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

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EWC recommends: Defending the ecosystem for books and writers

20th June 2019
@123rf

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

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.

I would like to invite you to join this discussion in Madrid at the AGM 2020 (6.-8.6.2020) at the EWC BarCamp.

Nina George
President

Brussels, 20. June 2019

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

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culturemoveseu Culture Moves Europe @culturemoveseu ·
27 Mar

Apply in March to travel from June on! 😄
At the end of each month, we review applications and assign #mobilitygrants to #artists and #culturalprofessionals from across the 40 @europe_creative ...countries.
The call is open until May 2023, with monthly deadlines.
#CultureMovesEurope

Retweet on Twitter European Writers' Council Retweeted
conor_kostick Conor Kostick @conor_kostick ·
27 Mar

I'm going to take a deep dive into the complexities of narrative voice with the students of @clonturkcc as part of the Day of European Authors.

See👉https://europa.eu/!FFgtW6
#ReadWithEurope

My ...first slide:

councilwriters European Writers' Council @councilwriters ·
27 Mar

#ReadWithEurope: the team of @europe_creative and the DG EAC Judith, Arnaud and Malgorzata made the first Day of European Authors possible, together with their team in Brussels. Good news: yes, the ...preperation for the DEA2024 starts already tomorrow. Applause & thanks!

councilwriters European Writers' Council @councilwriters ·
27 Mar

#ReadWithEurope and Finland on the first Day of European Authors:

2

Retweet on Twitter European Writers' Council Retweeted
osdelgr Οργανισμός Συλλογικής Διαχείρισης Έργων του Λόγου @osdelgr ·
27 Mar

27 Μαρτίου | Ημέρα Ευρωπαίων Συγγραφέων. Μια πρωτοβουλία της επιτρόπου @GabrielMariya. Τον συντονισμό έχουν αναλάβει... η @FEP_EU και το @CouncilWriters. Από την ελληνική πλευρά συμμετέχει η Εταιρεία Συγγραφέων.

#ReadWithEurope #EUPL #CreativeEurope #DayofEuropeanAuthors #copyrght

councilwriters European Writers' Council @councilwriters ·
27 Mar

#ReadWithEurope and Czech Republic on the first Day of European Authors:

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