06-06-2011, 12:33 PM | #1 |
Chasing Butterflies
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Does Everyone Have A Book In Them?
Husband noted the other day that almost everyone we know (online and in Real Life) seems to be "writing a book".
It's so much easier now to get a book out there for people to read, with the advent of e-publishing. I consider this to be a good thing. I jokingly said to Husband that "everyone has a book in them!", but now I wonder if that's not perhaps true. Open discussion: Do you have a book in you, and are you actively working (like, say, a chapter a month?) to get it out of your head and onto the page/screen? |
06-06-2011, 12:39 PM | #2 | |
Grand Sorcerer
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I pop out the occasional Red story, when I have the time, but I have no other literary expectations... |
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06-06-2011, 12:40 PM | #3 |
Close to the Edit!
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I've been working on my first novel for years. I'm sure it is in there somewhere, but the gestation period makes and elephant's look positively microscopic...
But I actually don't believe everyone has at least one book in them, even though my father used to say that often (he never wrote one, though he did write his memoirs). If you consider the huge number of non-readers in this world, I very much doubt many of them would have the inspiration or interest in producing one. That said: Spoiler:
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06-06-2011, 12:48 PM | #4 |
Wizard
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Once I mention that I have book out, everyone tells me about this great book they want to write and some even pitch business ideas about how we could turn out a series together. I am talking, everyone with out fail including people who as far as I know do read much if any at all.
So I would say... everyone at least thinks they have a book in them. |
06-06-2011, 12:49 PM | #5 |
Grand Sorcerer
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Absolutely no interest in writing a book. It would cut into my reading time too much.
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06-06-2011, 12:51 PM | #6 |
IOC Chief Archivist
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Hmmm.... I think everyone has a story in them worth telling, whether it be fact or fiction. However, that doesn't mean that they, themselves, are the right person to be writing it.
I've got quite a book in me, but unfortunately it can't be written until all parties are deceased, and by then, I may be as well. I know my writing strengths, and they don't include long-format. But I may leave extensive notes for my hiers. Wait... I won't have any. Time capsule, then? |
06-06-2011, 12:51 PM | #7 |
Guru
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06-06-2011, 12:53 PM | #8 |
whimsical
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I tried to write something once or twice but gave up eventually. My hand-writing might be legible but my writing sucks!
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06-06-2011, 12:56 PM | #9 | |
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Does it have anything to do with carnal relations between midgets and giants? Last edited by orlok; 06-06-2011 at 01:00 PM. |
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06-06-2011, 12:58 PM | #10 | |
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Of course, once they found out I was being brought in on a work-for-hire basis, they lost interest. "What? You mean you don't get credit??" Uh, no, I get paid. Bragging rights don't pay the bills. |
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06-06-2011, 01:00 PM | #11 |
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06-06-2011, 01:01 PM | #12 |
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06-06-2011, 01:01 PM | #13 |
Grand Sorcerer
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I'm going to clarify my answer a bit. Do I think it would be cool to have a book on people's shelves (or ereaders) that had my name on it as the author—that people pointed to and said: "Wow! what an awesome book."? Sure, you bet I would. Do I a have story to tell and/or the determination/talent/inclination to attempt to tell it? Nope and nope.
Last edited by DiapDealer; 06-06-2011 at 01:47 PM. |
06-06-2011, 01:28 PM | #14 |
Groupie
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I think writing is a great means of creative expression. However, I don't think that everyone has in them a novel that is sufficiently well-written and original to warrant publication.
The bar to publication has become incredibly low, which I think has led to the rise of the "cargo cult" writer (if unfamiliar with the term, I've borrowed it from Richard Feynman and his description of "cargo cult" science...well worth a few minutes on Wikipedia if you're not familiar with the concept). These are people who have a general feel for what a book is and what it looks like, and can generate the required number of words, but have absolutely no idea of how to create well-constructed fiction worth reading. Separating good from bad writing has always been an issue. There's the old story, usually attributed to Flannery O'Connor, being asked whether she felt that writing workshops discouraged too many young writers, and responding that she didn't think it discouraged enough of them. So what does it mean to the writing landscape when all the gates are removed? Caveat emptor, full stop? |
06-06-2011, 02:27 PM | #15 |
Lord of Frogtown
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Nobody worries about the number of bad golfers out there. It's just accepted that they love the game, play it, it drives them a little nuts sometimes but they're not harming anyone. I think writing will become more like that. You'll accept the fact that there are a number of hobbyists who enjoy sharing stories with their friends. Some of them, maybe to their own surprise, will be artists. Most of them won't be. But I don't imagine they will make the world any worse by writing an eBook. Flannery O'Connor aside, why discourage anyone?
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