Be honest: do you want to be a famous writer? Or just write?

KCathy · Feb 4, 2007

I'm reading Lerner's The Forest for the Trees, and she's talking about how writers can't really write for just the money. After all, there are far easier ways to make far more of it. She says most of us do it to be loved, to be respected, to show that big jerk boss that fired us that we're worth something, or to be well-known.

I thought, "Whatever. I just want to make a living writing a book or two a year." (Yes, I know how unusual that is; I'm dreaming big here and have just enough sense to realize it.) Then I thought, "Would I be happy if I did that under a pseudonym and none of my friends and family knew about it?" Uh-oh. The answer is no. I don't think I would have to be on the bestseller list to be happy, but I wouldn't be satisfied with anonymity, either. And I would be extremely UN-happy with the Philip Roth, make-everyone-in-your-tribe-hate-you-type notoriety, no matter how honest and artistically pure it would mean I was.

What about you? Want to be famous?

Beyondian · Feb 4, 2007

Yes and no. I mean, it would be all very nice to be top of the best-seller list and have everyone reading my deathless prose. But...
In a sense, that kind of fame and money would probably kill my love for writing. If the public eye was trained on me, and my books were eagerly awaited by hordes of devoted followers, it would be too much pressure. I'd be pretty upset if no one ever read my books, but it wouldn't stop me writing. (Annoying things, characters. Very vociferous about their tales getting told)
I guess the best thing would be to have moderate success. Not too much, not too little. It's a pity things don't usually work like that, isn't it?

KTC · Feb 4, 2007

I just want to write. I was never crazy about money. Fame? Whatever. Money...I've always been insulted by it. I have enough...

Sage · Feb 4, 2007

I would write just to write, but I do want an audience. That said, I'm content with my friends as an audience & was through several years of writing RPG-based fanfic.

Having one of my novels published would be a bonus.

Becoming famous would be an extraordinary bonus.

scarletpeaches · Feb 4, 2007

To get all Sigmund Freudy, mental masturbation, talking shite about it...

There's still a bullied little girl inside me who wants recognition for doing something well, so yes, fame does come into it. I want to create something that lasts so people will know who I am and that I DID do something worthwhile.

Gabriel · Feb 4, 2007

I'd like to make a living from it and have a respected reputation. I would rather not be as famous as J.K. rowling. A nice medium I suppose.

Tracey · Feb 4, 2007

I write for myself and because I love it. When the time comes and I have something polished enough to submit for publication, I will, but that's not my ultimate goal. I enjoy writing and will continue to do so no matter what. If I can get published and make money from it, that would just be a bonus.

thethinker42 · Feb 4, 2007

I could live with being rich and famous.

But I write because...well...I could just as easily explain why I breathe. I do want to make a living writing. I want to get out of the corporate rat race. Ok, I know there's plenty of corporate bullshit in the publishing industry, but you know what I mean.

I write because I have to.
I write even more because I have to get out of my cubicle.

Fame? Riches? I wouldn't complain if I got 'em.

Siddow · Feb 4, 2007

Hell yeah I want to be rich and famous. I want to have to wear dark sunglasses and travel with a bodyguard, I want to worry about the creepy guy who keeps driving by my house and throwing roses on the lawn and sticking sick love letters in my mailbox. I want to say, "Oh, forget it. I have nothing left in me to write," on the deck of my freaking yacht in the Mediterranean while Jeeves mixes me another martini and Charles, my personal captain, steers the boat into a Greek harbor and tells me, "Your jet is ready to take you to Paris for your monthly shopping trip, Ms. Siddow."

But I'd be happy with a single piece of fan-mail.

jodiodi · Feb 4, 2007

Tracey said:
I write for myself and because I love it. When the time comes and I have something polished enough to submit for publication, I will, but that's not my ultimate goal. I enjoy writing and will continue to do so no matter what. If I can get published and make money from it, that would just be a bonus.

I'm with Tracey. I write just because I do. Had my husband not encouraged and pushed me to try to get published, I wouldn't even be trying. I plan to publish under pseudonym(s) and don't really want notariety or fame. Money would be great but I make enough doing what I do now. I just write because the stories need to get out of my head.

Willowmound · Feb 4, 2007

I don't write for fame. I'd rather not be famous, actually. To earn enough to do nothing but, would be all right. But I don't care about money beyond that.

I would write if I were the only person left on earth.

scarletpeaches · Feb 4, 2007

I started writing because I had to...and I STILL have to. I enjoy feeling creative (and playing God).

What keeps me writing? The thought of the reward. The reward could be satisfaction, achievement, self-esteem...

But if it happens to be in the form of £££ too, that's all to the good.

limitedtimeauthor · Feb 4, 2007

KCathy said:
What about you? Want to be famous?

No. In fact, I sort of worry about writing the next big novel. (Haha, like that's really going to happen!

I realize how silly that is. Nonetheless, I worry.)

I would like to be able to write - novels, articles, essays, funny greetings, inspirational, reports, or even the copy on a box of mac-n-cheese - but I don't want to be famous. I'd be much more comfortable if people regarded writers the same way they think of cable technicians or pizza delivery persons. Then I could still tell people I write, but they wouldn't see me any differently as anyone else.

If everyone tells you that you are oh-so-special, and then something shows you that you aren't - not really - it can be crushing. You feel like a fool.

Besides, it isn't fair to the people who are fantastic plumbers, or secretaries or cake decorators. The people who make the world go 'round are as worthy of recognition and respect as anyone else. I've spent years working in jobs like that. If my book or articles ever get any recognition, I would want to hide in a corner somewhere. Great, if it touched you. Sooo glad if it helped you. But it's the least I could do, so I don't deserve special attention.

Anyway. There's my little bit of honesty.

ETA: But money for writing is always good. I have nothing against getting paid to write. That part is cool!

My-Immortal · Feb 4, 2007

To be a famous writer? I wouldn't turn it down if it happened, but I don't expect it either. I'll stick to writing the best story I can, and let others decide if they want to make me rich and famous (or not). LOL

Vincent · Feb 4, 2007

Respect over fame. And a small cult following.

scarletpeaches · Feb 4, 2007

Oh, and it'd be nice if the fame got me laid a lot.

Storyteller5 · Feb 4, 2007

Siddow said:
But I'd be happy with a single piece of fan-mail.

I do like the sound of that! I'd like to know my writing has affected someone.

jodiodi said:
I just write because the stories need to get out of my head.

I agree that I can't imagine not writing. It's just something I have to do. yes, I would like to have some success with it. For me, that's not famous on the scale of the top ten bestseller lists. I would like to be able to find my work in major bookstores, like Chapters, and have a bit of income from writing.

truelyana · Feb 4, 2007

I'm writing without no final destination. I write because, I feel from the heart. The participation, to me is far greater than what will be at the end.

Azure Skye · Feb 4, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Oh, and it'd be nice if the fame got me laid a lot.

Always an added bonus.

Do I want fame? Hmmm... I plan on using a pen name so what does that say? Well actually, I want my name to be recognzied, I don't want my face to be recognized. Not that there's anything wrong with my face, thank you very much.

Knowing the chances of publication, I would say I write mostly for myself while always keeping my mind on the potential audience. I'd like to be able to make a comfortable living writing...ah shit, I want JK Rowling's money. That would be nice.

OverTheHills&FarAway · Feb 4, 2007

I've always written, ever since I could hold a pencil, and I think before as well. So I always will, fame or no. If I lived in a cardboard box under a freeway overpass I'd still write.

But I sure would like to show the obnoxious sceptical grandparents (and others who mean much less to me personally) that I'm not wasting my time and have some talent outside being a cute granddaughter.

And to prove not everyone needs to go to college to have a fulfilling life. Will becoming a famous writer give me a fulfilling life? Maybe, but at least the money will distract the detractors.

CheshireCat · Feb 4, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Oh, and it'd be nice if the fame got me laid a lot.

It doesn't.

Not most writerly fame, at least. There's a line between name recognition and true celebrity, and few writers cross it.

Thank goodness.

Like Scarlet, I want to create work that lasts, work that marks my presence here, something to leave behind besides my DNA. And, yes, recognition that I have an ability a remarkably small percentage of humans share, that I am a storyteller for my people.

Mail telling you that your work brightened someone's day, or moved them to tears, or scared the hell out of them, or just occupied them during a difficult time in their lives is good.

The money is nice too.

Manat · Feb 4, 2007

I do want to make money at it but I don't need to be famous. I use a pen name to protect my privacy and would be just fine with making the bestseller list without anyone knowing who I am. I love the writers's life. Being my own boss, working in my pyjammas if I want, playing with ideas and making the stories in my head appear on paper. I love to write and I quit the day job to try it full time. If I don't make enough money at it I won't be able to live this way and that would be sad. I want to be a best seller so I can buy a nice cozy private place on the water and work at home doing something I love, not to be famous.

Deadbeat 007 · Feb 4, 2007

The only reason I write is so I can make loads and loads of money. I hate writing. Writing is terrible.

Honestly, though, I write for the same reasons as many of you -- to leave some sort of "mark" -- a "Lauren was here," in a sense. Writing seems like the most appealing way to go about that.

Toothpaste · Feb 4, 2007

I would love to make tons of money off of writing. I would love to win the lottery. I just want enough money so I don't have to worry about paying bills etc.

Fame? I dunno. It is fun to be recognised and stuff, but I don't think I would want real fame, like the kind movie stars have. The frightening fame. I would rather respect. Respect from my peers and my readers. Maybe a certain clout within the industry, so perhaps the layman might not know who I was, but other authors would. But of course I write because I like to. Not in order to achieve any sort of greatness. I don't think I am a 'great' writer if I am honest.

Arisa81 · Feb 4, 2007

Mainly, I just want to write. It's what I love to do.
Being famous, no. I don't need or want to be famous. It's nice to know my work is being read though.
What I do hope for? That those nasty people from school, peers and teachers, and whoever else, get to see what I have done, especially after telling me I couldn't.
What is nice, is making other writer friends. Whether it's through my blog or someone reading a piece I've written and contacting me.

Be honest: do you want to be a famous writer? Or just write?

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