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tsgreer · 06-30-2010, 01:31 PM

I have to say I agree with ALL viewpoints on this. Every single poster in this thread has a good and valid point.

I have been writing for two years now. Learning the craft. I'm part of a writers group in my town. It's been a great adventure. E-books are what really re-kindled (no pun intended) my love of writing. I always thought about it, but lacked confidence and I took the traditional route and got a 'real' job. I've wasted a lot of valuable time trying to do the sensible thing. No more of this common sense nonsense for me!

There have ALWAYS been really great authors that didn't make money. There have always been really bad authors that made loads of money. I don't think it's any easier or harder now to make money off of writing fiction. It's always been a marketplace that's dominated by a few popular works, while other good stuff struggles to be found.

I think it'll always be hard to make a living from writing fiction. I think it's much easier to get ones work out there, but making a living doing it is just as hard as it's always been.

Some people may complain that they aren't making much off of their e-books. But sometimes these people would never have been published at all in the pre-ebook publishing model days.

I aspire to be a writer that writes stuff people enjoy. Stuff that people will read. Of course, I would love to make a living at it. That's my dream. But the possibility of not making a living at it doesn't stop me from wanting to write some really great stories.

Ray Bradbury said that there is no room for self-consciousness in writing. He said you can't stop and think about it too much, or you won't do it. Puke the ideas out, then clean up the mess later. I've been using this as a model for my writing behavior. I wish I would have done this 20 years ago. But I'm only 40, so I still have time.

Steve, I was surprised to read that you make so little money off of your works. You do really great work. I love your books. I've bought your books. It SUCKS that you don't make a huge amount of money doing this. You are a great writer.

I hope that your lack of financial success in writing (so far) doesn't keep you from writing. That would be a shame.

I don't feel that I've really added anything to the conversation, but I just wanted to say my thoughts. I have no desire to toil along in obscurity, but I'm working very hard to write a really good story.

06-30-2010, 01:31 PM	#64
tsgreer Lovin' the e-book life... Posts: 633 Karma: 2509 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Device: Ebookwise 1150, Sony PRS-505, Amazon Kindle, BeBook (with OpenInkpot)	I have to say I agree with ALL viewpoints on this. Every single poster in this thread has a good and valid point. I have been writing for two years now. Learning the craft. I'm part of a writers group in my town. It's been a great adventure. E-books are what really re-kindled (no pun intended) my love of writing. I always thought about it, but lacked confidence and I took the traditional route and got a 'real' job. I've wasted a lot of valuable time trying to do the sensible thing. No more of this common sense nonsense for me! There have ALWAYS been really great authors that didn't make money. There have always been really bad authors that made loads of money. I don't think it's any easier or harder now to make money off of writing fiction. It's always been a marketplace that's dominated by a few popular works, while other good stuff struggles to be found. I think it'll always be hard to make a living from writing fiction. I think it's much easier to get ones work out there, but making a living doing it is just as hard as it's always been. Some people may complain that they aren't making much off of their e-books. But sometimes these people would never have been published at all in the pre-ebook publishing model days. I aspire to be a writer that writes stuff people enjoy. Stuff that people will read. Of course, I would love to make a living at it. That's my dream. But the possibility of not making a living at it doesn't stop me from wanting to write some really great stories. Ray Bradbury said that there is no room for self-consciousness in writing. He said you can't stop and think about it too much, or you won't do it. Puke the ideas out, then clean up the mess later. I've been using this as a model for my writing behavior. I wish I would have done this 20 years ago. But I'm only 40, so I still have time. Steve, I was surprised to read that you make so little money off of your works. You do really great work. I love your books. I've bought your books. It SUCKS that you don't make a huge amount of money doing this. You are a great writer. I hope that your lack of financial success in writing (so far) doesn't keep you from writing. That would be a shame. I don't feel that I've really added anything to the conversation, but I just wanted to say my thoughts. I have no desire to toil along in obscurity, but I'm working very hard to write a really good story.