Would you finish your story, if you did not expect for it to be published?

Bukarella · Jan 10, 2010

I started writing because I had a few ideas and wanted to be published. There is pride, expectation of money, and the desire to show off, to tell others "you see that book on the shelf? I wrote that!" The truth is, if I did not have all of these expectations last year, I wouldn't have started writing.

Today I realized, I'm okay with never being published. Of course I'll try, but that's not the point. I am not naive, and I can tell that my writing might never be good enough. I am surprisingly okay with it. I still want to finish this project.

Go figure. :e2steer:

I also wanted to add - I won't judge your honesty! I'm simply curious to see how much the desire to see your name in print motivates people.

Maxinquaye · Jan 10, 2010

Yes, because I don't count on being published. Being published must, of necessity, be - at least for me - a side-bonus. I write because I want to write, because I need to write. And I certainly don't expect to make any money off it since even midlist authors struggle to earn more than the minimum wage.

Mr Flibble · Jan 10, 2010

Yup, I would

I write cos I love to write. Published is a bonus. In fact I have a story that I work on occasionally when I'm stuck on something else, and it will NEVER see the light of day. I intend for nobody else to ever read it. It is mine, for me and me alone. *hugs story to self*

ChaosTitan · Jan 10, 2010

If you set out writing your first novel with expectations of publication, fame, fortune and book tours, you're going to be crushed. Dreams are fine, we all need dreams. Expectations, though?

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to write it. It wasn't even until after, when a few folks told me it was well written, good, etc..., that I really entertained the notion of publication. I never wrote a single novel expecting publication, but I did hope for it with each and every one (and boy it took a while to get the right one).

Use whatever you need to in order to motivate yourself into finishing the book (dream big!), but be realistic with your actual expectations.

Fredster · Jan 10, 2010

My answer is a resounding...probably not.

I'm working on this book because I expect it to be published. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. At this point, I'm reasonably sure that I won't try a second one if the first one doesn't make it to the bookstore. I don't like writing enough for that.

However, if I have another idea as compelling as the one that started this one, all bets are off.

Edit to add, now that I see ChaosTitan posted while I was typing -- I don't expect fame or fortune.

Rhoda Nightingale · Jan 10, 2010

I attempt to finish everything I start, regardless of whether or not it'll ever be published. My problem with finishing WIPs is being easily distracted, not worrying over whether it'll move past my hard drive and into the public eye.

Parametric · Jan 10, 2010

I'm not sure anybody expects their story to be published, unless they're (a) delusional, (b) already contracted, or (c) benefiting from a much more robust self-image than I am. When I write something I don't expect to publish it - I merely hope.

I have to say that while writing first drafts is enjoyable for me, I find revising a singularly thankless and unrewarding task. If I didn't dream of being published, and therefore require constant improvement, I think I could be quite content just writing first drafts.

Sophia · Jan 10, 2010

I don't expect to be published, but I do aim for it. If I knew that what I wrote would never be published, then I wouldn't write, and would look for something else to throw myself into and have it be what I do with my life.

Bukarella · Jan 10, 2010

Parametric said:
I'm not sure anybody expects their story to be published, unless they're (a) delusional, (b) already contracted, or (c) benefiting from a much more robust self-image than I am.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but that was me 12 months ago. :e2paperba

Moonfish · Jan 10, 2010

Absolutely I would. And then I'd begin something new, and I'd finish that. And start something new...
I write because it's the best high there is. And the only thing I truly want to do.

C.M.C. · Jan 10, 2010

You have to think that way. If you don't, you're setting yourself up in an untenable position. It's the same as anyone who takes up a sport as a hobby. If everyone only picked up a golf club on the condition they would be good enough to be a professional, there wouldn't be anyone playing. Writing is the same way. You do it for yourself, then hope someone else out there likes it.

kaitie · Jan 10, 2010

Yeah, without a doubt. I write because I love to write. I've written works I have no intention of ever publishing, that I just did for fun. Even the one I've finished and is on submission (eek!) isn't one I'm certain will be published (is anyone ever certain?). Even if I knew I'd never be published I'd continue to do it, though.

scarletpeaches · Jan 10, 2010

C.M.C. said:
You have to think that way. If you don't, you're setting yourself up in an untenable position. It's the same as anyone who takes up a sport as a hobby. If everyone only picked up a golf club on the condition they would be good enough to be a professional, there wouldn't be anyone playing. Writing is the same way. You do it for yourself, then hope someone else out there likes it.

Uh...yeah.

That is, NO.

Tiger Woods picked up a golf club aiming to be a professional. He made it. Stephen Hendry picked up a snooker cue aiming to be a professional. He made it. Roger Federer picked up a tennis racquet aiming to be a professional. He made it.

I have no time for people who aim for mediocrity or just good enough or 'the best I can do and no more'. You're damn right I aim for publication and to be the best there is.

Ambitious? You betcha, and proud of it.

If we pick up the tools of the trade aiming to be the best we're not setting ourselves up for disappointment at all - we're collectively raising standards.

thethinker42 · Jan 10, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
Uh...yeah.

That is, NO.

Tiger Woods picked up a golf club aiming to be a professional. He made it. Stephen Hendry picked up a snooker cue aiming to be a professional. He made it. Roger Federer picked up a tennis racquet aiming to be a professional. He made it.

I have no time for people who aim for mediocrity or just good enough or 'the best I can do and no more'. You're damn right I aim for publication and to be the best there is.

Ambitious? You betcha, and proud of it.

If we pick up the tools of the trade aiming to be the best we're not setting ourselves up for disappointment at all - we're collectively raising standards.

QFT. I went into this craft with publication as my goal. I honed my craft with publication as my goal. I've reached my goal of publication, but want BIGGER publication, and continue to hone my craft with that as my goal.

Other people can aim for what suits them. Publication and mastery are my goals, and I will settle for no less than both.

ETA: To answer the OP, yes, I still would write. I love what I do. I would probably still finish a story even if I thought no one would ever pick it up. But I still write with publication in mind.

Mr Flibble · Jan 10, 2010

To be fair Tiger Woods picked up a club because his Dad wanted him to

And how did Stephen Hendry know he'd be any good before he picked up the cue? He didn't, unless he's psychic. He picked it up. enjoyed playing and probably thought 'Hey, I'm not too shabby at this, I'll practice lots and see if I can make a go of it' He played to win yes. But not every game was a championship game

Not every novel will be worth publishing, no matter your talent. Plenty of well-known wirters have books that didn't pan out stored on their hard drive / under their bed.

Ambition is good, don't get me wrong. But not everyone who picks up a pool cue will be Stephen Hendry, no matter how much they wish it

Write because you love it. Then have ambition.

Parametric · Jan 10, 2010

Bukarella said:
I'm ashamed to admit it, but that was me 12 months ago.

Bless you. :tongue

You seem to have gained a lot of perspective over the last twelve months.

ElaraSophia said:
I don't expect to be published, but I do aim for it. If I knew that what I wrote would never be published, then I wouldn't write, and would look for something else to throw myself into and have it be what I do with my life.

I've been secretly thinking something a little bit similar. I know being primarily motivated by seeking publication is kind of a taboo around here - if you wouldn't write without it, you're not a real proper writer. But I find that the dream keeps me going through the many aspects of writing I find stressful and/or scary and/or unpleasant. I'd still write if I knew I'd never be published, but I doubt I'd put myself through yet another redraft.

Losing that dream would change a lot. If saleability was no longer a concern, I might not focus exclusively on my all-devouring black hole obsession, novel-length original fiction. Maybe I'd be happily writing fanfiction. Maybe I'd still be roleplaying. All writing things I enjoy but don't have the time and energy for now that I'm obsessively writing novels.

The dream is what keeps me trudging on even when I hate every stupid word I'm writing and would rather spend my time bleeding from the eyes.

In retrospect, I might be having more fun right now if I'd given up on the dream years ago. :tongue

Priene · Jan 10, 2010

In order to finish a novel, you need to learn the skill of finishing novels, and you're not going to learn that without, well, finishing a novel or two. Even if one is a bit ropey, it'll help enormously with the next one you write.

Stunted · Jan 10, 2010

If I got, like, a message from the future that what I was writing would never be published, I'd probably angst around for a couple of days and then get back to work.

Or...maybe not. Because my goal is to write the best thing that I can, so if I KNEW that one thing wouldn't be published, and thought that there was a chance that something I wrote could be published, then maybe I'd switch projects.

If I found out that NOTHING I wrote would EVER be published...I'm not quite sure what I would do then.

Lady Ice · Jan 10, 2010

I finish if it's worth finishing.

gothicangel · Jan 10, 2010

Yes. However, if all I get back is rejections then I would want to know why. It's not just about keep writing, it's about improving too.

If I fail then I'll retreat into an academic career, find a post in an University and publish my research [and become a world authority on Gothic literature

]

ChaosTitan · Jan 10, 2010

IdiotsRUs said:
Not every novel will be worth publishing, no matter your talent. Plenty of well-known wirters have books that didn't pan out stored on their hard drive / under their bed.

Ambition is good, don't get me wrong. But not everyone who picks up a pool cue will be Stephen Hendry, no matter how much they wish it

Write because you love it. Then have ambition.

Exactly.

kuwisdelu · Jan 10, 2010

scarletpeaches said:
I have no time for people who aim for mediocrity or just good enough or 'the best I can do and no more'. You're damn right I aim for publication and to be the best there is.

Ambitious? You betcha, and proud of it.

If we pick up the tools of the trade aiming to be the best we're not setting ourselves up for disappointment at all - we're collectively raising standards.

I both agree and disagree with this.

I aim for the best. I'm ambitious as hell.

But I don't write everything I do with thoughts of publication. Not because I don't think it's good enough (although a lot of my old stuff sure was shit but I'm not talking about the early shit phase when I wrote shit), but because a lot of the stuff I've written is just plain not-very-marketable.

I have two novellas of the utterly-unpulishable lenghts of 19,000 and 29,000 words. Yeah, I've looked up some places that take novellas, but none that will ones with such complete-lack-of-genre. I started and finished them knowing they had an infinitesimal chance of finding a home except maybe in an anthology after I've had some publishing credits elsewhere. But they're two of my favorite stories I've ever written.

Every time I write something that I believe will be absolutely good enough to be published. But I also never write with the aim of publication. I know a lot of my work is unmarketable. I'm still trying to submit them. And I'll continue to write them and write them as damn well best I can. We'll see.

I definitely write expecting my stories to be good enough to be published.

I don't necessarily write anything expecting it to be published.

kaitie · Jan 10, 2010

IdiotsRUs said:
To be fair Tiger Woods picked up a club because his Dad wanted him to

And how did Stephen Hendry know he'd be any good before he picked up the cue? He didn't, unless he's psychic. He picked it up. enjoyed playing and probably thought 'Hey, I'm not too shabby at this, I'll practice lots and see if I can make a go of it' He played to win yes. But not every game was a championship game

Not every novel will be worth publishing, no matter your talent. Plenty of well-known wirters have books that didn't pan out stored on their hard drive / under their bed.

Ambition is good, don't get me wrong. But not everyone who picks up a pool cue will be Stephen Hendry, no matter how much they wish it

Write because you love it. Then have ambition.

Better said than I could put it.

Maxinquaye · Jan 10, 2010

IdiotsRUs said:
To be fair Tiger Woods picked up a club because his Dad wanted him to

And how did Stephen Hendry know he'd be any good before he picked up the cue? He didn't, unless he's psychic. He picked it up. enjoyed playing and probably thought 'Hey, I'm not too shabby at this, I'll practice lots and see if I can make a go of it' He played to win yes. But not every game was a championship game

Not every novel will be worth publishing, no matter your talent. Plenty of well-known wirters have books that didn't pan out stored on their hard drive / under their bed.

Ambition is good, don't get me wrong. But not everyone who picks up a pool cue will be Stephen Hendry, no matter how much they wish it

Write because you love it. Then have ambition.

This.

Aim for the top, but if you don't turn out to be the literary Tiger Woods, don't fret.

I mean, if you pick up an instrument, you wouldn't expect to be able to become Madonna after just a year. Sometimes you'll have to align your ambition to be a pub crooner.

But you always strive for the label signing, I guess.

MGraybosch · Jan 10, 2010

I would, and have. If the rest of the world doesn't want to read my work, then fuck the world; I'm going to keep writing.

Would you finish your story, if you did not expect for it to be published?

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