Is the dream of being an author an elusive fantasy?

Apr 15 2008

Everyone is a writer. This is a phrase I hear a lot these days. Usually the phrase refers to the idea, in the world of freelance writing, that because one can write words onto paper, he/she is a writer. Perhaps this is the reason that many freelancers are being taken advantage of by low wages (or none at all), and people who snub their noses at writers because the layman thinks that no one should have to pay for writing because it’s so easy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But what about the world of fiction? There are many, many more wannabe writers than authors (those who have actually published a novel). Even those who do publish rarely make a lot of money from their fiction, and even fewer see the kind of success we associate with authors like Stephen King and J.K. Rowling.

Saturated Marketplace for Writers

Yet people are flocking to the "writing life" in droves. The result is editors and agents are being buried under manuscripts that will never see publication and are condemned to the slush pile. There is an entire cottage industry of helping would-be writers get published. Classes and seminars are held by agents/editors. Published authors can make a steady income selling books filled with tips about writing novels, finding an agent, publishing and everything else. The list goes on.

All of this begs the question: If the field of fiction writing is so crowded, and the chances of getting a book published so slim, are most of us just chasing an elusive dream? The question itself has a very negative implication; that we are wasting our time. But asking the question is important because it forces us to look at ourselves and ask "Is it really worth it?"

For many the answer will be "Yes" and they will push on, writing and revising their manuscripts and performing the endless search for a way to get their book published. For others, they’ll try and eventually give up. And for each person who gives up on their writing dream, there are probably hundreds of others who will gladly take their place.

What about self-publishing?

Self-publishing is becoming a viable alternative to the traditional publishing route. But just because someone gets their novel into print doesn’t mean they are a success, no matter which way they decide to go. The big advantage of the internet, self-publishing and even those small, indie publishers who might only release a few titles a year, is that they are leveling the playing field for all writers.

As early as a decade ago, the traditional publishing business was dominated by a few authors who sold most of the books and made most of the money. This is slowly starting to change. People who never would have had a chance with Random House (for example), are now bestselling authors because they took an alternative route.

You paint a grim picture, should I just give up?

Of course not! If you’re out there writing and submitting work and least trying to get published, then you have a shot. If you give up, however, then you have no chance of being an author. Also, if you really enjoy writing, then by all means, keep doing it. For example, even when I was in high school and had no immediate plans for anyone to read my work (much less submit a manuscript for publication), I still pounded out story after story simply because I loved writing!

I confess that I fit into the category of "wanna-be author" even today. I’m right there in the trenches with the rest of you. And, like a lot of you, I have a healthy stack of rejection slips as battle scars (although it has been a while since I have submitted anything).

I think the dream of being a writer, while only a dream (for now, hopefully), is also the same thing that keeps us going. Another thing that keeps me going is I love writing. I’m working on making a career out of it, but even right now, I’m just enjoying the ride!

What about you? Do you think the dream of being a writer is a very elusive dream for most? Would you still write, even if you knew you had no chance of being published (a very hypothetical question)?

P.S. Wanna win a $30 Amazon gift card? All you gotta do is leave a comment on this post, or any other post written this month (April 2008)! That’s it! Just make sure you read my simple contest rules first and have fun.

2 Responses

i like your last question because i think most of us have to face the fact that we will never be published. i wrote like crazy when i was younger, i wrote freer and enjoyed myself more. now i push constantly to be published, to get my selfpublished novel noticed, that is really fun, and i forget what i love about writing. so, if you continue to write, as i plan to, do it because you love it and don’t forget that. yes, i would still write, and i will, even if nothing every happens. i have to write, it is who i am.

sheri doyle 4/15/2008 5:36 am
I believe everyone, regardless of whether they’re a writer or not, writes now and then just for the heck of it. In a journal, diary, pieces of paper, etc. I think a lot of people write and do realize that they will probably never be published, but writing doesn’t have to mean that they need to get published.

Jess 4/28/2008 5:22 pm