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Emanuel
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 201
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 02:34 pm: | 
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Is it wrong for a writer to admit he or she got into writing for fame and fortune? If not, why do so many authors give the politically correct answers when asked why they became writers. "I just wanted to tell a story." "I don't care if I only sell 20 books." Yeah, right! If there wasn't money to be made or fame to be had, would the marketplace still be flooded with poorly-written books by people who may see writing as a way to quit their day jobs? I don't think so. If that's the case, why not just say it? "I wrote a book because I wanna get paid, get great reviews in all the papers and hang out with Puffy and 'nem."
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4752
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 04:30 pm: |
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Emanuel,
The only REAL artistic sin that a writer commits is being a BAD writer. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4651
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 04:45 pm: |
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There is something to be said for honesty, Emanuel. And a good writer's work speaks for itself. All it needs is exposure. Hyperbole is great - in small doses. |
Batmocop
Veteran Poster
Username: Batmocop
Post Number: 71
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, June 25, 2006 - 08:46 pm: |
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I'll say this much, I know writers that have never published, and I KNOW they should. I know writers who have been published and should have never picked up a pen to do it. For me? Writing is an outlet. I only make money when I work really hard to sell books. I do make a lot of money on my books at local events, but for me it's more about people feelin me than makin that money... I already have that...
BatMo-> |
Troy
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 389
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 01:00 am: |
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Emanuel, I hear what you are saying but there are easier paths to fame and future than writing a book.
The vast majority of authors are relatively obscure to the general public -- incluing some of our best authors.
I believe most authors are truly motivated by something more than just money and fame -- otherwise they won't be at it very long...
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Yukio
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yukio
Post Number: 1299
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 07:57 am: |
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Emanuel:
Your questions and comments presupposes these people who produced poorly written books are writers. |
Dakota
Regular Poster
Username: Dakota
Post Number: 26
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:18 am: |
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Emanuel,
I write because it’s in my blood. I truly believe I’m a good writer. And, I work to improve my writing every day. I have so many stories inside of me I sometimes pray to God to let me live long enough to write them all (although my agent might me praying for me to have a little writer’s block…I think I‘m driving her crazy with all of my ideas.).
I write more about this on my blog as a response to your questions. Read it at:
http://dakotaknight.blogspot.com
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4659
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:31 am: |
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Nothing personal, Dakota, but it has been my observation that being a prolific writer is one thing; whether what one's prodigious output is something that commands the interest of others is another thing. Writing can sometimes be therapy, a way to relieve frustration. But suffice to say, it's not about quantity, it's about quality. |
Emanuel
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 202
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:46 am: |
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For me, I want reviewers who influence buyers and customers who buy books to feel me.
Here are few follow-up questions for the authors on this board:
Why do you advertise your book? Why not just give away books if it's just about having people enjoy your work? It's gotta be about business and making money off of what you do too, right?
For me, sure I love to write but I also want to be considered successful at it. To me success means selling lots of books, getting great reviews or winning literary awards. I won't continue if I can't do at least one these things. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4661
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 12:20 pm: |
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I don't think anybody is condeming you, Emanuel. If you consider writing your profession then by all means you should do what it takes to become successful at it. It's just that achieving the rank of best-selling author is so difficult that many writers end up keeping their day jobs and simply write for the love of their craft. And of course an ambitious author does have to plug his books but I think the gripes arise when the promotion takes the form of bombarding a captive audience with a publicity campaign. |
Emanuel
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 203
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 12:25 pm: |
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Oh, I'm with you Cynique. I don't feel condemned at all. Just trying to keep the conversation going to find out how writers think when deciding to become authors. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 4761
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 01:35 pm: |
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Emanuel,
I think if enough foks really enjoy your work, fame and fortune (and the honeys!!!) will follow suit. |
Dakota
Regular Poster
Username: Dakota
Post Number: 27
Registered: 03-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 12:07 am: |
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Cynique,
I'm prolific and I believe my writing is good. It's all subjective though, so you may have a different opinion. I don't know if you've read my blog, but I explain it more there. Plus, there's a link to my website so you can read an excerpt of my upcoming book (you can pre-order it too if you like what you see).
Emanuel, I like your writing. I say, don't give up. You may have to modify some things, but we all do. Would I still write if I didn't get paid for it? Yes, but less often because I wouldn't have deadlines. I would still belong to a writer's group, etc. I know I've been blessed, but I've also worked hard...and I have to continue to work hard. Please, don't give up. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 2345
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 02:31 pm: |
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Emanuel:
No it's not wrong. It just might go down the wrong way with certain kinds of fans.
I'm sure if you were writing say detective fiction and said that people wouldn't bat an eye. If you were writing cheap tawdry trash or porn.
I think if you set out to be a writer of literary fiction or a poet this could kill your career, or if you were writing religious inspirational fiction. |
Solomonjones
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Solomonjones
Post Number: 89
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 10:29 am: |
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I started writing because I needed something to do. I was working as a doorman at a condominium complex at night and going to college during the day. I'd bring my computer to work and do my homework, and the nights would fly by. When the semester ended, I still wanted to bring my computer. I'd just finished reading a book called The Gold Coast, and I figured I could write something as good as that. I started writing a story about four drug addicts and nine months later it was the first draft of my first book, Pipe Dream.
So I started writing novels (I'd already done journalism) as something to do. It wasn't until after I'd written the book that I realized I wanted to be an author. But becoming an author was hard work. It meant doing everything I could to get an agent and then a publisher. It meant enduring fifty rejections. It meant revising the manuscript five times. It meant prayer and committing myself to making it happen. It meant waiting six years for Random House to publish the book.
It was great when it happened. I got critical acclaim. I was nominated for some awards. I was in the national media. So I decided to keep doing it.
I guess I must be doing something right because St. Martin's Press just published my fifth book, C.R.E.A.M., a couple weeks ago. In the time it's taken me to go from one book to five, I've learned a few things. Allow me to share them now.
1. If you do not love the craft you will not continue to produce good work. You'll produce something ... but it won't be your best.
2. The highest quality work does not always reap the highest financial reward.
3. Editors care about the content of their writers' work. Publishing houses care about how much money that work makes. And there's nothing wrong with that.
4. Sex sells.
5. Reviews and literary awards do not matter nearly as much for African American fiction as it does for Mainstream fiction.
6. Readers are the life blood of any writer.
Those lessons have taught me that what I do is a gift from God. It's a gift that is not all about the money - I still have not gotten rich. It's not about the fame - I'm not famous. It's not about the awards or the reviews - they still go primarily to white writers. What it's really about is sharing the life experience that I've had. After all, when I started writing professionally (as a journalist) I lived in a shelter and made $35 per article writing for a local black newspaper. I now own my own home and have a beautiful wife and children, among other things. Some people find that inspirational. Being an author allows me to share that in prisons, at colleges, high schools, elementary schools, and in communities all over this country. And it pays a couple of the bills, too.
I guess what I'm saying is, we all get a gift. Many of those who write have not been gifted to do so. But some of us have. What we have to realize is that the gift isn't necessarily about us. It's about the people whose lives we touch. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 4840
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 12:47 pm: |
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That's true, Solomon Jones. Writing is a gift and I've always felt that most good writers are born, not made. A person's mind has to be wired a certain way in order for him to be able to condense thoughts into words and then transfer these words to paper in a coherent and creative way. Readers are at an advantage because of being able to pick and choose what they decide to read, and they are really doing writers a favor by reading what they write. I'm not a compulsive writer, someone who needs to write, but once I become inspired, writing is one of the few things in life that can totally engross me. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 5079
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 01:28 pm: |
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Solomonjones,
Thanks A LOT for sharing some of your autobio. Sounds like you might have the makings of an interesting screenplay. |
Babygirl
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Babygirl
Post Number: 292
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 14, 2006 - 03:48 pm: |
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Soloman,
Beautifully said. Thank you. |
Solomonjones
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Solomonjones
Post Number: 91
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 04:17 pm: |
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ABM -
If you knew my whole autobio, you'd know that my memoirs are going to be quite interesting. And unlike James Frey's, they'll be true.
Cynique -
You are absolutely right when you say that readers do us a favor by choosing to read our work. More of us should be grateful for that. I know I am.
Babygirl -
Thanks. |
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