Everyone in Aus SF

[jack_ryder]

Or at least the three of you that have friended me:

Read punkrocker1991 's editorial in the latest Ticonderoga Online now.

It's all right, I'll wait.




I certainly think that's a problem that has manifested at "Magic Casements" and Conflux - too many roosters and not enough hens. I know there are science fiction readers out there who aren't remotely interested in being writers (my favourite one is a rugby player I worked with once who turned out to be a Chuck McKenzie fan) but these people don't go to cons and tend not to buy local magazines and anthologies. I think it was Cat Sparks who pointed out somewhere that the only people buying the Agog anthologies were other writers (hopefully that will change now that they're listed on Amazon.)

The demand for local short fiction is limited, and from what little I know, there's few attempts at an outreach program to bring local content to outside readers. Magic Casements is run by a writer's centre, so it's focus is, naturally, writers. Cons advertise through the usual channels so they attract the usual suspects. And (from my experience) SF discussion groups tend to attract and maintain only the hardcore SF reader - who isn't necessarily interested in local product.

I don't think there are any easy answers, but I think Russell is raising the right questions.

Comments

[punkrocker1991.livejournal.com]

I didn't get the objectifying women angle when I wrote the editorial, and not wishing to do so have added a footnote to try to address this, in my own clumsy way.

[jack-ryder.livejournal.com]

Zara's talking about objectification of readers (by your editorial) that is similar to the objectification of women - describing them as some kind of exploitable resource rather than thinking autonomous agents.

Of course, if you're talking about Sara Douglass fans...

[i-ate-my-crusts.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. Thank you. It's a massive, massive button for me.

[i-ate-my-crusts.livejournal.com]

Thanks Russ - that's appreciated. And I know you didn't intend it. Also see what Jack_ryder says -- I definitely saw it more as objectification of readers than of women, but changing "hookers" to "sex" would eliminate the latter :)

[(Anonymous)]

To be honest and give credit where it's due, the "cocaine and hookers" line actually comes from Cat Sparks. Obviously it's perceived differently when said by a female than when it's said by a male.

[i-ate-my-crusts.livejournal.com]

No, it's really not. I'd find it just as problematic from Cat as from Russ.