Comments on: To Biz or Not To Biz?

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:27:09 +0000

Thanks for the clarification, SMD.

By: SMD

SMD — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:03:46 +0000

Oh, now I see what you mean. I meant that mainly to say that the first person I’m thinking of when I write is myself. If I don’t like what I’m writing, I stop. I have to like what I write first. But I can see what you’re saying. That’s basically what I was saying. I write to please myself.
I think we’re thinking of different concepts of ‘the market’ though. Writing for the market, to me, means setting out intentionally to write a story that fits into a single idea. So if a publisher asks for only stories about ninjas with laser guns, I won’t set out to intentionally write a story about ninjas with laser guns. If I happen to write a story about ninjas and laser guns and discover the publisher, great. That’s just what I mean. I realize that technically if you are trying to get published you’re writing the market, meaning the market is the audience, but I meant it a little differently.
But I see where my words were a little misconstrued. For that I apologize. I should have chosen them more carefully. I do write to please myself. Hence why I get a lot of enjoyment when people visit my blog, or comment on my writing (wherever it may be), etc. Hopefully that’s a little more clear now :S

By: E.v.R.

E.v.R. — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:50:47 +0000

There’s nothing wrong with writing for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with writing for other reasons either. There’s nothing wrong with writing for both yourself and other reasons.

There is not a right answer here. But I think what answer you choose says a lot about your outlook.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:41:37 +0000

Well, now I agree with you, SMD. Because now you’re making sense. You should be happy to have accomplished a traffic milestone for your blog. And you should also be happy when you write…

My cynicism was a response to: “I don’t write for anyone but myself…”

The second I read that, I called ‘bullshit.’ If you only write for yourself, then why have a blog? Why submit stories for publication at all?

Now, I’m not trying to tear you down. On the contrary, I want you (and all other artists and writers) to *embrace* the meaning and purpose and (dare I say?) BLISS that comes from creating for *both* ourselves AND for others.

Don’t trivialize or denigrate shared human connection by labeling it “market” and then inferring that you despise it.

Now, if you meant to say something like: ‘First and foremost, I write to please myself, because in so doing, I know that others will enjoy my work, too–because we are after all, all human beings,’ then I would agree with you.

Is that what you really meant? Please say it is.

And don’t equivocate “making a living” from your writing and “being read my many.” You can indeed have the latter without the former. But what you *cannot* have is MEANINGFUL writing if you’re the only one who reads it. So share it, and be proud of sharing it.

By: SMD

SMD — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:13:37 +0000

Yes, I do write for myself. I don’t see what celebrating achieving something has to do with refuting that idea. Am I not allowed to be happy that doing something I like has given me something in return? I mean, if I write a story and it gets published, am I not allowed to be happy about it simply because I write for myself? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being happy that you’ve achieved something.