A Modest Proposal

May 7, 2008 at 8:13 am | In Books |

Over at ReadySteadyGo, Helen implies that she does not like going to bars with her friends in celebration of their books.

In addition to a very kind shout-out to yours truly, she offers up a plan that could revolutionize publishing. In essence, rather than buying books, we would simply pay authors not to write them. This would save everyone a lot of trouble and be far more efficient. I like the idea — especially since I’m a few weeks away from starting my next writing project, which seems like it will be a lot of work.

Perhaps we could also get big grant-giving organizations like the Guggenheim Fellowships to get in on it, and just fund authors to stop bothering everyone. If Helen’s ideas intrigue you, or you just like the cut of her jib, give her a visit.

TODAY IN RADIO: I’ll be on the BBC World Service’s show Outlook, which should be broadcast on an NPR station somewhere near you. I can’t quite figure out how to determine schedules in particular locations, but it has something to do with this page. (And nothing to do with this one.)

2 Comments »

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  1. Nonono. I specifically said that I adore going to bars for my friends’ books, including yours.

    I do not, however, like the idea of making my friends go to a bar for my own. Assuming I had one. Which I do not.

    Comment by helen — May 7, 2008 #

  2. Helen’s idea has some merit, but it is already being done. Many, many famous people are getting paid big bucks for “first-person” books about themselves that they didn’t write. Perhaps we should start paying ghost writers not to write books.

    Comment by Daniel — May 7, 2008 #

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