How much do you believe in your story?

I'm going to ask a really tough question, and it applies more to something you consider a very meaningful story project, than your goal to be a writer.

Have you ever had a story you believed in so much you'd pay the ultimate price to ensure wide-spread circulation, and you'd know for certain it would reach tens of millions?

But here is the price. 1) Your name would never apper on the cover. In fact, it would be "author unknown"-even your friends wouldn't know. 2) You would have no monetary reward, but it would reach the world

(Vs) You would know for a fact, if you took credit, the most you would have is a small cult appreciation, and a high five figure reward, but nothing more.

Which would you take? *

* Now, I'm not asking you to lay down your dreams of being an author in this choice, or any other writings.

And it begs the question, have you ever had something you wrote that was more important than you receiving gains and recognition from it?

Inspiration for this question. There are many ancient texts that are precious to the world, and the author is uncertain or completely unknown. Would you be willing to join them for the cause? The ultimate sacrifice for your story.

DixieChic said:

I think WHAT you're writing plays a big role in how you answer the original question. In my case, even if I wrote the world's GREATEST "chick-lit" novel, I still think I'd take $10,000 and 25,000 readers over $0 and the entire population of China receiving a copy.

Now, on the other hand, if you believe you are divinely inspired or something and your work of philosophy is going to truly change the face of the planet as we know it, you might feel differently.

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Tremendous insight. I've wrestled with my own question, and yes, I agree, it's almost a spiritual question, because I think I'd be going crazy wanting to tell someone, metaphorically, "I wrote Homer's Odessy"

It's such a philosophical dilema, in that our desire is for our work to be appreciated, but when it comes to our work, and us, do we feel the same about it? That's the question, because in scenario one, the author never gets credit. However, in scenario one, the work is the focus.

And I agree also with everyone, it's an easier question in regards to non-fiction, because your political, philosophical, spiritual goals, may "in your mind", be worth falling on your sword for. In a sense, you believe the message is more important than you fame, comfort, and in some cases, your life "In the giving sense, not the taking sense".

However, what if you've thrown it all into your fiction? Would Tolkien, or C.S Lewis have made that trade if it was the only posibility offered to either, Tolkien for LOTR/Silmarillion, and Lewis for Chronicles of Narnia? I think this would have been a difficult question for both. Now, with Lewis, I believe he was the kind of person who believed you influence the world through your fiction. In a sense, the question would likely have caused him a certain amount of anguish, or perhaps it would have been an instantaneous answer.

Then again, perhaps extenuating circumstances can come into play, "I need the money for my wife's medical care." Tolkien was financially strapped after WW2, and his wife had physical problems. In a sense, he started out very hands on with translations of LOTR, and to the point where he didn't want certain translations to be printed in some countries, because they wouldn't come to an agreement on names, and the the interpretations of what he was saying. But later, he basically compromised due to financial needs, sort of, "I really don't like this, but I'll let it go, right now circumstances for me to compromise my standards.

LiamJackson said:

Membership card is in the mail, Will.

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Liam, I can't wait to see you on a talk show. I love your sometimes twisted, sideways-looking-at-the-world, sense of humor.