For the writer’s among us, why do you write? If you are one of the few that
make a good living at it, fantastic! If you are just getting started and
your goal is money, then perhaps you should look for another career. Sure,
it would be nice to wake up early to a cup of java and keyboard and spend
the rest of the day punching out another best-seller, occasionally glancing
out the window at the beautiful weather and to see if the mailman brought
another royalty check. Some people do live that life. And some people do go
from garage band to Grammy, but what are the odds. Oh, you’re a talented
writer. First, there are lots of talented writers that rarely sell. Second,
are you really that good? Okay, maybe you can turn a good phrase, but do you
have something unique to say? Third, what’s talent got to do with it? Go
through the book store and start pulling random books off the shelf. Open it
to the middle and read a paragraph. Is it awful or fantastic? Unless you’re
in the literary section, odds are, it’s awful.
Now, if you write because you enjoy it… If you write because the labor of
art production is relaxing, cathartic, a means of getting in touch with
deeper thoughts and coalescing thought fragments into greater
realization/understanding...
Many painters paint oils or watercolor for themselves, they don’t care to
sell and some don’t even display their works for others to see. Many art
jewelers create with the primary aim of producing objects of aesthetic
beauty, but with a secondary goal of making a few bucks – or at least
subsidizing an expensive hobby since precious stones and metals are not
cheap. There are very many poets that create their works solely for
themselves and maybe for a few friends. Countless photographers snap photos
for their own amusement only and may never even print a picture. Sculptors
create huge pieces knowing very few people would have interest in actually
buying something for the yard, especially some gaudy structure that’s difficult to mow around.
To some people, artists that produce for themselves may seem selfish for not
sharing, but we all engage in activities that aren’t for the benefit of
others. There are zillions of different activities people engage in that are
for mere enjoyment and nothing else, such as: playing computer games, bird
watching, exercising, hiking alone in the woods, reading, and watching
television. For some people, producing art is the same and there is no
compulsion to share with others.
But, there is no harm in making money or gaining other benefits from one’s
labor. If a painter earns money or wins accolades, so much the better. Some
artists argue that the grand feelings they derive from producing art is all
that matters. However, there are many activities that produce enjoyment and
are not shared. Doing illicit drugs certainly gives some people pleasure,
but there is no other benefit. If all the artist seeks is pleasure, then
other pursuits may offer equal or better enjoyment. The artist, and I
include writers and poets under the term “artist,” gains self expression and
satisfaction from actually producing something. That product can be a
commodity. There’s no harm in profiting from art.
Or is there harm in profiting from art? When one begins to produce art to
please others and not as self-expression or for only aesthetic merits, then
there’s risk that the art form will degrade or the art production may
become a chore. When a sculptor creates for entertainment, it’s fun. When a
sculptor creates for money, it becomes work and less enjoyable. Sometimes,
like when producing pieces for particularly demanding clients, the work
becomes a detestable chore. The process of creating art is killed.
Writing for art and writing for money are very different things. There is a
division between commercial fiction and literary fiction. Sometimes a
project can be both a literary work and a commercial success. But, what is
the goal for the author for writing the piece? That is the crux of the
matter. The writer might dummy down the piece if it’s for commercial
mass-markets. The writer will use common words instead of more expressive,
intricate words. Sometimes an arcane word is the most succinct way to
express a fine point, but is it useful since the mass-market reader won’t
bother looking it up in a dictionary? Rhetorical devices are useful in
creating interesting sentences and transforming an average work into
beautiful prose. But rhetorical devices, particularly more complex use of
devices, are often distracting for the readership accustomed to mass-market
books. Furthermore, complex plot lines, advanced philosophical or
sociological ideas, and other characteristics of a literary masterpiece, are
beyond the realm of many mass-market readers. A reader that can’t comprehend
the work will find the work boring. However, some of the best literary
masterpieces are enjoyed by both snooty intelligentsia and the common
milieu.
What of second drafts? Someone writing for markets should always edit,
proofread, and re-edit their work. Many authors that write for pure
pleasure, with no thought of trying to sell the work, will never write a
second draft. They enjoy the initial creative process and that’s it. Journal
writers almost never edit their writing. Some poets will write,
re-write, and then continue re-writing till the initial piece
bears little resemblance to the final work. Many (or most) authors consider work
on second or third drafts to be tedium; however, I thoroughly enjoy this
process. I like tweaking a mundane piece into something better. My first
novel, which will probably never sell, is now in its fifth revision. The
third novel is in process and will suffer many revisions. But I have a slew
of first draft essays and short stories in boxes never to be found again.
So, why write? Because you enjoy it. It’s a cheap hobby, certainly a lot
cheaper than a motorboat and a lot safer than cave diving.