Validation & the writing thing

[xenith]

I suppose there are many writers of novels who aren't really interested in having "a career". They have their novel that they've worked on for years, or maybe a couple of them, and they just want to see them made into a book.

The way the thing works though, you're only a "real" writer if you've had a book published by a "real" publiser, which means going through all the submissions to publishers sending query packages to agents and finding one who is interested in developing "your career".

So what if you just want to write for fun but still have something to show for it? Still get validation?

"Hobby writer" can be a derogative term. You have to be Serious. You have to think about your Career.

Imagine if you wanted to play football but the only option was to play for a team in a national league. No club football or local leagues. National league or nothing. Sorry.

Just because you play sport at club level, doesn't mean you can't take it seriously. You train. You compete. You can win awards. Win games. Win a final! Get recognition. Have fun. Satisfy your desire to run around the ground after a ball and get rained on.

There are things like Lulu, that let you turn your manuscript into a book at a reasonable price but they're not Real books. Maybe there needs to be a way to acknowledge that "hobby writers" are still real writers. Or, probably more important, a way to provide validation or recognition of their ability of a writers, without them having to go through the Real publishers.

If nothing else, it would make slush piles smaller.

Comments

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

Hadn't thought of that. It works for graphic media!

Maybe e-books are supposed to be the solution.

I had a further thought after posting. It's possible to get the validation/recognition for short stories without selling to the "big names", e.g. the various Years Bests often list stories from small(er) presses. I think that is what I'm talking about :)

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

So what if you just want to write for fun but still have something to show for it? Still get validation?

Write shorts.

"Hobby writer" can be a derogative term. You have to be Serious. You have to think about your Career.

Um. I'm a hobby writer. Well, when I write. If I wanted a Career, I'd have to be Serious, but I don't, so it doesn't matter.

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

>Write shorts.

Go play basketball!
But, I don't want to play basketball. I want to play football.

That's like I said in the comments above. You can "dabble" in short stories and be a hobby writer and sell to small presses and it's all good and accepted.

Maybe I read too many agent/industry blogs. I read some the comments and wonder if some of those people would be happy to have their book published by a small press or even a printer. Just a couple of hundred copies, or maybe even a dozen or so.

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

Many are happy to have their book published by small press/printer. I think it's a valid option; I can call myself a "publisher" on the strength of one small press anthology. But the sense of validation is much lower, and it may actually harm your credibility as a writer - which isn't fair, no, but it's what happens.

Shorts are dabbling. If you're not serious, you dabble. But a published short has more cred than an unpublished novel, so if it's validation you're after...

But, ultimately, you're right, it's not fair. There are far more people who want to be writers (and actors, and singers, and sportsmen, and any other entertainers) than can be. So it's rough for the people who don't have the drive and the talent and the nouse to make it.

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

But, ultimately, you're right, it's not fair. There are far more people who want to be writers (and actors, and singers, and sportsmen, and any other entertainers) than can be.

Professional Xs, sure. But there are amateur theatre companies, sports clubs, venues for amateur artists. And short stories writers even ;)

You see writing shorts as the "less serious" alternative for writers?
(I see them as an exercise in futility:)

The technology is obviously there to make amateur book publishing viable, but, as you said, it can damage credibility. So it's counterproductive. I think there needs to be a change in attitude to make it work.

It's just an idea I put out on the off chance it might spread.

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

You see writing shorts as the "less serious" alternative for writers?


It's a broader spectrum - there's more room for less serious stuff. Short stories can also be far more technical: I reckon anyone who's serious about writing should try their hand at shorts. It's not a requirement, just something I think is a good idea. :)

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

I won't argue with that. They have their merits. They're probably better for some types of learning to write too (like understanding story structure). I've written nine of them ;) I assume some people prefer the shorter form too.


It's those people who say you should start with short stories because they're shorter and you need to work up, or they're easier to sell, or some other stupid reason that makes writers who would be happier writing novels struggle with shorts instead that need jumping on. (And I do mean happier, because writingwise I was quite unhappy when I was concentrating on shorts & I know that's not unusual).

[monissaw.livejournal.com]

Um. I'm a hobby writer. Well, when I write. If I wanted a Career, I'd have to be Serious, but I don't, so it doesn't matter.

BTW that's what I'm saying. Why should you have to have a Career and be Serious if you don't want to?

[capnoblivious.livejournal.com]

You don't have to. So ... what's the problem?