This is topic Publishing World/Civ Watch in forum Discussions About Orson Scott Card at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by BryanP (Member # 7772) on :
 
I've been a fan of Mr. Card for going on ten years and for some reason I just now registered for the forum. I was inspired to do it because I saw how much you have been posting recently, and I am blown away by the level of interaction you maintain with your fans. So how could I pass up the opportunity?

One question I have is, is there any way you can get your World/Civilation Watch columns published more broadly? I know many people who enjoy reading your columns and you speak with such common sense it is impossible not to at least think very carefully about the points you are making. I may not always agree with you, but you always make me think over the views that I hold. It would have been fantastic if, during the election last year, more people could have had access to your columns. In a time of fanaticism on every side, it is extremely refreshing to hear a voice of uncommonly common sense.

Thanks!

PS - I'd also like to thank you for writing books with such fantastic characters. Of all the authors I have read, no one seems to understand their characters as well or write them with as much depth. It's a rare thing in my experience, and to have several series all with characters one can really identify with and care about is quite a feat. For me, it is what makes books stand far above any other artistic/entertainment medium, and yours are easily my favorites.
 

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Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
 
Oh, what a brave person you are, to post such a request when there are people here who would really prefer to see the whole WorldWatch/CivWatch thing erased, since it proves to them that I can't really be a decent person.

So you may find some hostile answers here ...

But in fact, when you consider that Ornery.org is on the web, it already IS widely available. The real question is: Why don't more people read it? <grin>.

A few columns have been reprinted by The Wall Street Journal online. A couple of other publications have requested permission to reprint columns, and we have a standing agreement that they can, though I have no idea whether they have.

And Meridian.com, a Mormon online magazine, has picked up some of my columns.

Also, there are people that either copy it or link to it in emails to their friends.

Which is the simplest answer of all: If you want it to have wider circulation, email it to people.
 

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Posted by BryanP (Member # 7772) on :
 
Ah, well, you see, it's my first post, so I'm rather naive about the general feelings about World/Civ Watch. But, I would think that everyone loves and adores it, because it is, after all, written by OSC the Great (perhaps I've gone too far with that one...).

Anywho, I do email it to people and they email it to people and so on and so forth and whathaveyou. Sadly, our email net has not yet stretched across the nation and there are still those who are ignorant and living in the Dark Ages. I'm thinkin' maybe you ought to just work out a deal with Time or some other such magazine and they can publish it every week. Sound good? Alright!
 

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Posted by LTC DuBois (Member # 7661) on :
 
I think a fairly large reason Mr. Card doesn't have any major publication paying him to write a column is that he doesn't bow down and worship at the altar of the Radical Left. The media loved Clinton, Card disparages him again and again. The media firmly believes in global warming, Card wants facts. He doesn't march lock-step with the vast horde of indoctrinated elitists that are produced in journalism programs, instead he mocks them and calls for a return to on-the-job training (which threatens the jobs of all those university professors).

While I have immensely enjoyed Mr. Card's columns, I can't say I'm surprised he doesn't get any sort of major media deal.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
"I think a fairly large reason Mr. Card doesn't have any major publication paying him to write a column is that he doesn't bow down and worship at the altar of the Radical Left."

Yeah. Which is why George Will is such a no-name.

Don't be a bonehead, man. *grin*
 

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Posted by Orson Scott Card (Member # 209) on :
 
The biggest reasons my work isn't published by mainstream media are:

1. I write too long. I rarely can put something that actually makes sense and finishes a thought into 800 words, which is the rule for syndicated columns. To me, most of these columns sound like pure spouting - precisely because there's no time or space to develop a complete thought.

2. I don't try to submit it to them. The web is good enough to me - with people like you forwarding them on to others, I get quite a nice outreach.

3. My next step is not wider print - I'd only reach readers, right? <grin>. What I long for is a spot on radio or tv. Because I can babble with the best of them! Me and Dennis Prager! <grin>
 

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Posted by 1lobo1 (Member # 7762) on :
 
Now that would be plenty cool....Radio Card...The only station where you may not like what I have to say, but at least it will get you thinking.

[ April 11, 2005, 01:55 PM: Message edited by: 1lobo1 ]
 

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Posted by DarkKnight (Member # 7536) on :
 
How awesome would that be to the OSC Show?
 

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Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
 
Way back before I jumped on the Hatrack boat I noticed three or four OSC columns on beliefnet.com. I don't think he does them any more, though.
 

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Posted by BryanP (Member # 7772) on :
 
I was going to say earlier, the main reason why he isn't in most mainstream publications is the articles are too long. Guess I got beat to the punch.

Now we're talking about a radio/TV show? Wow, I've got the perfect idea. We can combine the Watch column with the other one where OSC reviews everything. You can get Ebert on as a special guest and explain to him why Million Dollar Baby was heinous and then proceed to review current films. Then, you can have a news portion where you explain to people why their fanatical views are silly and then tell 'em how it is. Wrap it up with a little song, a little dance, and OSC's News and Entertainment Hour is a huge success!
 

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Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
 
That sounds dangerously like the O'Reilly factor...
 

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Posted by Avicus (Member # 7652) on :
 
Mr. Card,
Would you want help in reaching a larger audience, or would you rather keep it as is? I'm sure many on here, including myself, could manage to pull enough people together to get it to a much larger audience. More then just word of mouth.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
"I'm sure many on here, including myself, could manage to pull enough people together to get it to a much larger audience. More then just word of mouth."

Are you an ad exec? If not, wouldn't that be precisely the definition of "word of mouth?"
 

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Posted by BryanP (Member # 7772) on :
 

quote:

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That sounds dangerously like the O'Reilly factor... [No No]

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