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Virtually every man-made thing you see around you right now is likely produced because of capitalism. It’s capitalism that has allowed me to write this post on my Chinese-made mini laptop, and you to read it on your (almost certainly) Chinese-made device. “Awesome!” you might think. “Capitalism is freedom, then! You’re a free writer and I’m a free reader.”

No. Capitalism isn’t freedom.

It feels like that because both you and I happen to be – for the time being – near the fulcrum of the seesaw of economic exchange. And this seesaw isn’t well balanced, either. On the one end sits a hippo (capital), and on the other end half a billion ants (workers) trying to keep the thing from imploding. You and I are somewhere around the fulcrum. And because of that, most of us are stupid enough to think we’re more related to the hippo, rather than the ants.

But that’s the bubble-gum, pink-clad, rough love of capitalism. Like every system of dominance – think religion – it promises you heaven but makes sure to show you hell if you don’t fall in line. “Oh, so you don’t like the way things are, then? Well, why don’t you go and live in [insert sweatshop country]?”

Capitalism is an economic system predicated on injustice and psychological conditioning. We are all accomplices; the system works thanks to us.

How can you be a free writer in such a framework?

To Be a Free Writer, Let Go of Dependence

The quickest, surest way to ideologically enslave someone – and that’s the only true enslavement – is to make them depend on something. Writers are no exception, and they will whore themselves for a few clicks, sales, or likes.

In the context of writing, few things look more pathetic to me than authors trying to promote themselves on Twitter or some similar bastion of inanity and mediocrity.

They try to be witty, they try to show how virtuous they are, and – above all – they try to please everybody.

Why?

But because pleasing others – being a hypocrite, in other words – in a capitalist framework is one way to make money. It’s not the primary way (that would be destruction and immiseration), but it’s the way most readily available to Jane/Joe Author. That’s particularly the case if they still haven’t realized the game is rigged and try to play by its rules.

Free Writers and Free Readers

Here’s a quick tip on how, as an author, you can dramatically improve the realism of your characters as well as the inevitability of your narratives: Write yourself through your characters, project your own emotions, thoughts, and states of mind (your affect, in other words) through your narratives.

What’s that got to do with free writers and capitalism?

In that I just realized I’ve talked about this through my fiction. Just as I’ve talked about our perception of fate or poverty through my novels, I’ve also talked about intellectual freedom.

Here’s an excerpt from Illiterary Fiction:

Without being asked to, the young bartender refills Paul’s glass with a bit more wine. “I think what you’re doing is important,” he then adds. “None of these people would ever hear Shakespeare if it weren’t for you, today. Despite the purpose, I think your task is still a noble one. You provide an intellectual service.”
Paul shakes his head with a sarcastic smirk splattered on his face. “Intellectuals who sell their intellect are no longer intellectuals,” he retorts drinking some wine. “They are whores.”

Now, let’s clarify one thing…

I’m not telling you not to market or sell your books. If I did, I would be a vile hypocrite myself, since I also sell and promote my own novels – though still, I pay attention to the ways and methods I use, so that I maximize my freedom.

No, I’m not a free writer either.

But I’m conscious of not being free – not entirely, at least. And I’m conscious of the steps I need to keep taking to maximize my authorial freedom.

Is There Anything to Be Done?

That depends on you. Self-delusion is a viable strategy for vast numbers of people. It’s just easier for most people to ignore something unpleasant and convince themselves it doesn’t apply to them.

Just in case you think I’m being arrogant saying this, I’ll remind you once more that we’re in the same boat; I’m not a free writer, and – very likely – neither are you. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you can take action if that’s something you’re interested in.

Most people ignore something unpleasant because they don’t want to act on the knowledge. But if you know you’re not a free writer – consciously know – and you still find basically nothing wrong with it, pat yourself on the back and carry on. It’s a fully legitimate option.