Entry tags:
Philanthropic Phriday 31: Canadian Writers Emergency Fund
Today's donation goes to the Canadian Writers' Emergency Fund:
https://www.writerstrust.com/?_ga=2.106787210.887544691.1602857920-1501988426.1602511844
There is a perception out there that since writing is essentially a solitary activity and one that occurs to a great extent online, writers' livelihoods are little affected by pandemic lockdowns and self-isolation. But that perception is not valid, for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, most writers are unable to earn a living from writing full-time at the best of times. During a pandemic, they are unable to connect with their readers at in-person events such as readings, book signings and literary conferences. If they write about geographically or historically distant locales, there are limits to the amount of research that can be conducted virtually. To achieve authenticity, there's no substitute for being there or in the case of historical research, experiencing the artefacts and primary sources first-hand.
Moreover, I think it's fair to say that many of us have a lot more time for reading these days, and are eager to use our reading time as a form of imaginative distancing. Meanwhile, libraries have been closed, in-person second-hand book sales have been non-existent and those bookshops that are open are having to limit the number of customers who can visit at any one time. At the height (depth?) of the lockdown, new reading matter for me was limited to those books I could buy online and have shipped to me. Those on more limited budgets were not so lucky.
If we want to continue to enjoy new work by some of the excellent emerging writers, we need to put our money where our reading glasses are!
https://www.writerstrust.com/?_ga=2.106787210.887544691.1602857920-1501988426.1602511844
There is a perception out there that since writing is essentially a solitary activity and one that occurs to a great extent online, writers' livelihoods are little affected by pandemic lockdowns and self-isolation. But that perception is not valid, for a number of reasons.
First and foremost, most writers are unable to earn a living from writing full-time at the best of times. During a pandemic, they are unable to connect with their readers at in-person events such as readings, book signings and literary conferences. If they write about geographically or historically distant locales, there are limits to the amount of research that can be conducted virtually. To achieve authenticity, there's no substitute for being there or in the case of historical research, experiencing the artefacts and primary sources first-hand.
Moreover, I think it's fair to say that many of us have a lot more time for reading these days, and are eager to use our reading time as a form of imaginative distancing. Meanwhile, libraries have been closed, in-person second-hand book sales have been non-existent and those bookshops that are open are having to limit the number of customers who can visit at any one time. At the height (depth?) of the lockdown, new reading matter for me was limited to those books I could buy online and have shipped to me. Those on more limited budgets were not so lucky.
If we want to continue to enjoy new work by some of the excellent emerging writers, we need to put our money where our reading glasses are!