EWC
  • ABOUT US
    • WHO WE ARE
    • OUR BOARD and Team
    • OUR MEMBERS
    • STATUTES
    • MEDIA
    • CONTACT US
  • NEWS
    • NEWSROOM
    • EVENTS
    • PROJECTS
      • #FREE ALL WORDS
      • AGAINST WRITOIDS
  • ALLIANCES
    • JOINT STATEMENTS
    • STAKEHOLDERS
  • AUTHORS’ RIGHTS
    • ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
    • ARTISTIC FREEDOM
    • CONTRACTS
    • EDUCATIONAL SECTOR
    • E-LENDING
    • PLR
    • STATEMENTS
    • SURVEYS
    • WORKING GROUPS
  • CULTURE POLICY
    • DAY OF EUROPEAN AUTHORS
    • #BEHINDEVERYBOOK
    • CRISIS MONITORING
    • DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
  • CULTURAL EXCHANGE
    • EWC BURNING ISSUES FORUM
    • EWC LITERARY EVENTS

CURRENT PROJECT

Free All Words#FreeAllWords: International Text and Translation Fund of the European Writers‘ Council (EWC) gives a voice to authors from Belarus and Ukraine

freeallwords.com

STUDY BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LITERATURE (UK): WHAT WRITERS NEED TODAY

20th June 2019

20. June, 2019
Defending the ecosystem for books and writers: What writers need today.
Study by the Royal Society of Literature (UK)
In this survey, writers were asked to tell what they need to work. The Study shows a literary landscape

endeavouring to make a life in writing possible for writers of all backgrounds and experiences.

 

»The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.« Albert Camus

A recommendation by Nina George, President of the EWC:

Civilization starts with the invention of letters which enabled reading, communion and communication with past generations, with other cultures, nations, ideals.
Flaubert’s dictum “Read in order to live” proposes that books and literature can teach us ethics and the human condition in its private and universal aspects, as well as exemplify the madness and achievements of our own epoch, our principles, of our challenges.

There is no doubt: Society and every individual need books and their writers. But what do writers need from society?

We as writers have to face more challenges than in the decades before. The rising »Blockbuster Mentality« and the »Bestseller-Chasing« of Publishing Houses narrows the diversity of literature and lowers the average advances for the middle-listed and debutants.
The impact of Amazon on price-dumping, its relentless hunger on more and more percentage, and the fatal idea of presenting an »all-you-can-read-buffet« of Flat rate-Model books has also declined authors’ earnings – as well as the respect for the work in every piece of written work. The ongoing infringement of copyright by E-Book- and Audiobook-Piracy is still ignored by policy; meanwhile, the expectations on writers to work unpaid and »for exposure« grows. A lack of remuneration systems such as PLR and ARR, but more copyright and authors’ right-exceptions even without renumeration, do its part on oppressing writers’ income and life.

But the »money-question« is just one part of the ecosystem of books and writers.

The other parts were evaluated by The Royal Society of Literature, funded by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS): »A Room of My Own. What Writers need to work today«, published on Dalloway-Day (19th June). How class, ethnicity, gender play through the writing lives and what do writers themselves say they most need in order to thrive? »A room of my own and space to write«, means support from peers, emotional support, financial and industry promotion and even more aspects. I highly recommend this read.
As President of the EWC, this UK-based research, dedicated to Virginia Woolf, inspires me to define our own manifesto together with EWC Members. The manifesto shall include our common needs. Not only in legal aspects – but aspects of support, protection and esteem for our works and the values for societies, in details of book-pricing and distribution, in a wealthy book market, with cultural rights and with a strong voice on the political parquet.

Nina George
EWC-President

[vc_btn title=”DOWNLOAD RSL-A-Room-of-My-Own-Report-19-June-2019.pdf” style=”flat” shape=”square” color=”black” size=”sm” align=”left” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-file-text” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwp13438537.server-he.de%2Frsl-a-room-of-my-own-report-19-june-2019%2F|title:DOWNLOAD%20RSL-A-Room-of-My-Own-Report-19-June-2019.pdf|target:%20_blank|rel:nofollow” add_icon=”true”]
Previous Post
Authors’ Rights are fundamental for culture, freedom of expression and a diverse Europe
Next Post
EWC recommends: Defending the ecosystem for books and writers

CULTURE POLICY

EWC Resolution: The Threats by US AI Tech Oligopolies on culture, authors’ rights and freedom of Expression

June 3, 2025

A CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY REGARDING AI GENERATED BOOKS – Joint Statement

April 23, 2025

EIBF, FEP, EWC – Common Statement: For the sake of the book chain and democracy

October 18, 2023

The Unseen Sequels: Final monitoring on the Economic Impact of Covid-19

July 19, 2023

EWC project #Freeallwords translated text by Nobel Price for Peace Laureate

December 9, 2022

Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Copyright Ecosystem

September 3, 2022
EWC
info@europeanwriterscouncil.eu
+32 2 290 92 50
European Writers’ Council
(EWC-FAEE AISBL)
Rue du Prince Royal 85-87
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Get in touch
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
EWC
IMPRINT
PRIVACY POLICY
MEMBERS AREA
Related Links
balticwriterscouncil.info
ceatl.eu
culturalcreators.eu
ifrro.org
plrinternational.com
Current Projects
Free All Words


Fee and Translation Fund for texts by Authors from Countries under pressure


We, writers, claim for our rights as authors and professionals.

© 2022 European Writers’ Council | All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use this site, you agree with it. PRIVACY POLICY