A Writing Dilemma

I've always kept my writing for myself until recently. Now that I'm looking to write and get published a dilemma has occured. By surfing the forums, reading posts, and joining critique groups I've noticed two types of writers.

-Those who write the story to tell the story.

-Those who write what the publishers are looking for.

Which way is best if you want to be published? I fit in the first category but maybe I should switch to other if I want to get published.

What's your opinion? Your advice for a newby?

tina

Comments: 9

Marie J. R. Sep 18, 2008, 5:20pm EDT

I am self published because, it's very hard to get a publisher interested in ones work,,, by all means don't give up,,, Write what you want to write,,, they say a publisher picks are strange,,, who knows what the future for writers hold,,, Bless you in your endeavor,,,

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A. F. Stewart Sep 18, 2008, 5:33pm EDT

If you want to be a serious, long-term writer, write what interests you; if you want to be the flavour of the month follow the trends. Either way getting published is not guaranteed.

If you are not going the self-publishing route, try the small press publishers first before the big boys. Or try to get an agent.

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Roy W. Sep 18, 2008, 5:55pm EDT

My vote is for the first and is the approach I take. While I have done some freelance and ghost-writing work to meet the needs of clients, the work comes out better and is much more fun when I write for me. That said, there is also a challenge in doing the research and setting the style according to someone's needs. There is a reason why so many writers, including me, have day jobs; we want to write what we want to write.

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maria (lurking in the shadows of the night) B. Sep 18, 2008, 6:07pm EDT

Write what want you want to write. I am not a published author but love writing and i do a lot of research especially for the two novels i have on the go.

if there is a tale to tell, then tell it. Good Luck

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Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Sep 18, 2008, 6:10pm EDT

Write what you love. If you do otherwise, it will show in your writing.

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Tina Flower Sep 18, 2008, 7:19pm EDT

I can't express how much this topic has bothered me today. I have to agree with all of you. I can't write something I'm not into. It won't be any good. Thanks.

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libramoon C. Sep 18, 2008, 8:07pm EDT

What do publishers want? They want what sells. What sells? What excites the audience. What excites the audience? Passionate, well-written stories that they can embrace and relate to.

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Jim Swan Sep 18, 2008, 9:47pm EDT

Yukio Mishima, the Japanese writer who certainly would have been nominated for a Nobel if he hadn't committed suicide, wrote both ways. He laughed off the pieces that he wrote purely for money and didn't let his hack writing stop him from writing masterworks as well.

The problem is that you have to have self-confidence bordering on arrogance -- which Mishima certainly had.

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Pat S. Sep 20, 2008, 3:25pm EDT

What you are seeing in print today was selected by publishers a year ago. It's almost impossible to write to the market. By the time you finish, the market has moved on. Write what you love and fling it out there. You should not be looking to ride an already cresting wave, you should be looking to become the next hot thing. If you don't love what you write, it will always show.

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A Writing Dilemma

Comments: 9

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