I think Atwood should use this award money to establish another award, the “Shadow of Atwood” prize. We are all eligible.

What a waste of money with so many hungry and dying in the area. Disgusting. And further Atwood is going to pick up the prize at a ceremony. It isn’t green to fly here there and everywhere (or even sail for that matter) for a myriad of reasons, pollution being the biggest. What a bag of contradictions. And it is for that reason that I don’t like her books.

This might be a bit off topic, but how is it not green to sail somewhere? Not that I’m planning on sailing to Israel. Just wondering…

Also, that’s not why you don’t like her books. That’s why you don’t like her. Nothing you said has anything to do with her work.

It’s hardly Atwood’s fault that she’s being given an award. Unless she’s has magical powers. Let’s not rule this out too fast.

she has

Canada Council Grants and prizes are two ways to make money in the writing game. Some people are entitled to them and others are not; yet every taxpayer has to throw in money for the chosen scribblers, so shouldn’t grants and prizes be open to everyone. Why not start something different! Everyone in Canada who wants a Canada Council Grant should get it. For the Prizes, your name goes on a list and if you’re the next one up…Viola you win. We could also run a lottery. The latter might be fairer but that’s a matter of opinion. Then when the author makes money on his/her book, he/she should return the grant or grants (as the case may be); but they can keep the prize money just for trying. I’d give the author a maximum of three pay-outs. If after three books nothing is percolating, he/she goes off the list—and that’s the prize list too. If that system was in place, we’d see a blooming of new authors and ideas come aboard; instead of the ideas that circulate today and are passed off as culture. Maybe someone’s culture but not mine and I suspect not a lot of other peoples’ either.