Hey Guys,

Music to write by: “How Long“ by Hinder

What is International Pixel-Stained Technopeasent Day? Well, it’s a response to a rant by Howard V. Hendrix, SFWA’s current Vice President. Mr. Hendrix basically complained about people like John Scalzi who promote themselves by posting their own work online for free, calling them Pixel-Stained Technopeasants and webscabs.

As you may remember, Scalzi posted his first novel on his blog as “shareware”, asking readers who liked it to send him a dollar. He ended up making $4000 from this, as well as attracting representation for his next novel. This was a huge boost to his career and other writers have followed suit. Posting your work online for free just plain works (if done right).

A blogger known as papersky and others responded by suggesting that April 23rd be “International Pixel-Stained Technopeasent Day”, a day for writers to post their work online for free.

She writes:

In honour of Dr Hendrix, I am declaring Monday 23rd April International Pixel-Stained Technopeasant Day. On this day, everyone who wants to should give away professional quality work online. It doesn’t matter if it’s a novel, a story or a poem, it doesn’t matter if it’s already been published or if it hasn’t, the point is it should be disseminated online to celebrate our technopeasanthood.

Of course, yours truly will be participating. Aside from a political statement, IPSTD is a tremendous opportunity for new writers. Many of the editors of today’s leading magazines are also writers in their spare time, and as I’ve said before, reading the work of editors is the best way of getting familiar with their tastes.

One of these editors is Nick Mamatas. He edits Clarkesworld magazine, a professional magazine that pays a stunning 10c a word. He’s already posted his own work online. You can find it here. If you want to get published in Clarkesworld, I strongly suggest you read it.

Got a favorite magazine? Find that editor’s personal blog on April 23rd and give it a read. Enjoy the opportunity!