Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
All... except the "future dividends by having established goodwill" part. I am actually writing to make present dividends, since I do not for a moment believe that interest in my novels will last for more than a few years after their writing, nor that anyone will be talking fondly of my work in the future. I've had my fifteen seconds of fame, and I expect to be unknown and un-spoken-of in a very short time, and for the rest of my life. Because, let's face it... the stuff ain't that good.
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And therein our approaches differ, significantly. I honestly believe my stories
will maintain interest "for more than a few years after their writing," and my fond hope is that they find a receptive enough audience that quite a few people "will be talking fondly of my work in the future."
Does my work really merit such ambition? From a truly objective point of view, the best I can say is that I don't know. As a realist, I would be forced to take the approach you describe... although if I was a realist, I probably wouldn't be writing much in the way of science fiction.
But then, I grew up reading—and to some degree, experiencing—all the best of the golden age. I value science fiction more than some, and see the practice of it as more than a simple means to an end.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Jordan
I hope to make future dividends, not from establishing goodwill among readers, but by demonstrating an ability to write, in order to parlay that into a paid writing position that will hopefully finance (or replace) my retirement. That is where I see a possible future... not from writing, of all things, science fiction.
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If that is your aspiration, I wish you luck.
—M.