Comments on: For Whom Do We Write?

By: Peggy

Peggy — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 17:34:34 +0000

Not an Author. Actually I don’t work at all. I’ve wrote a couple short stories for my daughter who wanted to be in stories and wanted them about books that just aren’t out there. I find it hard to believe any other girl would want to read them. Lol she is a bit tomboy. Maybe I’ll give them to her when she gets married to read to her children.

As a reader. I read more then my mind could ever hold. There are those wonderful stories that no matter what you read or how many more books later. Your always looking for another like it. Sometimes you never forget that book, sometimes it might be just a character you cant forget. Hands of Flames by C. E. Murphy the Gargoyle Alban. I still want to fly away with him. Lol I Haven’t read the book since it released. but I can still remember the Name, Arthur, and Alban. You can’t forget Grit. Just a huge Thanks to all those that do write no matter who its for. I lovingly enjoy them.

Truthfully Some of my favorite reading is all the Extras usually. Everything the Editor said had to be cut. I love when I get to a favorite Authors site and there they are.

By: Daniel R Davis

Daniel R Davis — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:18:10 +0000

You know, I don’t really have to do much soul searching to honestly say that, no, I don’t really write anything solely for me. Not short stories, not novel manuscripts, not even character histories and descriptions for roleplaying sessions I’m in. They’re usually mostly for other people. Sure, the character histories fill out my character and make it something far more interesting to play, but in the end, the other players benefit from those works as well as the life of the character I’m playing slowly unfolds in front of them during the game. Any short story, whether something I want to professionally get published or just something I want to post on the net, I’m doing to show off to others, for others to enjoy, for their entertainment as well as my own accomplishment. I do like the praise I get, which is great for me, but I want to share the work.

As far as getting paid for writing for others, yep, I’d love to have that happen as well, which could be considered sort of writing for myself. I’d also love to become one of the New York Times Best Seller authors and make enough to allow my wife to quit her day job and start writing full time too. Still, even if that never happens, as long as I make enough to live a little better than we do now, enough to take a trip every once in a while or try something we’ve never tried before, to actually go rafting if we want (not that we really wanna), to put money away for our daughter’s education, to have some fun instead of living to pay bills and taxes. That would be good enough.

I have been given a lot of artistic talent. It’d be a shame to let it go to waste.

By: Naomi

Naomi — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 07:53:21 +0000

I know I’m weighing in late on this conversation – but I thought I might as well add my POV anyhow

David, I’ve been writing regularly for about 2 years. I started when I found out that I may not have overly long to live (sounds nice and dramatic, eh?) and I had some opportunity to think long and hard about what I wanted from life. I finally decided that:

a) I wanted to write fiction;

b) I wanted to write for an audience; and

c) It would be nice to make a living from it.

So I started writing, and publishing my work on a blog, and found an audience. Lo and behold, the audience encouraged me to keep writing, and still do.

My point? That I most definitely write for an audience, although I tend to rate a story’s ‘success’ on how many people read it and comment positively on it. If no-one else likes it, but I love it… then I’ve got to wonder whether I communicated its ideas well enough. Because there should be someone out there in my audience with similar thoughts to my own in whatever area it might be.

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:17:22 +0000

Thanks for the comments, Adrian. I’d be reluctant to say that I didn’t believe someone — I think different people write for many different reasons. But I know that I write hoping for an audience and with that set of readers in mind. And yes, those of us who do this for a living never let a day go by without acknowledging how very lucky we are.

By: Adrian Kyte

Adrian Kyte — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:07:09 +0000

I wouldn’t believe anyone if they said they wrote a novel simply for themselves without a thought of an audience.

When I started writing my first novel, The Hidden Realm, I was captivated by a scene in the first chapter that seemed pivotal to the character. Thoughts of who would read it, or whether it could be accepted by an agent/publisher, were not uppermost. After all, there’s been so many negative comments about the (traditional) publishing industry, by those with some connection, that as a debut author I’d have felt a sense of despair crushing any creativity if I’d taken them on board.

Self publishing and POD may mean there’s no longer that fear that your book will never remain unpublished, but there’s so much out there it can become lost. And now even some successful authors are making chapters of their work available for free, or even the entire book!

So it’s true that if you can make a living as an author you really are one of the fortunate few.

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:31:08 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Lillian, and congratulations on the publication of your first book! I hope that G.E.N.I. and its sequel are both successful.

I agree with you that no one does this for only one reason, or for only one audience (be it an audience of one or of many). And I think for many of us, as for you, the reasons we write evolve over time.

Again, thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

By: Lillian Skamsar

Lillian Skamsar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:14:04 +0000

For whom do we write? Well, I don’t know…or do I? I’ve recently published my first book, and I never really set out to do that, I think. You see, I’m a bit of a daydreamer. I have these stories, internal movies of sorts, and I like to watch them again… as you would re-read a great book.
At work I started telling about one of my stories to one of my colleagues and friend (I found out we shared a lot of the same interests in books, movies, games etc.) He enjoyed it and the story just kept on evolving way past the point where I was able to remember all the details. So I had to write it down. I ended up with a complete manuscripts of sorts, and people urged me to try and publish it. I figured I didn’t have anything to loose and against all my expectations my book was accepted. It’s a JV program, but it’s out there. Yeah!
So now there’s a possibility I might earn some money.
The story is still evolving and I’ve started a sequel. This time I’m writing because I enjoy the story, and because people are asking me to. They want to know what happens to my hero etc.
Now, I don’t think there’s only one reason why anyone would write a story/novel. There’s a lot of work after all, you’ll want to get something for your time and effort. Maybe one reason weighs more than the others, but never one.
I know now, that I didn’t just write to remember the story, but also because I wanted to share it with my friends.
Anyway, great post!
Please check out my book: G.E.N.I. Genetically Enhanced Natural Intelligence

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:10:07 +0000

CE, there’s nothing like not writing to make it clear to us how crucial the written word is to our existence. I wish you every success in your efforts to publish. Yes, writing professionally is different. There are pressures and additional responsibilities that make it something both less and more than “pure art”. But it’s worth that difference. Best of luck.

By: cedunkley

cedunkley — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:38:34 +0000

When I was younger I wrote all the time. My best friend from high school wrote as well so we both pushed each other.

Eventually, life got in the way and writing fell by the wayside for a long time. However, the characters and the stories and the world building never stopped. Even though I was no longer writing, I was still creating (even if it was in my mind).

About a year and a half ago I decided that it was a mistake to put writing aside and that it was time to not only write regularly again, but to work towards publication.

Now I’m on that long uncertain road. I spent enough time away from writing to know I’m happiest when I write.

Now, when (being positive here) I get published that will change things. I have no idea how writing to a contract will feel. Probably thrilling and terrifying all at once.

In the end, I love my imagination and will find some creative outlet for it. Since I can’t draw or sing worth a damn, I’ll stick to storytelling through the written word.

By: David B. Coe

David B. Coe — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:33:24 +0000

Cathy — Sorry, your post actually posted after I wrote my reply to Laura and Adam. I wasn’t ignoring you. The short answer to your question is that yes, authors do sell downloads and such directly to readers or through alternate e-sellers. The thing is, for many of us so-called “midlist” authors (not bestsellers, but not newbies either) it would be hard to generate enough sales to make the effort worthwhile. The books/distribution/bookstore system is imperfect at best, but it does get our books into places where people can see them, people we couldn’t reach any other way. For a big name author, the approach you’re talking about would be a viable alternative. I’m not sure it is for me.

Kelly, I understood where you were coming from, because it’s not that different from my perspective. I’ve gone through a period in my life when I wasn’t writing (at least not fiction — academia [shudders] was not for me) and I know myself well enough to realize that if I once again had to earn my wage another way, my writing would slide.

Chris, well put. Although I have to admit that I talk to myself all day….