Cory Doctorow's Experiment

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Read about it here. He's going to try to make money on a crowdfunded project equivalent to what he might be able to earn with a publisher. Called "With a Little Help." The Donation of Books section is brilliant, I might have to steal that...!

I think what you already notice, reading this, is that "A Little Help" is really a ton of help. How someone without his fanbase or peer network would be able to swing all the details... I don't think it could be done, reasonably. Everything from layout and proofreading help to people doing accounting and audiobook recording and mastering for him? Yikes.

I think the one thing he's already proven with this experiment is that you have to be a Cory Doctorow to even begin at a certain success level. So it leaves the question unanswered: how do you become a Cory Doctorow these days?

Comments

[heavenscalyx.livejournal.com]

Heck, I have problems asking my friends to help me with a website and/or art, mostly because I feel like I have nothing to offer in barter (since a paycheck is out of the question). For all I know, my very talented network is just dying to spend an hour or two doing something for me gratis, but I'm really hesitant to inquire.

Sigh.

It feels like becoming Cory Doctorow is kind of like becoming a Big Name Fan (a la Cassandra Claire): complete chance.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Perhaps not chance, entirely, but hard work, time and circumstance, the last being not under your control, really. No one likes to talk about it but there's an element of luck and "right time, right place" for all these successes, including the traditional ones.

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

I would say ask them. Some folks just enjoy a chance to be involved. Also, you do have one thing to offer: a professional credit. For someone with decent skill who is just starting what they do, that's quite valuable. It's particularly true with cover credits for artwork. Website design, however, is something that classes sometimes assign; catch someone in need of a class project and you might get lucky there.