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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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Auror
Points: 2289
Snufflesmom says:
A grant should be just that, a grant. I know many struggling writers who would never have had the opportunity to publish if it were not for these grants. Many authors, like JKR would probably gladly give money to support the grant. But I truly think asking for the money back lacks a bit of couth on the part of the grantor.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 2:41 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2773
Alessandra says:
I am sure that if they asked for a donation to help future authors, they'd probably get it. Changing rules to make loans instead of grants is all right, if that is what they want to do, but making it retroactive...well, that stinks.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 3:02 PM EST
Points: 549
Lady Aya says:
But didnt they make that law AFTER Jk got the money. It shouldnt apply if the rule came after her... Money gurbers.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 3:07 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2034
Professor Snape says:
If they gave her grants before they made the new proposal for the authors to pay them back once their book becomes successful then she shouldn't have to pay them back. If she borrowed money for any after that, then she should have to pay them back.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 3:32 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 993
Muggle Wizard says:
Do they want successful authors to repay just what they were granted plus some small amount of interest, or are they trying to get a percentage of the royalties? There's a big difference here; I think most would be content to repay what they were given, but to take some percentage of their success is, in my opinion, asking too much...
Making it retroactive may not necessarily be fair, either, but the fact is that life is rarely fair.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 3:37 PM EST
Witch
Points: 851
ConstantVigilance12 says:
That's just kind of sad.... It seems like they're trying to use J.K.'s extreme success. Making this policy retroactive doesn't seem very correct, because maybe some of the writers wouldn't have went to them if they'd known they'd have to pay back. It doesn't seem right for them to be able to say "Oh, we changed our minds, give us our money back" if that wasn't originally in the contract they signed.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 3:40 PM EST
Witch
Points: 585
harryzbestgurl says:
All that money stuff is to confusing for me...
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 4:00 PM EST
The Girl Who Lived
Points: 4219
Tacha says:
I agree with ConstantVigilance12, couldn't have put it better myself.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 4:16 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1506
Paint Horse says:
I also agree with ConstantVigilance12's assessment of this unfortunite situation. This was almost seven years ago! There is no mention of whether they have received any donations from her since then (I'll bet she has).
If SAC enacts this new policy, what will become of those who do not find success as a writer? Won't this place quite a burden on them, they would not have to bear otherwise?
It seems these new rules may only harm the ones they intend to help.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 4:54 PM EST
Witch
Points: 955
kab240 says:
I also agree with Vig, but let me add one more thing, she could easily pay them back, she's got so much money, but that doesn't stop it from being right. Now if the contract says that, then it's okay, but to just spring it up on someone like JKR, that's just rude.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 5:29 PM EST
Points: 790
M. Sebastian says:
I think some who have posted are not reading the proposal. I read that you will have to reach a certain amount of earnings from your writing before being expected to pay the grant (then it becomes a loan) back. Then the money would be spent to help out other aspiring authors. I do think it should not be necessary for those who received a no stipulations grant to make a payback. I expect many, even most, may have made donations far exceeding their original grant.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 5:34 PM EST
Witch
Points: 576
lac87 says:
They are just greedy, the only reason why they want it back is because of who she is, i mean, wouldnt they have been and brought this up?
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 6:34 PM EST
Patronus
Points: 3704
Expecto Patronum says:
Ah well I'm not surprised by this, there are some greedy people out there that just can't learn to give away money and not expect to get it back.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 7:39 PM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
It does seem kind of stupid. She can afford it, but still... you don't lend people money and then demand it back six years later.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 8:21 PM EST
Witch
Points: 975
Lilune says:
Cheeky buggers going retroactive and getting JK's loan back! Well, it's not like she doesn't have enough money to pay, but still. Seems a bit like they're going back on their good will of helping out struggling authors.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 8:55 PM EST
Witch
Points: 833
hplover731 says:
I think that's a good point, but the fact that they did it after JKR got famous and the books sold well is kind of strange.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 9:05 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1092
quidditch_queen says:
Yup...it's funny. I agree with Lacty, they are just greedy.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 10:20 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1908
Opera Ghost says:
Imagine you want to write, more than anything, but you can't, because you have to work all the time to scrape out a living, and you are cold and hungry, maybe, and that is a distraction, too...well, these talented authors that were given grants to finish their work don't have to imagine it, they lived it, and would probably be first in line to give something back so other people could realize their dream, too. Even if you don't make it big, you had a real shot, and that's more than some people get their entire lives. So the successful author gets to give a little back, and the council isn't going out on the town with the money, they are giving it to struggling, talented people. What if they ran out of money before JKR got HER grant? That would have been terrible, Harry Potter might never have made it out of Surrey. So if they need to start collecting payments with interest FROM VERY SUCCESSFUL RECIPIENTS to keep offering money to other people, they should. But I do agree that if that was not the original terms, it should be voluntary and not be made retroactive, although I'm sure someone as generous as JKR seems to be would contribute.
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 10:40 PM EST
Daily Prophet Journalist
Points: 2597
dance_gear says:
i think that ya J.K. should pay back the loan, but it is strange that this is asked of her because she is J.K. Rowling and she is rich and famous...
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 10:53 PM EST
Astro Zombie
Points: 2601
Fallen Bomb says:
I don't think she should pay because they made this after the grant to her she can afford it yes .
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 11:08 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2391
HPN4eveRon says:
That stinks how she has to pay it back if they said she didn't need to before! They just want her money. They want to take away what she earned...its wrong!
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 11:20 PM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
ConstantVigilance12 hit it on the money! After all, the SAC was nice enough to help her out with a GRANT seven years ago, not a loan. If the council is really so hard up for cash, they should ask JKR for a donation instead of seeming ungrateful and, quite honestly, selfish and greedy by changing theirs minds after she makes a go of it!
Hey - isn't Scotland benefiting right now from having PoA filmed in their country? Surely the tourist business has picked up since the locations were released.
Seems to me the SAC is a two sided coin. Yes, nice when necessary, willing to give to the needy, but always keeping a ledger and a close eye on those they "selflessly" help, waiting for the moment to pounce. Some kind of help that is...
Posted Nov 30, 2003 at 11:40 PM EST
Crookshanks Caretaker
Points: 3837
hermionefan1 says:
If they gave her money to help her write CoS, then she should gladly give the amount back. I mean they did make a deal right? Any ways that amount of money is like chump change to her.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 12:56 AM EST
Student
Points: 295
Astarte says:
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.
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 1:50 AM EST
Points: 168
Weeny says:
It seems a bit much to call them greedy, I think. After all, they are not going to give the money to other authors. And they will be asking that from the successful ones, the ones who could contribute back in the first place. As long as they use the money well...
Posted Dec 1, 2003 at 8:46 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 9051
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
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