I hang out with a lot of creative people. This weekend we had a few friends over and everyone was excited to share what they or their kids were doing. We watched a video clip of a daughter who did her first story as a reporter for CBC news, we listened to a new song one of the women had just recorded. My husband showed off a song off from our eldest son's upcoming CD. We watched other artists perform songs and viewed paintings posted to an online community artist site.
I sat there watching and listening, thoroughly enjoying what other artists brought to the table.
And they had no clue about me and my art as a writer. Even though I had worked my butt off (not literally, but wouldn't that be nice?) completing the 2nd draft of my latest wip, there was nothing I could share. No way I could contribute to the impromtu creative showcase.
Singers can sing a song in under three minutes. Dancers can perform in that amount of time, too. Painters can hang their creations on the wall for visitors to admire.
But a writer with an unpublished book, not so much. It's not like I was going to start read aloud the first chapter. The inability to share your creative work (outside of beta readers who usually get to read less than publishable drafts), is one of the downsides of choosing this particular creative outlet.
I think this is why the publishing dream is so strong. Why self-publishing has a lot of appeal for some people, despite unlikely financial gains.
It's a way to "hang" your creative work on the wall.
But not all singers want an audience. Nor do all dancers. They find pleasure in hearing their voice in the shower, or dancing alone in their own living rooms.
Though I'd love to hang my novel on the wall, I also want to enjoy dancing with it alone in my living room. Success can come in many forms.
What do you think? Is writing without ever publishing still a worthy venture?
About Me
- Elle Strauss
- I write Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. I'm a married mom of four, and live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. I'm fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. My Young Adult rom/com time-travel CLOCKWISE series and contemporary/otherworldly Middle Grade IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE are now available on Amazon.
I never thought of it that way, but it totally makes sense. Being able to hold the proof of your work in your hands... yes, that would explain a lot of the appeal of self-publishing.
ReplyDeleteI've always loved the questions Mr Carpenter asks Emily Starr at the end of "Emily of New Moon," where he ends with something along the lines of "if no one ever saw your writing, if you never earned a dime from it, and if no one else even cared, would you keep writing?" Her answer was "of course. I have to write." That's always summed up for me how I feel about it - writing is something I have to do, and while of course I desperately want to be published (not going to pretend otherwise!), even if I KNEW I never would be, I would keep writing.
ReplyDeleteBut I have to say that self-publishing has been appealing more and more to me lately!
I often come away from family gatherings feeling that way. Somebody got a new job/promotion/raise/invented a new widget, etc., etc., and me? I wrote 10K words last week, if anyone even thinks to ask.
ReplyDeleteRight up there with 'You're a writer? What have you written that I might have read?'
**sigh**
But yes, Elouise82, we write because we must. The book in hand silences the critics for only a short time. Then it's, 'When's your NEXT book coming out?'
Thanks, Elle, for reminding me again that I don't face the frustrations alone.
Still very worth it. Just the experience of writing that novel or short story or whatever is amazing goodness in every second! But very hard when you do want to show it off to SOMEONE.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of it that way, beautifully said. And yes, I definitely think it's worth it even if we never publish. There is joy in the creation and that's why we do it. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so right. It's not something you can easily show to others.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered the same thing. I do think that it is worth it to do creative work, even if it never finds an audience. But I think each person has their own individual reason why it is worth it.
I think writing without publishing is worthwhile. If you love it, you'll just keep doing it no matter what the outcome. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post and a sentiment I've thought of myself a ton. You know, even if I knew 100% I would never get published, I'm certain I would still write. It's innate for me, not something I can turn on and off really. I probably wouldn't choose to stay up all hours of the night and do it, would do it more as a hobby but it wouldn't go away entirely.
ReplyDeleteFYI, my URL has changed and is now www.lindsayncurrie.webs.com
Have an awesome day:)
Maybe our blogs are a way of hanging our writing on the wall? But I have found most people in my real life aren't going to read my blog, even when I had a fairly successful one over on MySpace. I am getting from other writers that the same thing holds true of your books, once you're published. Yeah, they'll be impressed at your framed book covers on the wall...but when it comes to actually sitting down and reading your books, many of your friends won't be as supportive as complete strangers who come to know you through your writing.
ReplyDeleteTotally. When I first started writing, I didn't think it would ever go anywhere, then I had over 100 pages and realized I had a whole book in my head! Wow! I've written many since then, the first comes out in October of this year, and with any luck, my agent will be helping me to make sure the rest see the light of day.
ReplyDeleteBut, would I keep writing even if I didn't want to be published?
Totally.