing millions, then being happy to attain the million they still earn. Since this entire concept is fairly new, the future effect of this change is pure speculation. Although things may get worse in terms of sales, it there is always the possibility that in the long run sales will increase. You’re experience Paulo, is the perfect example of this. We must not forget that the internet reaches billlions of people daily, and with that publicity, it also has great potential to uplift one’s career. In fact, many unknown artists have become famous, and their work recognised because of online distribution.
I believe the way our society is progressing, it would be pointless to fight material sharing online. We would be fighting a losing battle, and we could use the same energy to embrace this medium using it to our advantage. Also remember, the cultural industry is evolving itself, not only in terms of downloading, but with the actual arts. Music is using more and more technology to create new sounds in different ways and formats. Incredible art is formed not with a pencil and page but also with a mouse and keyboard. Even literature, people are becoming more and more open to sharing their writing through blogs etc and they are being found by other writers and publishers. The internet itself is influencing the cultural industry in numerous levels, and as technology is evolving, so the culture of our time.
By us denying this change, we will only be setting ourselves back, when we ourselves can progress too.
Thank you for being
Yajna
Dear Paulo,
we can not foresee the development in the future for many years. But I would like to talk to you about my own experience.
About three years ago I discovered your books and bought them one after another. I made some investigation in the internet because I was missing one book in the german book trade. It was the book “Brida”. I found it in the internet with the possibility to download without payment and did it with a guilty conscience. I read it via “laptop-screen”, because I couldn´t print it.
Now it is available and of course I have bought it. A book with a wonderful bookcover and photo.
In the moment people and especially readers like books. They still love it to “possess” books…….
But perhaps it will change in the future…..but are we interested in things which will happen in x-Years?
one more thing,
There is a free newspaper in Sweden called “METRO” most popular thing I ever seen. You can see it every day in the hand of almost everybody. And you can find a lot of thing inside it from short story to interview, gardening, cooking, advertising, movies, TV, etc. This is a good example of sharing free information and it’s growing fast every year. Probably we can do almost same, even I don’t like free stuff.
‘The love of money is the root of all evil’. Therefore I believe Mr Paulo is doing the right thing, pursuing a new paradigm of free content.
Mr Paulo, being one of the richest of the rich, could even pay poor readers to read his books, and subsidize less successful writers, if he strongly believe spiritual written works, is what the world needs.
For instance…a wild idea…if I was financially able to take one year off, to see again some unknown and famous artists I have met on my way all over the world, and present these impressions on a daily/weekly basis, I believe I could do miracles for this blog!
My point is, the spiritual potential…if we share, is so beyond anything we have imagined so far. Already, what I experience as a reader of Mr Paulo and as a participant in this blog, is extremely enjoyable.
At last…I’ve been thinking about something I posted this last week, about how we can meet Jesus outside the Church, in the poorest of the poor. Really, I also believe I can meet Jesus in the richest of the rich, right here, as long as we fight the good fight.
Danke Google
thats when Portuguese becomes handy….:D
Muito estimado Paulo,
ich schreibe auf deutsch, da auch das, was ich über Ihre wunderbare Rede zur Frankfurter Buchmesse schrieb in dieser Sprache verfasst ist.
http://commonsblog.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/paulo-coelho-mehr-verdienen-mit-auto-internetpiraterie/
Ich arbeite zum Thema Commons (the commons of the Earth and the Commons of the minds), den Allmenden oder “bens comuns”.
“Commoners” rücken- wie Sie- die Idee des Teilens von Wissen, Ideen und anderen Ressourcen in den Mittelpunkt. Es gibt inzwischen eine neue Commonsbewegung. Insbesondere im Internet- und Softwarebereich. Und sie hat Instrumente entwickelt, diese Ideen des Teilens auch juristisch festzuschreiben.
Fur den Vertrieb kultureller Inhalte ist das für alle Fragen rund ums Copyright hochgradig relevant.
Auf Ihren Seiten haben ich nach einem Hinweis zum praktischen Umgang damit gesucht. Ich habe einen Hinweis darauf gesucht, dass Sie sich für “some rights reserved” statt “all rights reserved” (Sie sehen, ich bin den Ideen von Lawrence Lessig sehr zugeneigt) entschieden haben könnten. Doch ich wurde nicht fündig.
Daher meine Frage: Wieso haben Sie in Ihrer Rede die Bewegung und Möglichkeiten von Creative Commons ausgespart? Was halten Sie von Lizenzen, die uns, den -eben nicht passiven Konsumentinnen- mehr Nutzungsrechte einräumen, ohne Ihre Urheberpersönlichkeitsrechte zu verletzen?
Warum bleibt der letzte Paragraph Ihrer kraftvollen Ansprache so offen und mehrdeutig?
Über eine Antwort würde ich mich freuen. Ich würde sie dann gern mit den Leserinnen und Lesern meines Blogs teilen.
Mit herzlichen Grüßen
Com um abraço solidario
Silke Helfrich
Pd; intentei colocar isso no seu site em alemao, mas nao deu certo
Dearest Sir Paulo,
Before anything, i’d like to share to ye my gratitude for the inspiration ye’ve shed me for the past four or five years now. Just like Freeda, i came to know ye & yer works through yer book ‘The Alchemist’ which a good friend of mine shared to me (which book was shared to her as well by her friend, imagine that?) and guess whot? that book also i happened to share to my ex partner and he is a person who likes sharing his book after he reads it, thus, for sure he would eventually pass it on:D Yer story in ‘The Alchemist’ gave me tremendous light that two years ago I bought the same book as a Christmas present for my big brother, to somehow introduce ye to him (he’s an avid reader too & who is from time to time borrows some of my fave books) likewise in a way to influence him to read another story genre;)
Indeed, i agree with most people here who gave out their views about this new paradigm. True, nothing can compare with the delight once ye have the arts right before yer very presence, wherein ye can feel them, smell them even sleep with them as well as keep them with yer other collection or souvenirs from yer fave writers, artists or creators; they may be books, poems, cds, dvds, photographs, paintings, etc. It is inevitable or irresistable not to buy an art from one’s favourite creator, no matter how free his/her art can be, tangibly or virtually. Thus, it does not matter much if books, music or any other form of art is free out there, whot matters most and is a fact that people who love arts, i for one, will always go (with a pay) for quality and the pleasure of having them at hand.
Nevertheless, it is quite essential of what paul, jessica, andoyman, kealan and few others pointed out the (obvious existing) survival in the internet free-sharin. Sponsorship will likewise help.
Well, at some point, I am an idealist too. Yes, it would be a better place a better world if money will be eradicated, let’s go back to old trading. However, i come to think, whether it would be trading or money, am afraid some people don’t have enough stuff to trade things off:(.
Mr. Coelho, Thank Ye so much for giving us this opportunity to interact with ye through yer blog. Blessed be…
with Love,
aynn xoxo
The best things in life are free.
You have to give to receive.
We can only have a free world if we allow the other point of view to be heard with understanding, respect, love and compassion.
We need the right information.
It is our entitlement to seek the truth and make our own mind.
Writers are messengers. Some are better than others. They are the conscience of our planet – a part of our children’s future.
That’s why I am in favour of free content on the Internet.
It is there to push you forward and beyond,
It digs deep down to the core of the matter – your soul -
It does not need any words at times – it goes beyond that -
It is cosy
It is like a “promess” that makes children happy,
It is re-assuring and comforting,
It teaches you discipline task and to believe in yourself,
It turns around your obsessions into strengths,
It is humane,
It is International,
It breaks all barriers – religious, ages, races -
It is about sharing and communicating,
It is a different kind of war,
It is the battle against the truth,
It is tough,
It is full of wisdom,
It is plain common sense,
It teaches you appreciation in the smallest task,
It is simple and very fulfilling,
It is the essence of being,
It is “You” in the making,
It is a gift that is appreciated,
It is the school of life,
It is a soul-searching delight,
It is a commitment.
I am sad…I am unhappy paulo…I dont know English…And I can not write for you :-(
I am unhappy Paulo…
You are my favouite writer, Paulo!!
Dear Paulo
My name is Jasmine,and I am iraninan. I dont khonw English very good,but I like you very much! So I write to you this! :-) I like your books very much! And I have best wishes to you! Your books helps me…thank you Paulo…Thank you…
:-)
I like sharing content but not making it available to download for free – ie Google Books. If we can’t make it financially viable, there will be no money in the writing/publishing business and it will ultimately restrict the number of writers who can afford to be writers, and not just writing waitresses – as there are also many. I believe it will also harm the quality of books, if we have no editors and publishers making selections to differentiate ‘real’ books from the mass of self-publishing.
To make it financially viable?
The number of page views per IP address could be tracked and paid royalties, but that would be technically somewhat complex. I also like kealan’s idea – a license fee/annual subscription per distribution channel (ie: Amazon, iTunes) for unlimited downloads in a set time period. Or I could choose the volume of downloads/credit I want – just like Istockphoto.com does for images. I could get varying levels of discounts by buying a higher advance volume.
Prevent unlimited piracy
Downloads can be simultaneously licensed for a limited number of computers/devices, so that similar to a Mac i-tunes library – you can use it on your i-pod, a home computer, a laptop – but prevents free copying to unlimited users.
Select books like singles, not like albums
Books should also be sold online like music – as particularly for non-fiction, I may want to buy only part of the book for reference – I could pay $x for say, 10% of the book. I could select by chapter or by control/select function. Then I could buy the bits I want just like buying music singles and not the whole album.
how do i know thta path that i am on is the wright one
Flap … l’oiseau se pose
Je viens de lire attentivement votre discours de Francfort. Votre analyse est saine et robuste. Elle est vraie, non seulement en ce qui concerne le livre, mais aussi pour tout ce qui concerne la vie. La capacité d’adaptation est primordiale. Par ailleurs, la volonté de tout un chacun de participer, même un peu, à l’oeuvre collective est forte. Avec Internet, la passivité n’est plus de mise même si chacun apporte sa contribution à sa façon par le biais d’un commentaire, d’une photographie, d’une vidéo, d’une nouvelle, d’une poésie, d’une peinture et j’en passe. La volonté individuelle s’agrègue à cette nouvelle aventure collective. Je suis vivant, je participe, j’échange, je me situe. Les groupes d’idées se font et se défont comme des bancs de poissons, pratiquement sans s’entrechoquer, participant à un tout. Une question cependant reste ouverte … what’s next ?
busardement
Hola.
Creo que internet es un mundo abierto para todos y está cada día mas al alcance de todos, es una forma bastante justa de compartir información con otros a través de este medio, pero creo que el arte de la literatura, la música, entre otros, representa un esfuerzo para su creador, y como tal merece su recompensa, sé que para muchos no es importante recibir dinero, cuando pueden recibir una enorme satisfacción al poder estar ayudando a muchos con sus creaciones, pero a mi parecer se puede crear un espacio bastante justo para todos, se pueden dejar en internet partes de un libro, si la idea es que el lector conosca el material, acá existe un dicho: – No se necesita comer todo el queso para seber si está salado-. En caso de que el lector considere que vale la pena comprarlo, puede buscar su forma impresa, o buscar a algún amigo que se lo puda prestar, o buscar ejemplares mas económicos en librerias de material usado si el caso es que no se tenga suficiente dinero para adquirirlo.
Ese es mi punto de vista en cuanto a la literatura, en cuanto a la música o el arte, puedes obtener la información por internet, pero para mi no hay nada como el original, si realmente soy admiradora me parece que vale la pena la inversión, porque si un artista te da la posibilidad de conocer su material, su vida, su esfuerzo, él merece de igual manera alguna recompensa por su trabajo.
Mil besos, exitos y bendiciones a todos.
Se les quiere un montón…
Giving away books and ‘cultural events’ for free reminds me of this story: http://www.charityfocus.org/blog/view.php?id=1943. Though this is in a very different context, the idea is to spread the new paradigm of ‘giving for free’…
Dear Paulo,
This is what happens to me: I download music and movies from the net and I read bits and pieces from e-books. But I also keep on buying them! =) A dvd or cd will appeal to me if it comes in a nice box or case, with a beautifully done leaflet inside with pictures and information or some sort of bonus tracks or extras… I buy them even when I already have the free version downloaded. When it comes to books it´s an entirely different thing: nothing compares to the feel and smell of a brand new book on your hands ready to be read! =) I´ll never stop buying paper books! And when you think about it… if you read something you like chances are you´ll end up buying it since printing it at home is expensive and reading it on a screen is unconfortable. So when it comes to books, sharing contents for free might even increase sales.
So I really believe the industry should share not only samples of artists´ works but the full versions. Those who can´t afford it would have acess to art they wouldn´t be able to enjoy otherwise. The industry would profit anyway from those who keep on buying… I really believe the world is ready (or getting there) for this new paradigm of sharing. Some companies are not worried about profits only anymore, they´re also worried about the quality of what they do and the kind of world they´re helping to create (I know, it´s just a few, but I do believe we´re heading for major changes and that includes a new paradigm of money too). =)
Love,
Ana Paula
Ps – Tenho uma cópia da 4ª edição brasileira de O Diário de um Mago com uma pequena dedicatória sua, onde você me diz que o Caminho de Santiago está também dentro de nós. Comecei a percorrê-lo a primeira vez que o li e gostaria de dizer que hoje, aos 40 anos, finalmente “cheguei a Compostela”! Obrigada, de coração!
Um jeito seria arrumar patrocinadores.
Os ebooks teriam algumas propagandas no meio, como nas revistas…ou algo assim.
Olá,
esse é grande dilema, e bem complicado.
Uma vez, o senhor já havia dito que, quando o leitor gosta, ele compra o livro. Eu concordo com isso.
O fato de eu ficar muito tempo no computador, acaba por prejudicar minha visão… estou usando óculos por isso.
Então, o máximo que faço é ler um capítulo inicial, se gostar corro comprar… porque posso ler em qualquer lugar, posso fazer anotações sobre eles, enfim, posso ter sempre comigo, nos lugares mais distantes.
Atenciosamente,
I’ll just say – thank you! :)
I agree with sharing books, movies, etc. in the internet because it’s one way of giving out information to people who doesn’t have the resources to get them.
Angeline
“A Society whose citizens refuse to see and investigate the facts, who refuse to believe that their government and their media will routinely lie to them and fabricate a reality contrary to verifiable facts is a society that chooses and deserves the Police State Dictatorship it’s going to deserve.”I. Williams Goddard
Writers are messengers. Some are better than others. They are the conscience of the world – part of the future we leave for our children -
HI,
I would have no problem with paying for music or films, when I could get them with reasonable price from internet.
Books I by anyway in paper format, because I can’t look at the screen all the time.
In my country (Estonia) it is not possible to buy films or music in the net (OK, maby I just don’t know the right place). When I want music or films it is easier for me to steal them from Limewire or etc.
So I think there is a lot of people who would buy art instead of stealing it, if only it was easier. Of course the price should be normal – 1 dollar for a song or 10 for a movie are OK (from my point of view).
Best wishes,
Kim Inno
Hace algunos años,vì un artículo que se titulaba “Lenin va al infierno”no le preste mucha atención hasta que un hermano que se llama Lenìn lo leyò y lo compartió conmigo, me gustó ya que relata una forma còmica y paradójica la vida de Lenin el revolucionario ruso después de su muerte.El va al infierno donde implanta su pensamiento revolucionario que hace temblar al diablo mismo en el infierno por lo que él preocupado lo manda la cielo donde continúa con su ideología y teniendo éxito.Me gustò este relato que hizo Paul Coelho de este personaje de historia.
Me gustaría tener este artículo ya que con esto comenzó mi afición por Paul Coelho el escritor.Si alguien tiene este artículo por favor envìelo a mi correo electrónico que aquí publico.wilspis33 @hotmail.com
When I was a teenager I used to trade music tapes with my friends. This introduced me to many bands I wouldn’t have known otherwise and the desire to hear more of their music and own it in CD format made me go out and buy their albums. Now I have a huge CD collection because of this.
I first read one of your books when a friend lent me The Alchemist to read, which was consequently lent to her by another friend. Now we both have bought our own copies of The Alchemist and most of your other books. But if we hadn’t been given to read it for free we might never have read any of your books.
Nowadays, the internet gives me access to even more books and music to sample and if i like it I buy it. Therefore I believe free content on the internet does not harm the artist but helps the artist get exposure.
Hi Paulo, everybody,
Consider the Laffer Curve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laffer_curve), which is used to illustrate that increases in tax rate doesn’t necessarily result in a corresponding increase in tax revenue.
The same thinking can be applied to the price of a commodity, such as books. Assume that you priced your books such that only 1000 people in the world could buy and read them. You can then consider that reducing the price would increase the books availability. More people could afford the book, and your readership would grow. Continuing in this trend, it makes sense that giving your book away for free, makes it available to everyone who wants it.
While you give your books away for free, you obviously can’t make any direct profit from them. Suddenly, everything else you do becomes more important. Since you can expect your readership to be larger when your books are free, the demand for speaking appearances, book signings, blogs, etc. grows with the size of your market.
Say 10% of your readership is interested in finding out more once they’ve read a book. When you only had 1000 readers, this market is only 100 people. But when your book is free, suddenly your market can be as large as hundreds of millions, and 10% of that is a very large crowd of willing consumers.
-Chris
Dear Paulo,
Sometimes when we seek future solutions, we are wise to look at the past. Television, for example, was free for a very long time and quite successful. This was accomplished through sponsors in the the form of commercial advertisements. I think that this could work for books, and music. Product endorsements could also pay nicely as is the case with sports figures.
You may say that not every artist will be able to get sponsors and/or endorsement contracts, and I would say that the best of them will. In much the same way that a sitcom would get cancelled if the ratings were not what they needed to be, the artist would have to have an audience. It goes without saying that in order to attract and keep an audience you must be offering something of value. So everyone wins except, of course, those who can either not attract an audience or fail to keep one.
In this way artists have the potential to attract a larger audience because people are happy to at least sample their art for free, and I believe that it will only add to sales of books and CDs. I do not think that it will enhance the film making business. It is a rare film that we choose to watch over and over again, but music is something that we do listen to in that way. As for books, most readers will always prefer the paper form. Honestly, someone would have to pay me to read an e-book. But, I certainly welcome the opportunity to sample without having to visit the local book store. I also much prefer an actual CD to a download, but I guess I am just old-fashioned. I don’t care how much free music is out there, I am still going to buy my favorites.
We pay for television now, and what happened? The quality of programming has declined. More doesn’t always mean better. Perhaps it time to let the audience decide.
Diane :)
Why not have a licence fee for the computer to protect users from the industries. Much like a TV licence where I come from. You pay E150 a year and download all you want.
Hi Paolo,
to be honest with you, I don`t belive, that it is possible to share contents freelly in the internet and still make a living out of it. I´m a person, who doesn`t have a single copyed CD. I paid for my CD´s and I´m willing to pay for music, books ect. Because this person, who wrote the book, made the CD, spent hours, days, months to make it for me and I want, that this person gets something for it. Am I strange, stupid, insane? I don`t think so.
Think I’m on Che’s side, always. Always have been, always will be.
And Jessica makes a very good point: “how much is enough” in terms of profit? Can some sort of compromise be reached by the author and the publishers saying, “Okay, this is how much we NEED to make on a book to make it worth our while”? Not how much we ultimately WANT to make, but just how much we need in order to make the venture feasible. In the case of an author such as Paulo, who is fairly consistent in terms of production, this is easy: each book needs to make in profit what he needs to support a certain lifestyle for two to three years. The amount his books bring in over and above that is the value of the content that can afford to be given away in order to promote those base sales. This is a very simplistic and communistic view, I realize, but I also think, just as Paul from Austria seems to be hinting at, this industry, aside from striving to “merely survive,” is rife with greed.
I know a few published authors, and, almost without exception, they all complain that they make very little – not nearly “enough” from their books. Yet, they all live in very nice houses, in nice parts of the city, own nice new cars, are able to travel at will and eat in nice restaurants. They wear nice clothes, visit hairdressers and nail salons and day spas, and, as far I can see, want for nothing. Yet they almost all complain? Why? Because, regardless of whatever prosperity they have attained, they still have not become the super-author they dreamed they might be, someone such as Paulo Coelho. That is what they mean when they say they already aren’t making enough money from their book sales and, thus, can afford to give away nothing. They have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads – they want to be superstars, they want to make millions.
There is nothing that I admire more than art, in any form, and I really think there is something special about the creative endeavor. Still yet, I do not think the artist’s time and labor should be worth more than anyone else’s. As with movie stars or ball players, there should be a reasonable limit, a line one can draw and say “this amount is sufficient.”
I know a few aspiring writers as well, most of whom are quite young – in their twenties. Most are drawn to writing as a profession, because it is simply the thing that gives them the most pleasure in life. Still yet, as I see in their conversations and the expression of their hopes and dreams, they are not immune to the dazzling light of stardom. Each one, in some secret corner of his or her heart, harbors the vision of a mansion on a hill, a top-of-the-line sports car, vacations in exotic locations of the world…. They are like young kids playing ball, who say “I play ball because I love to play,” and yet, if you notice, each has his eye on the Big Guy with the prize, the superstar who “made it” all the way. They are driven by love of the art, but they are also driven by avarice.
So, all of this screeching “we can’t afford to give away anything,” I wonder how realistically based this statement is. I realize that beginning authors probably have the most to fear. Of course they want to make money – as they have a right to reap rewards for their work – but are their expectations of what the industry has to offer realistic? Especially with this new challenge of the internet looming before them – potentially free content in competition with the traditional modes of distribution. What, however, if there were a shift in thinking?
Now, to put this in more personal terms, I will use myself as a theoretical example: I write and I suppose, yes, there is nothing more that I would prefer to do as a profession. I would indeed like to be paid to write if for no other reason than that this would free me from having to work otherwise, and thus would free me to use all my time for writing (or thinking about writing, or just living in preparation of writing). Anyway, my cousin, she’s a dental assistant. She seems to really love her job, and apparently is quite good at it, particularly good at working with “special needs” kids. In other words, she’s not only highly experienced, good at what she does and loves it, she’s also a specialist of sorts. She makes a living at this – enough to support herself. She does not want for anything of necessity. She doesn’t need to take a second job to “make ends meet.” As I gather, she is quite content. I, on the other hand, an aspiring writer, what should I wish for in compensation for my labor? What should I expect from the profession I have chosen out of love? (I realize, at this point, that I am making an argument for communism, and that will take us nowhere, because those who side with me on this, already do, and those who don’t, won’t. It is a futile debate.)
Still, I will add just this: If someone would pay me enough money to write, such that I would have enough to live on (to live modestly, at that) and would never have to take another job, but could devote myself solely to my writing, I would be the most ecstatic person in the world. For me, that is the goal – the only goal. There is nothing above it, because this is all that I can ask of God. If God will allow me to be supported modestly by my writing efforts, then this is his “stamp of approval” in a sense, his show of endorsement. (All else is excess.) If God deems it fit for me to share my work, my art, with others, he will make it reasonably financially profitable for me to do so. I trust that, if I am meant to be a writer and share my ideas, God will support me in this. This does not mean a new Hummmer, a mansion overlooking the L.A. cliffs, a private Learjet…. It just means that he will insure that I receive, in return for my efforts, “enough.”
So, the ethic that is perhaps missing in the publishing industry, the ethic that should replace the ethic of avarice, is the “ethic of enough.” Like Paul from Austria, I too am perhaps a bit of an idealist, but I don’t apologize for it.
Love to you all!
Savita
Gutenberg says “No”
Che says “Yes”
Viva la revoluccion
…y es todo un tema!el poder leer un libro atravez de internet es gandioso!es llegarle a todo el mundo sin escala..pero..que sea grandioso no significa que sea beneficioso con lo que respecta a lo economico,bueno seria. poder leerlo,pero! no poder descargarlo eso por un lado y por el otro, creo fervientemente que el libro nunca va a desaparecer.yo tengo todos,pero todos tus libro y sin embargo me facina la idea de leerte por internet..es como mas intimo…interactuo con mi escritor,esta buenisimo!!eso no significa que no caiga rendida frente a una libreria o cada año no me deje de comprar “las agendas coelho”. este medio es un ir y venir de ideas es provechoso para el autor y gratificante para el lector…retoceder nunca! rendirce jamas!es mas! atravez de este medio te habras dado cuenta que somos mas los lectores los que estamos preocupados por vos que vos mismo! y sin este medio no te podrias dar cuenta que es asi por que en medio de todo la industria del libro, marketin ,imprecion, hojas ,tinta, editor y cuantas cosas mas,aca lo que mas cuenta es el escritor y el lector.igual GRACIAS! nos haces participar en todo,y esta muy bueno..la luz esta! solo hay que hacerla brillar…
My desired profession would be as a cartoonist illustrating and selling comics. In America we have Diamond that controls the comic industry. Diamond feels that 100% of comic should be superhero based. At the major publishers they literally have hundreds of employees who never touch the (comic) produced but they make mega dollars. I assume at the big book publishers it is the same they have hundreds of employees who do not write the book, edit or market them. From my understanding the American record industry is the same.
The world is upside down.
These organization/business do deserve to make money. If x number of readers buy your books at whatever price. How many would buy it half that price and so on. But right now those controlling the industry feel all cost saving should be place on the creators.
It does not matter if you are talking about writers, musicians, artists, inventors or engineers, they are the creators. Yet place individuals who do not create but those who suck from the process. I guess it is fault we allowed them to be place in position of authority. I doubt they will give up that authority out of tne kindness of their heart or the good of the industry.
My 2 cents
Para mi esto es como la oferta y la demanda. Dado que Internet llega a tanta gente bajar los precios sería interesante, esto sería en cuanto a promocionar y tener publicidad.
La música tendrá que vivir de sus conciertos, acercandose al público mucho más.
El cine tendrá que bajar sus precios y así iremos más ya que es un placer ir al cine con los amigos y ver la película en una pantalla grande con ese sonido que te hace ver los efectos especiales.
Los cuadros si bajaran sus precios a todos nos gustaría tener alguna obra de arte en casa, pero a veces las personas valoran por lo que valen las cosas monetariamente y no por lo bien que están hechas.
Cuántos músicos hay y que no están valorados, ayer mismos escuché a un músico de color que tocaba el saxo fenomenal, era una delicia oirle tocar “Es la historia de un amor” y era gratis. Quizás una parte de los impuestos pudiera ser como aportación a estas personas que están en la calle y nos ayudan a tener un día más agradable.
Voy a soñar que el arte en todas sus facetas es más valorado y las personas pueden vivir de el, así podríamos dedicarnos a hacer lo que nos gusta y ganarnos la vida.
Un beso Paulo.
Deus criou tudo, e não cobra direito autoral de nada…
Dear Paulo,
I want to add some thoughts to what I wrote above: Some time ago I read a book by Julia Cameron dealing with the path to creativity – as by nature, she states, we all are creative beings. As Julia is a writer she often refers to writing, but she wants to address everyone, especially because there are endless ways to live and to express creativity. Julia also writes that according to her observations “blocked” artists often decide to spend their lives close to creating artists, be it by having private relationships with them or often by doing non-creative jobs in the creative industry. Having the latter in mind, what a blessing it would be if those people would start to actually live their creativity due to their “evasion strategy” no longer working.
As for the benefits from free contents: There’s no doubt that this would significantly add to the power of sharing the light and pleasure – if we find a way to handle information overkill; I can not assess whether endorsement by online communities or (virtual) word of mouth then would be sufficient, especially as the online contents grow at ever increasing pace.
Love
Günther
Dear Paulo,
I consider it to be a very good idea to spread more art, music and literature contents freely in the internet. Of course the creators have to make their living on their creations, but I think that there are ways to handle this.
First of all I think a lot of people are willing to give money in exchange for these creations – especially if their hearts really were “set on fire” by these. So one way might be publication in exchange for donation.
Then I can imagine that there is a significant number of people who prefer to receive something “material” – people who prefer holding a book in their hands instead of just reading it online or printing it themselves. Regarding music the number of these people might be a lot smaller, but musicians can compensate this easily by income from live concerts. I can think of income from live performances for writers as well, there are so many possibilities (even though this would imply a lot of travelling and at the same time a considerable investment of time which otherwise could be used to actually write books).
And: Warriors Of The Light know that their good fight will always lead to wealth in the end. As you say: Success is a consequence and this will still be true after having increased the freely available contents in the internet.
It might well be that those creating for the sole purpose of profit will have to face financial losses. Like in many other “industries” also in literature and music I think there are a lot of musicians and writers respectively who do not follow their dreams and their heartstrings but rather “work in an industry”. A portion of them probably would be forced to change their profession or their creations, perhaps even for good as then they’d get a chance to make their real dreams come true – either by doing something else or by beginning to create out of their hearts instead of in accordance with strategical concepts.
I’m very keen on seeing how the other visitors of your blog think about this.
Love
Günther
Hey there :)
I’m doing music, and what youtube and all these other sharing networks are currently working on is that what ever music we upload on to the internet, they’ll pay us, according to the number of clicks on our site :)
So the more content we share, the more clicks, the more we’ll earn.
Dear Paulo,
first and foremost – enjoy your time in Frankfurt – I’ll be there in two weeks, sadly two weeks too late to see you at the book fair.
Anyhow, I believe in publishing material on the web, for free or to pay for, or both.
Books: I could never read a whole book from the screen, nor would I ever start printing a whole book from the web. But it is nice to read bits and pieces – and then decide whether I’d like to buy the book or not. This idea showed already in some of the entries.
Music: I feel like this – to pay a dollar or a pound or a euro for a song is never too much. Download the songs you like and leave the others. Then there are artists that I really want to support, I want to read their cd-booklets, I want to touch the album, feel the paper and feel I’ve contributed to real people creating real art from their heart. That is when I’ll buy the album, that is when downloading would never be enough.
In general: I believe spreading knowledge about a certain product will also lead to more people buying it. Publish your work on the web, but maybe in a way that the printed products in some way differ, give the buyer something more than the one reading 200 pages from the screen (poor thing!) In the end, publishing on the web is also a more nature friendly way of distributing.
All the best!
I think sharing information and data or even art are really good through the Internet but it is not healthy. And copyright is really important matter in the future survival of art life. I usually prefer read books not EBooks, because first of all it is more easy to use it every where, second that it is more healthy as I mention for eyes and body for long time seating behind the PC, third we are saving a lot of energy if we use book correctly I mean if we shear it when we were done with it and at the end books will always carry good memory and can transfer from one generation to another. But in other hand, these days Internet is accessible with everybody and easily you can share information with huge group of people in short time, so it is best way to do it, is to have combination of both. Send important short message with Internet and keep long story on the book. You can discuss it online as you do right now and read it in private as book and keep copyright alive. Even if you want help more people to read things just give them an easy opportunity to access for different kind of discount to buy the books, not share them free. I think there is a price for every thing in our life and for paying that price we should work harder and no excuse are acceptable. And access for book should be available for every body as well but in right way. People can buy it lets buy it and people can’t let borrow it from town libraries. I’m a member of city library for long time and I can’t see many people anymore hanging out around book. So if you want to do good solution please send the books to public libraries with good discount and make them available for every body in town. And leave Internet for free chat.
Hello Paulo
I thinking having the opportunity to share, books, music, art is so exciting a prospect. It helps the author reach so many more people and enriches the life of the reader with so much more available. Also this kind of forum is also enlightening…Its great to see what others think, and makes one think more in return…As for authors etc still being able to make a living while sharing….I cant see how you could not as the more that is shared the more people who read it and love it want to share it with others….For instance Paulo…I have been reading Warrior of the Light in your blog and in email….I am so enthralled with it I have bought five copies which I will give to my friends at Christmas.
I have no doubt but this new paradigm is a wonderful way forward….There are always going to be people who will try to make something out of getting things for nothing…..but that is nothing new and should be easily handled.
Paulo I cannot tell you how much in a short space of time you have enriched my life by sharing your work and your soul….In turn I am enjoying sharing.
I have written two novels which I am editing…..I would love the opportunity to share these with people…..At the moment I earn my living not as a writer so for me the sharing would be more important than the money…..
For me I think this sharing is a wonderful thing…..
with love Angela /Starlight(myspace)
Hola Paulo,
Me encanta a forma como você esta se posicionando. Nao existe exclusivismo para nada nesta vida, ou pelo menos nao deve existir porque nao estamos mais em tempos para isso. O positivo esta em pensar que a informaçao deve ser compartida e alcançar o maior número de pessoas, que elas decidam por si mismas o que querem ler, ver e usar para o seu próprio crescimento.
Obrigada.
Very good questions and I have enjoyed reading everyones responses. There have been so many who have spoken of art, honesty, love of material and a great change to society. I want to differ from this approach and look at the business aspect.
The true question is, can you get someone to pay for something that they can have for free? The logical answer is that no person would pay for anything that they could have for free. So, at first it seems that the answer to the question is a very simple and sound, NO, you can not make a living by giving things away.
However, we can look to the world right now and see many examples of things being given away and sold at the same time. Take water for example. Water is a basic neccesity of life. Civilizations are built around the availability of water. In america, water is availalbe at every single home, building, and even in water fountains located on the streets in most cities. No matter where you go, you can get water for free. Yet people pay for bottled water, even I sit here right now with a bottle of water on my desk that I paid for. How is that possible, I do it for convienance. Easier to have a few bottles of water around than having to leave my desk every few minutes to get more. Also, keeps me away from the soda machine, of which I do not need any of. Others buy bottles water because they say it taste better, is cleaner, and so forth.
Other items are offered for free as well. You can download almost any piece of art you would want. Pictures of everything are on the internet now. You can download movies instead of buying DVD’s, download music instead of buying CD’s. Yet in each case, people still by pictures, DVD’s and CD’s.
So then, why is. As I have stated before, there is no logical answer. Logic states that no one would pay for something that is free. But people are not always lofical, in fact often we are not. There is something to be said about having the thing! Whatever that thing is. There is the honesty factor that makes people want to pay others for the hard work they have done. We all want to be paid for the hard work we do, and thus want to make sure others get the same. But, I would question the true portion of the population that has that feeling.
Again, I come back to the thing. Why buy a CD when you can download the music for free. Because, for many people, the actual CD has some value greater than that of the music itself. Same can be said for both DVD’s and books. People see having the actual item to be worth more than simply having access to it. Having it in your home, on your bookshelf provides an added value that is worth the person buying something.
And, to conclude with the best example of all. America has one of the very best public library systems in the world. Virtually every town, villiage, or city has a library in it. Some are big, some are small, but most have access to any book you could ever want. If you want to read a book for free, you can at your local public library. So whether people are getting thier books for free on the internet, or at their local library, they still seem very interested in actually paying for them.
Paulo,
The heart that gives, gathers. Marianne Moore
http://www.thejoymovie.com
With Love and Light!!!
The idea of sharing our arts and creations openly on the internet is very interesting.
While I don’t know how one can earn a living doing it, I can tell you that when I read a book and it offers me wisdom and insight that I often purchase several copies of the book to share with others. If I read a book online and loved the content I would surely order the same book and several copies. The same with music. If it sings to my soul I want to share it with others.
Es un tema relacionado con la Publicidad y el Marketing de los productos.
Estas industrias (egoistas y avaraciosas) con grandes beneficios y de las cuales desconozco sus perdidas por estos programas de archivos compartidos.
Seguramente esten compensadas por todos los consumidores que adquieren mediante esta Publicidad gratuita de compartir.
Por otro lado, estas industrias estan totalmente preparadas para el cambio, por lo que ell marketing y la publicidad haran sobrevivir los productos.
De tal manera que los Dvd’s ya constan de Contenidos extras, pero obviamente todos estos productos son facilmente copiados y compartidos por Internet.
Asi estas industrias se veran forzadas a vender productos con Contenidos extras más curiosos y diversos.
Los Dvd se venderan con Posters, imagenes de la pelicula, autografos, banda original de música.
Los Dvd’s de música llevaran regalos con puas del grupo, autografos, ideas de los cantantes, etc
Los libros incluiran Dvd’s con archivos para tener el libro en el ordenador o para el Ipod en versión audio.
Del mismo modo se convertira el producto en un recopilatorio diverso del tema vendido.
Aunque nos podemos confrontar a que supriman los programas de archivos compartidos y nuevas leyes en internet, que no considero la solución.
I am a recent fan of Mr. Coelho, bringing with me seven of his books to read, travelling from Portland, Oregon to the Frankfurt Book Faire. I am reminded by an idea that “the artist is deserving of payment for one’s service”, no matter the art form. So, indeed Mr. Coelho is entitled to payment for his creativity. In the world of commerce we often speak of “business models” and your example of Russian distribution for “The Alchemist” would demonstrate these principles. I do not know the answer to the questions posed during the Frankfurt experience–one thing appeals to me, however, in that whatever the art form, the real art will flourish along with the bad art, including pornography. Fortunately for the writer, there are publishers who can help the artist as they distinguish the more lofty from the banal; thus we can conclude that the shift desired by you will occur in cooperation with all parties in the literary distribution chains, from one as writer through all the intermediaries and distributors to the end reader. The Internet does expand the opportunity to share ideas–when you give me your idea, we both have it. This is the highest form of sharing.
Don C.
Oct. 20, 2008
Art is the expression of the arti’s soul in the material world. It is their ‘Logos’ in .. flesh! From that moment it is like a .. baby, who is destined to either live or … die and it depends on many, various circumstances. The appreciation of the artistic endearvors is the task of the critics, but also it depends on the opinion of the people. Sometimes we are not able to appreciate or understand the magnitude of a piece of art, book or an idea, because it is too…modern, pioneering or beyond our intelligence. The way to love and undestand something is through knowldege. We acquire knowledge with various ways. Internet is nowadays the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to become acquainted with the vast knowledge and art that are created everyday. The aim of the creators and their… economical agents lies, I think, to reach as many people as they can.
LOVE,
THELMA
hmm..i agree about free-sharing. free-sharing means more audience would read/listen/watch to your work. and yes, surviving is really a big question…hmm…
free-sharing is common in the internet world. one can write his/her novel on his blog, or make his own channel or radio show. and they present it to the audience for free.
so, for the sake of free-sharing while surviving and through the use of internet, i would suggest the following:
donations – one will put a donation sign on his/her site and then, he/she will get money. :D (i guess this is really common.)
advertisements(like GoogleAd) – through inserting advertisements in your site, one can earn. (though, i have no idea on how effective is this. in addition, this is also common.)
selling item/s – what i mean is a personalize item, maybe a keychain, a signed t-shirt, watch, or the like, from the creator/author/musician/artist that would be sold in the site. through this, specially if that item is so catchy for the audience would buy it and then, you will have your income.
raffle – i guess this would really make income. :D
ahm, i really have no great idea. sorry if my answers do not reached your expectations. but still, i really tried my best in sharing my thoughts (and to speak good english, as possible) :D
Hello Paulo,
To give our books away freely on the internet helps spread the word and get recognition for many new authors. My first book “One Boy’s Stuggle: A Memoir” is only available in book form; however, my second book which will be printed and available in the spring is already available for free on the internet; you can feel free to visit my blog, if you like. As far as books go, I think most people enjoy them more in print form; however, having them available for free allows readers to decide if they want to purchase them or not.
Seth Godin has the number 1 ebook in history and also has many printed books, which he also gives away for free. If someone is an expert in a certain area this helps a lot by becoming recognized as such and can become a lecturer/speaker and sell his verbal services. I really do not think the printed book will die out any time soon, but as ebook readers get better and better, the possibility does exist.
I missed you in Frankfurt! I was there on Saturday and had hoped to give you a copy of my book, but alas either you were already gone or the throngs of people made it too difficult to find you. I think all the dressed up kids stole the show Saturday. I did see all your banners downtown Frankfurt and picked up a copy of Brida! My wife and I took tons of pictures though, so if you would like copies just send me a quick email :)
Bryan
ADDerworld.com
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