You've nailed this, David. There is a part of the writing process that craves an audience - naturally so - just as a musician does, or an actor. Writing is, in whatever particular way, outward facing. And so there's nothing wrong with wanting to be read, or to reach a bigger audience. And if you can earn a sort of living from doing so, then that allows you to spend more time writing/creating.
But where things get lost is when it becomes ALL about selling. Then, the perceived needs of the market dicate what you should write, and how you should package and promote it, and eventually the writing process itself, and we end up with the cart before the horse. I started self-publishing because I coudn't find an outlet for the sort of thing I wanted to write. I'd had an agent, and realised that they were just another commercial funnel for the increasingly conservative tastes of publishers. So it resonates what you say about self-publishers being so genre focused - in fact, it's worse than with mainstream, because many are so desperate to get a foothold or some return that reassures them that they are genuine writers. At least mainstream publishing does occasionally take risks - albeit very small and calculated ones.
Excellent insights! I'd add that what's true for writing is also true for reading.
There are many people who say they want to read or claim they like reading, but they rarely in fact read. If pushed, they may rather go for Cliffs Notes or skim some internet summaries or watch a youtube video on the topic, instead of sitting down and actually reading a book with thought and attention.
Of course, reading doesn't set the creative demands that writing does, but many of the same basic dynamics still hold. You have to put in a degree of time and effort. And you probably have to actually LIKE to read or write, instead of just claiming you do.
I watch a lot of indie authors on youtube, and it seems that most of them make money making videos critiquing other people's work. It's safe to critique.
You've nailed this, David. There is a part of the writing process that craves an audience - naturally so - just as a musician does, or an actor. Writing is, in whatever particular way, outward facing. And so there's nothing wrong with wanting to be read, or to reach a bigger audience. And if you can earn a sort of living from doing so, then that allows you to spend more time writing/creating.
But where things get lost is when it becomes ALL about selling. Then, the perceived needs of the market dicate what you should write, and how you should package and promote it, and eventually the writing process itself, and we end up with the cart before the horse. I started self-publishing because I coudn't find an outlet for the sort of thing I wanted to write. I'd had an agent, and realised that they were just another commercial funnel for the increasingly conservative tastes of publishers. So it resonates what you say about self-publishers being so genre focused - in fact, it's worse than with mainstream, because many are so desperate to get a foothold or some return that reassures them that they are genuine writers. At least mainstream publishing does occasionally take risks - albeit very small and calculated ones.
Excellent insights! I'd add that what's true for writing is also true for reading.
There are many people who say they want to read or claim they like reading, but they rarely in fact read. If pushed, they may rather go for Cliffs Notes or skim some internet summaries or watch a youtube video on the topic, instead of sitting down and actually reading a book with thought and attention.
Of course, reading doesn't set the creative demands that writing does, but many of the same basic dynamics still hold. You have to put in a degree of time and effort. And you probably have to actually LIKE to read or write, instead of just claiming you do.
I watch a lot of indie authors on youtube, and it seems that most of them make money making videos critiquing other people's work. It's safe to critique.