Do Writers Really Just Write for Themselves?

[Karen]

Karen, correct me if I am wrong, but you aren't even a writer

Oh but I'm as much of a writer as you are. The difference is, you write fictional stories and I write OPs and reviews.

Now had you been a published author, you could claim that distinction, but as far as being a "writer" goes, you're as qualified for that title as I am.

[Arch , Mod]

Karen wrote: "Oh but I'm as much of a writer as you are. The difference is, you write fictional stories and I write OPs and reviews.

Now had you been a published author, you could claim that distinction, but as far as being a "writer" goes, you're as qualified for that title as I am. "

Anyone can write a review. A child can write a review, it doesn't make that child a writer. I do a lot of writing on my job and if I wasn't a writer - my job writing, wouldn't make me a writer.

We see things differently and that's fine with me. I'm done with this subject and I'm done talking with you. Please don't reply back to me, because I will not see it.

[Karen]

Anyone can write a review. A child can write a review, it doesn't make that child a writer. I do a lot of writing on my job and if I wasn't a writer - my job writing, wouldn't make me a writer.

Writing is writing. As much as anybody can write a review, by the same token, anybody can write a fictional story. Whether it's good or not is a different matter of course.

When I was eleven years old (yes, a child) I once wrote what I thought would sell millions if only somebody would read it and publish it. The story was called Selina's Miracle. My teacher certainly appreciated how creative it was, unfortunately, it wasn't quite good enough to be picked up for publication. Who knew?

I suspect it was easier for me as an eleven year old to write a story from the depths of my fertile imagination, than it would have been to deconstruct and analyse a book written by somebody else.

Like I opined before, I think I sing great in the shower, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't win a recording contract. You say you're a writer, but you don't seem to feel confident enough in your work to seek publication. I personally think that if you could get your work published, you would.


We see things differently and that's fine with me. I'm done with this subject and I'm done talking with you. Please don't reply back to me, because I will not see it.

Human nature says you'll come back to read this, but I'm happy to leave the discussion here. Thanks for a fun debate!

[Ambrielle]

I’m always rather late to these discussions and by the time I get to this forum the topic has flourish and I wonder if my “two cents” would really make any difference. However, I do want to weigh in.

There was a time when I only wrote for myself. That was when I first started writing during pre-teen years and had no idea what the crap I was doing. I wrote because I was a bored and was tired of reading mainstream fiction that I couldn’t relate to, so I produced my own story and my own endings.

With that being said, I’m now writing towards publication (and as greedy as it me seem to some, for money) and not just to please myself. If I just wanted to write for myself and didn’t care about what anybody else had to say, well I would just keep my books in private and under lock and key on my home computer. Why put your work out in the public if you’re just writing just for yourself? With that said, there is a difference between writing for yourself and not letting your writing be influenced by “outside sources”. You should write the story of heart…and not let reviewers, parents, haters, and naysayers tell you otherwise. If you always tried to write what other people told you to write or always ALWAYS tried to please every single reader, then I presume that you would be very unhappy person and never write the story you dreamed of writing.

On to the second question…I like to think that my fan base reaches beyond those that only read BW/WM. I write in a few subgenres of romance and my aim is to reach readers who want to read a good story/plot and not worry about what color someone happens to be inside the book. So when I write interracial or multi-cultural stories, I’m not trying to alienate or segregate myself.

However, with all this being said, I do write what I want.

[Karen]

Hi Ambrielle, no you're certainly not too late to join in.

I think your experience and the evolution of your writing and the different objectives and goals that you had, when you first started writing compared to once you'd established a fan base, is probably similar to the journey that other authors take.

[Roslyn]

So Mercedes your company is only giving the author a CGI cover and light editing?

[Monica]

This is an interesting discussion. I can't see the conflict though. There are all sorts of writers, and some of them write mostly for themselves, I'm sure.

I think writing for other people to read is a different piece of fruit though. Even if you try not to think about it, the idea of other people reading your words probably influences what you write consciously and unconsciously.

If you're writing for publication or putting your words out on the Internet, obviously you're writing for readers.

It's human nature to want other people to like you and what you produce. It makes people happy when they can make other people happy.

I think that's a good thing to strive to make as many people happy as possible with your words, although nobody can satisfy everybody, and it's silly to try.

[Dahlia]

Karen wrote: I wonder if there's a different mind set between pubbed writers and writers who haven't been published yet?
Karen that's an interesting question that made me think. I like to write, like to make up stories with characters that reflect me and people I know (i.e. culture, personalities, quirks etc) in various situations.

I have always, always sought publication with my writing. I want someone to read the stories I write, say "yeah" "nay" or "meh". That's the way I can both gauge whether the story is good and the characters engaging.

I don't think the mindset changes that much. Before I was published, I had a story in mind I wanted to tell. It was rejected, not because of the story, but because it didn't follow the guidelines of the romance genre to which I was submitting. (I didn't educate myself on the rules to follow, so that was my fault.) That was fine by me. You want to get pubbed in a certain genre, you play by the rules of the genre.

My second time out of the gate I had a totally new story sparked by a submissions call. I followed the rules, but wrote the story the way I wanted the way it flowed into my head.

Now, I'm working on another story (well several stories) with my assortment of characters and I will submit. I do expect it to be published because now, hee, I have a track record!! *yay*

So, my mindset didn’t change. I think Vixenne said, if you’ve got a story in your head, there is at least 100,000 people out there who want to read it. (and I hope they all buy my books!)