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NOVEMBER 30, 2003 at 2:35 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: Sunday Herald via Wizard News
JK Rowling received £8,000 from the Scottish Arts Council
in 1997 to help her write Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Under a new proposal, the council wants future grants to be considered loans that recipients would have to pay back if they later became successful authors. Some would like the rule to be retroactive, as well.
The idea, which has the support of major authors and publishers, is being examined as a way of ploughing extra funds into the industry to nurture writing talent. Under the proposal, grants to writers would be viewed effectively as loans, with the SAC given the power to claw back a proportion of the artists' royalties.
According to SAC sources, the repayment plan would affect only the most successful authors, with a threshold set before they would have to repay anything.
Authors such as Harry Potter creator JK Rowling - now the biggest-selling writer of her generation - could be asked to return the cash she was given by the SAC before her books became successful.
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Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8934
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
I think this is appropriate, but only if agreed to in advance and reasonable. The group should even be allowed a reasonable return. However, it has to be fair and measured.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 10:10 AM EST
Magical Creature
Points: 3064
Phoenix Feather says:
I think if they change from giving grants to giving 'conditional' loans that is great, but I don't think that you should make it retroactive. A grant is a grant. However, if the author is successful, I would think that they would give money back to the charity that helped them achieve that success. JKR has most likely already given them more than the grant that she received and raised alot more in her charitable donations for auction to them as well.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 11:36 AM EST
Witch
Points: 684
Malakite says:
It's strange to me that so many people on here are upset and going on and on about the "greed" of "these people." These are the very same people who hand out money to aspiring authors. Where do you think they get this money from? It isn't plucked off of trees. They have a budget, and once they hit it for the year, and you apply, it's too bad for you, whether you are a great-future-author or not! You don't get any money because it's all gone! Whether you are the next ROWLING or not! If SAC stated something like, "This is a grant - free and clear. But if you exceed $2 million in sales (personal profit), then we would like for you to repay it," is not wrong, or greedy in any way. That makes it so they can help MORE AUTHORS.
I don't necessarily agree with them making it retroactive, but if they want to, I have a feeling it's because they are probably really hurting for funds, and need help. I don't think "greed" comes into it, unless you hold the fact they want to HELP MORE AUTHORS against them, and call it "greed."
I wouldn't be surprised, however, if upon reading this information, Rowling not only "paid" her grant back, but also gave more money to help other authors. She just seems like that kind of classy lady.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 1:06 PM EST
Student
Points: 223
dreamngirl24_7 says:
I find it kind of rude to ask the money back if they become successful but it's not that bad i guess. If the authors become successful they can pay the money back to help future authors become successful too. But if they don't become successful, hopefully they wouldn't ask for the money back, cause they wouldn't have any. That's the way I see it. I mean if I were someone who got help from a group of people who lent me money... and I became successful because of the help... If they asked for the money back so they could help other people... I would gladly do it.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 2:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 585
Joyce says:
At the time Jk received the money it was not a loan to be paid back. They saw her potential and invested in her talent. If they now want to change their policy, I do not feel they have the right to require back pay from authors they gave grants to.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 8:46 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Alessandra says:
Astarte said: It originated as a grant and should stay that way...I can see why they think she should pay it back though...wouldn't hurt her any, besides, she could be contibuting to the next great writer.
The problem with saying 'wouldn't hurt her any' is a rather dangerous statement to be tossing around, as if people don't have the right to their own earnings. What if I decided that it wouldn't hurt you any to give up some of your money, because I know of a real good cause that needs it? And billed you for the money without even asking you?
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 9:40 PM EST
Student
Points: 295
Astarte says:
AlessandraYou're absolutley right, I wouldn't want that to happen to me, but then again I didn't write one of the most best selling series of books in history, did I? Besides, you would think JKR would understand since she used to be a poor unkown writer herself who got a little help.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 11:18 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1155
AFawkes05 says:
At least she still has tons of cash left and is still making more. That proves that many normal people out there can become successful writers if they are only givin the chance.
Posted Dec 2, 2003 at 4:54 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1105
Sierradragon says:
A grant is a grant. A grant is defined as money freely giving WITHOUT having to pay it back!!! If they are going to do that then they had better start refering to it as a 'loan' instead of a 'grant' because that is what they are turning it into!!!
Posted Dec 2, 2003 at 9:06 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 434
Tippytoes says:
That's wrong. Wouldn't aspiring authors think that bogus just because JK Rowling made it,now they want piece of the cash.
Posted Dec 3, 2003 at 12:06 AM EST
Honeydukes Eye Candy
Points: 3501
Pansyful says:
The idea, which has the support of major authors and publishers, is being examined as a way of ploughing extra funds into the industry to nurture writing talent. Under the proposal, grants to writers would be viewed effectively as loans, with the SAC given the power to claw back a proportion of the artists' royalties.
Posted Dec 20, 2007 at 11:36 AM EST
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