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Why is everyone trying to be indie?

Why is everyone trying to write books these days?

  • I don't get why everyone is trying to get published at the moment. The ones I really don't get are the ones that ask questions like "I want to write a book but don't know what to write about" How weird is that? Surely, a person writes a book because they have a really good story they just have to tell. My stories keep me awake at night if I don't try to write them. Are people really silly enough to believe that writing books is a nice easy way to make some dosh?

  • Answer:

    Leah, the problem is that people only see the big name authors and think that writing is the "easy" way to celebrity. There is a misconception that anyone can pick up a pen and write a book, and that if you publish a book you will get rich. Sadly, the majority of these so-called writers don't even like reading. And it shows in their work. Writing is both a craft and a passion. You are right when you say a true author is borderline obbessive when it comes to their work. It becomes our baby. It becomes part of what we are. It is not just something we do. But it is also a craft, and people fail to realize that like any craft it requires dedication and hard work. Half these people don't even have the dedication to bother searching to see if their question has already been answered 500 times when they ask "How do I publish my book?" If they are so lazy that they can't use the search function or go to the library, they have no business killing trees for paper.

Princess Paradox at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Those aren't people who want to write. They're people who want to have written.

Jazzycat

Because it's the last refuge of people to persuade them they're not failures.

Xamanator

That's funny... I'm just writing a book called "Why Is Everyone Trying To Write Books These Days?"... ...do you think it'll sell?!

Deltic21

I now write for myself- i learn a lot when i research for a book-if you write for someone else you tend to get anxious and lose sleep i like this quote from sideways: "i like nonfiction- there is so much to learn in this world; if you read something someone just invented - waste of time!"

The Man

Yup. They see writing as a means for getting more money. The reason more people are trying is more people have what they think are the necessary tools and access to an audience via the internet. As professional writers, we know that less than 3% of new writers will ever finish writing a story. Of those, only about 25% will ever submit one. Of that 25%, only 2% will get published. And only 5% of ALL professional writers make their living by writing. Sometimes I wonder why I started with all those odds against me, but (like you) I had stories to tell and characters that wouldn't shut up. I did get Donal to be quiet after I left him pinned to the floor with a sword through his chest. It lasted a week, I think. Unfortunately, his father was in a rage that someone had tried to kill his son and I ended up writing 30 pages that day, then crawling back into bed to sleep off the effects.

loryntoo

LOL that's so true !!, I'm one of these with half a dozen unfinished stories on the go, ill health and sheer laziness is my excuse for not finishing them. Your question has gave me a kick up the backside.. thanks, I'm gonna write more tonight :-)

Richard

The desire to write a book is a desire to get attention. The desire to write is answered by writing.

Tinderno

i hate all the auto biographies. "i was in the background on the bbc news, time to write about my new found fame in an autobiography" "i aggrivated people with my screechy voice on big brother! pass me a laptop and get me a publisher"

april9rockstar

Good question! I've been writing since I first learned how to form sentences and put them on paper. I think a true writer is compelled to create stories, not necessarily publish them. I know far too many people who think writing is an easy way to make a quick buck. I've been writing for publication since 2000 and I know very well that there's little money to be made, even with blood, sweat, tears and extreme perseverance. As for the people on here who ask about publishing, I try to respond to their questions with basic information that helped me when I started. Yahoo! Answers wasn't around back then. I had to get off my butt and research it all for myself, starting with the purchase of my very first copy of Writer's Market. So it's always a relief to find someone like you who identifies with the urge to write and understands how tough it is.

§Sally§

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