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Posted by Colin Harvey Jul 22, 2008 |
Recently I blogged about meeting Bruce Holland Rogers and how it sparked off thoughts about how writers are expected more and more to follow the 'right' career path. While I agree with some of those strictures, I'm uncomfortable with the vehemence with which some agents and writer's organizations rail against those who don't necessarily agree with their point of view.
That led me to examine my own motivations. The reasons I write can be classified as follows:
1. The creative act. The pleasure of good writing is better than any illicit substance, better than all but the best food and sex. There's a buzz that can last for days; even if two days later I re-read my 'masterpiece' and decide that it's rubbish!
2. Immortality. I have no children, nor am I likely to have any. My stories are my children, and like our children, are my attempt at immortality. I know that when I die, every time someone reads my story, for a moment I'm no longer dust.
3. Communication. There's no point in me writing for myself. I write to communicate. Generally speaking, the best paying markets are those with the biggest circulation, but it doesn't automatically follow. So given a choice between two markets, I'll take the one with the biggest reach.
4. Status. Of course I'd like the respect of my peers, but I'd like it for the work that I do, not based on what market I've sold it to, and what it pays.
5. Money. I'd like money but only insofar as it releases me from having to work, enabling me to write even more.
Those are my reasons. If you're a writer, what are yours?
Colin