I recently came across an article called 5 Reasons why you don’t need to write a book. The article seems to be written for folks who want to write non-fiction, but I think it still raises some interesting questions.
Most who write non-fiction are trying to make money, gain authority, or kick-start a speaking carrier. The article sends a wake up call: A book does not guarantee any of those things.
If you write fiction “for the money,” you will always be dissapointed unless, of course, you’re Michael Crichton.
It’s a worthwhile exercize to sit down and reall consider why you write. If you don’t have a good reason, you might as well give up now. You’ll never finish that novel, anyway.
Personally, I don’t write just so I can make money. I write because I have to. I’ve got stories in me that are messing up my insides, clawing to get out. Writing them down makes me happy. As an added bonus, writing is like therapy for me. Whenever I feel down, I get to just kick Corbin (or whatever character I’m writing about) around for a while.
That’s not to say I don’t want to ever make money by writing - it would be great to write full time an not worry about money. I’m just not counting on it.
So anyway, why do you guys write?
P.S. Thanks to all of you who have given encouragement and feedback to me as I’ve posted my little fictions here. I’m talking to you darc family, Bart, Cory, Emmerson, Rob, Glenn, Tahjir, and everybody else I’ve forgotten. You guys are like yet another added bonus.
8 Comments until now.
You’re welcome, bud. It’s been my pleasure.
And I write for similar reasons. I mean, my stories don’t mess up my insides, but I do like getting them some air once in a while. It can’t be for the money … that way lies madness and disappointment.
I write because it clears my thoughts, to deal with turmoil, to tell stories that cry out from my inner depths to be written. I can’t really help but to write. It’s pretty addicting.
*hugs*
Bryce,
You’re quite welcome. You keep learning and writing. Just think, it took Stephen King a long time before he really got going. Writing out of his trailer and at the laundry mat. Keep the faith and never let the bast**** get you down!
I write because I’m a writer, that’s what writers do.
I like to have written, but don’t always like to write. Sometimes it’s painful. I’ve been published for years, but I certainly don’t write for money. What money?
I don’t write, I read and I enjoy reading your work.
On another note I just watched your youtube video and I thought it was funny as hell. Was that a Kirby?
Generally I write best when I write to please myself. Then my book gets turned down by agents. Then I hatch a plan to write something more mainstream - after all, working in a factory can stink - but this writing stinks. So I go back to the start.
No, it was a knock-off brand, not even all that old, the roller was down to the nubs and I couldn’t find another roller for it.
All in all, it was garbage.
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