4 ms·

IMO the coolest thing about this kickstarter didn't even get a mention in the fastcompany article. One of the premiums is, for people who donate $10000 or more

IMO the coolest thing about this kickstarter didn't even get a mention in the fastcompany article. One of the premiums is, for people who donate $10000 or more, an opportunity to commission another story set in this universe based on a mutually agreed writing prompt. He's offering 5 of those, and 3 have been claimed. That's brilliant. Think what a windfall that could be for some writers. This is the first time I've noticed anyone trying this model. It's easy to imagine that it could work well for some creators (not necessarily only writers) with a small but ardent and growing fan base.

ChuckMcM 6y ago
That is of course Cory's genius. He sees the business model in the noise.
golem14 6y ago
Donate ( to a charity) or pay?
- sp332 6y ago
  It's a bit fuzzy with Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/kickstarter-is-not-a-store https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/kickstarter-is-not-a-store
  - golem14 6y ago
    It's not fuzzy at all. A donation would be to a charity.
Igelau 6y ago
> another story set in this universe based on a mutually agreed writing prompt I have a feeling that conversation goes something like: "Yeah, that's interesting and all, but I was thinking something more along the lines of a plucky tech whizkid sticking it to a surveillance state infiltrated by megacorporations. Maybe with some early 90s tech? Do we have an agreement?" Caveat emptor? Unless you really feel like giving him a big stack of money, which I guess is alright.
- aasasd 6y ago
  > a plucky tech whizkid sticking it to a surveillance state infiltrated by megacorporations I mean, that's the ‘Little Brother’ dilogy, perhaps with the exception of megacorporations.
- an_opabinia 6y ago
  On the one hand most people are awful writers. On the same hand, being Cory Doctorow’s boss would be stupid. The whole point of paying him ought to be to do his thing, not yours. On the other hand anyone who spends $10,000 on a story should already know that. Or maybe Cory Doctorow will tell the payer. Not all fanfic is bad. Particularly atmospheric stuff, normal people can do quite nicely.
Semaphor 6y ago
> This is the first time I've noticed anyone trying this model. It’s pretty common for crowdfunded video games to have anything from naming side-characters to working with writers for a complete quest line or NPC. This seems to simply introduce it to books.
aasasd 6y ago
That's just writing-for-commission. I think that model is quite widespread among small-scale writers, of the Tumblr sort: with fanfics and such. At least, I know that artists can rake in quite some monies if they draw in a modern web-hipster style and agree to portray someone's fantasies. Specifically porn fantasies, and more specifically furry porn fantasies.
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  Compare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_of_Venus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_of_Venus
  - klondike_klive 6y ago
    I find it amusing that the cover photo of "Delta of Venus" is attributed to Richard Merkin. A merkin is a pubic wig.
- teddyh 6y ago
  “I wish there were a class of wealthy art patrons like in renaissance Italy.” — http://www.threepanelsoul.com/comic/move-with-the-times http://www.threepanelsoul.com/comic/move-with-the-times

ChuckMcM 6y ago

That is of course Cory's genius. He sees the business model in the noise.

golem14 6y ago

Donate ( to a charity) or pay?

sp332 6y ago
It's a bit fuzzy with Kickstarter. https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/kickstarter-is-not-a-store https://www.kickstarter.com/blog/kickstarter-is-not-a-store
- golem14 6y ago
  It's not fuzzy at all. A donation would be to a charity.

Igelau 6y ago

> another story set in this universe based on a mutually agreed writing prompt I have a feeling that conversation goes something like: "Yeah, that's interesting and all, but I was thinking something more along the lines of a plucky tech whizkid sticking it to a surveillance state infiltrated by megacorporations. Maybe with some early 90s tech? Do we have an agreement?" Caveat emptor? Unless you really feel like giving him a big stack of money, which I guess is alright.

aasasd 6y ago
> a plucky tech whizkid sticking it to a surveillance state infiltrated by megacorporations I mean, that's the ‘Little Brother’ dilogy, perhaps with the exception of megacorporations.
an_opabinia 6y ago
On the one hand most people are awful writers. On the same hand, being Cory Doctorow’s boss would be stupid. The whole point of paying him ought to be to do his thing, not yours. On the other hand anyone who spends $10,000 on a story should already know that. Or maybe Cory Doctorow will tell the payer. Not all fanfic is bad. Particularly atmospheric stuff, normal people can do quite nicely.

Semaphor 6y ago

> This is the first time I've noticed anyone trying this model. It’s pretty common for crowdfunded video games to have anything from naming side-characters to working with writers for a complete quest line or NPC. This seems to simply introduce it to books.

aasasd 6y ago

That's just writing-for-commission. I think that model is quite widespread among small-scale writers, of the Tumblr sort: with fanfics and such. At least, I know that artists can rake in quite some monies if they draw in a modern web-hipster style and agree to portray someone's fantasies. Specifically porn fantasies, and more specifically furry porn fantasies.

082349872349872 6y ago
Compare https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_of_Venus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_of_Venus
- klondike_klive 6y ago
  I find it amusing that the cover photo of "Delta of Venus" is attributed to Richard Merkin. A merkin is a pubic wig.
teddyh 6y ago
“I wish there were a class of wealthy art patrons like in renaissance Italy.” — http://www.threepanelsoul.com/comic/move-with-the-times http://www.threepanelsoul.com/comic/move-with-the-times