| Author |
Message |
    
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1497
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 12, 2006 - 08:52 pm: |   |
It seems that more and more American writers are competing for less and less readers. Are the waters being overfished? I don't think so. The English-speaking world grows larger by the minute. Our potential audience is many times greater than the number of people we are actually reaching.
Then what went wrong? I believe we lost our mystique. In other words, we out-smarted ourselves. William Faulkner said that all you need to be a writer is a pen, some paper, and a bottle of whiskey. When the business takes priority over the craft, we do ourselves a disservice. Produce a quality product. In time, people will beat a path to your door.
What do we have to lose? Few of us are making any money. This could could easily become the Golden Age of literature. We could make it happen.
http://www.fdungan.com/vigilantes.htm |
Dennis Collins
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
1776
Registered: 06-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 02:12 am: | |
While writing is an art to many, I believe that publishing is a business. And the sad part of the story is that the writer is at the whim of the publisher to get his work to the public. It's a matter of dollars to the publisher so your work must have a profit potential or most publishers won't even consider it. Seems to me that no matter how much of an artist or professional you consider yourself, you won't reach the mainstream unless you write to spec.
Dennis Collins
Moderator
www.theunrealmccoy.com |
Tom Elkins
Hsympothai Member
Post Number:
380
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 05:57 am: | |
Faulkner is obsolete, of course. Everything evolves. Today all you need is a computer, a word processor program, and a bottle of vodka.
Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins |
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
4236
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 08:32 am: | |
For me, writing is an art, a gift, a way of communicating. I'm probably an obscure unknown writer because of my philosophy. I'm not a businesswoman, nor do I want to be. I consider writing -- my writing at least -- to be like visual art. It is inspired and has to be done a certain way. I'm not being arrogant, just saying what writing is to me -- a creation that comes to me and must be written in a certain way.
Laurel
My Name is Esther Clara
======================================
http://laureljohnsonblogs.blogspot.com
|
Joyce Scarbrough
Wisdom Member
Post Number:
833
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 09:26 am: | |
I agree with the formula for writing essentials, except for the alcohol requirement. I do have an alternate vice, however, and keep my very own sexually potent male handy for frequent fixes. 
Stick to your principles, Fred. Someday the world will take notice. BTW, I'm almost finished with The Gospel According to Condo Don.
Toyce
~Joyce Sterling Scarbrough
True Blue Forever
ISBN 0-9722385-9-X
Second edition now available from Authors Ink Books
http://www.authorsinkbooks.com
Coming soon . . .
Different Roads
For first loves that get lost, hearts that call to each other, and the roads that lead us to the ones for whom we are meant.
Read the first chapter at http://www.authorsden.com/joycelscarbrough1
Pour yourself a glass of bubbly and check out Champagne Books http://www.champagnebooks.com |
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
1780
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 10:20 am: | |
Wow!
I can see how one may write and drink at the same time, but, to write and...well, it just blows my mind. Must be terribly difficult.
Do you have pictures? |
Pacwriter
Unity Member
Post Number:
2274
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 11:08 am: | |
yikes - the computer ate my post
http://www.perrycomer.com
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Pacwriter
Unity Member
Post Number:
2275
Registered: 04-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 11:08 am: | |
As I write more, I come to the conclusion it must be art and must be business.
there are certain requirements that must be met to be published. One of the main things to remember is a story is just a story unless it has something about it different from other stories being told. So--- the art comes in when you create a unique story told in a unique way. The business comes in when that story meets certain standards set forth by those wanting to make money by selling your story in book form to millions of readers.
to sum it up - any halfwit can write a story only a writer can write one people pay to read
my wife put a porn block on my computer and booze messes with my kidneys - I'll have a cigar
http://www.perrycomer.com
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Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
1781
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 11:36 am: | |
In my case, it's a hobby.
Wasn't intended to be that way, but, it is what it is...
 |
Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number:
1023
Registered: 10-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 12:17 pm: | |
Writing gives me pleasure, probably not that much as Toyce's fixes, but still...
I think writing should be an art first of all, and after that business.
As long as business does not get in the way of the art, it's not a problem.
For the moment my writing has very little to do with business, so it is easy for me to say...
But if I can't get published I will throw the whole thing on the internet for free. |
Stephen Lodge
Hunger Member
Post Number:
87
Registered: 06-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 06:00 pm: | |
"But if I can't get published I will throw the whole thing on the internet for free"
I have a lot of my stuff posted on the Internet. Writing is supposed to be read. What good does it do hiding it in a drawer, or on a hard drive?
Novels by Stephen Lodge:
"Shadows of Eagles"
"Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit!"
"Nickel-Plated Dream"
|
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1499
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 12:56 pm: | |
Stephen,
I totally agree. Why write if it's not going to be read? If at all possible, turn a profit. But please don't stuff it in a musty file drawer and forget about it. Your work is important!
Bushwhacked has been read by more than 25,000 people. If I had listened to PublishAmerica, it would have only been read by family and friends. By all means, upload your work to your website. The first order of business is to get noticed. If that means giving it away for free, then so be it.
http://www.fdungan.com/bushwhacked.htm |
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