What is so appealing about writing a book?

[callywag]

If you're currently working or hoping to have your writing published, what is it that makes this idea so desirable?

I ask as someone who still harbours ambitions in this regard but for reasons I don't really understand - as I know from experience it's not all it's cracked up to be.

Some years ago, I had two books traditionally published. I got a little bit of money, a little bit of attention, a few reviews, and then it all got forgotten about. It was exciting for a few weeks but neither the money nor the excitement was worth the huge amount of work. I was undoubtedly working for less than minimum wage once everything was totted up.

Now, very occasionally, I get asked to speak to rooms of hopeful as-yet-unpublished writers and the yearning to be published is so strong, for so many people. Having one's name on a book they've written still seems to hold an almost mythical appeal. Indeed, I still consider doing it all again myself even though I know what a disappointment it is (for 99% of authors anyway, obviously there are always those rare runaway successes)

Why? What is it about having written an actual published book that is so appealing? I'm honestly not sure.

Good question! For me it was partly - could I do it? Could I get to the end and create something that worked?

Interesting thread. I am not writing at the moment but i did used to have dreams of having a book published. It's still in there somewhere but i just thought it would be nice to walk into a bookshop and see my book on the shelves. In reality i definitely couldn't handle the rejection or poor reviews.

For me it's more that I can't 'not' write. I love doing it and even if it wasn't now my job (and yes the money is dreadful) I write because I love it and even if I wasn't being published I would still be writing.

This is it for me

interesting to hear your view OP as the published authors I have met - while many have been disappointed in the way you have- all felt that just getting a book finished was the first big achievement.

Then being traditionally published was the next.

I haven’t yet finished writing a novel but already know I would have to self publish. I do not have the mental stamina to go through the trad route.

So if you’re looking for a hook, I’d be thinking it’s an achievement to get a novel written.

“Having one's name on a book they've written still seems to hold an almost mythical appeal”

also this. That just seems amazing and wonderful to me. A creative achievement with my name on it. Wow.

Yes, I think for me it was to know that I could. Same reason I got my degree. It would have always bothered me not to find out.

I have no interest in doing it again though. Scratched that itch I suppose.

For me I love the writing. The putting the story together and seeing how the parts stitch together and the characters build up.

I would love to have one published. Why? Partially I'd love to see people reading my story and enjoying it. Partially for a bit of personal pride I think.
And partially because I'd like to announce it, not say what it is and leave a couple of people wondering if they're featuring heavily as the baddy. They're going to be in my next one though. 😁

I've got two books self-published and have just met with a traditional publisher who is interested in re-publishing them. I did it for my children as it's a picture book inspired by them. And it really took off, won a few awards, 100s of five star reviews, in a few bookshops and libraries, but I have worked insanely hard on marketing alongside a full-time job and two small kids...

I'm not sure if I should stick to self-publishing (which makes you pennies, I've still not broken even) or give the traditional route a try. OP, have you done both or just traditional? Did you have to do a lot of your own marketing?

*interesting to hear your view OP as the published authors I have met - while many have been disappointed in the way you have- all felt that just getting a book finished was the first big achievement.

Then being traditionally published was the next*

Yes, I think this is the whole problem really. First you just want to get the book finished. Then you just want to get an agent. Then you just want a publishing deal. Then you get that, and it's all rather humdrum and your life is the same as before, so then what? Do you do it all again?

Or just find something else to do!

I envy this feeling.

Would you write even if someone said what you're currently working on will definitely never be read by anyone else? I don't think I could. Whatever I'm working on, I always have to have the vague belief it will make it into a published book or I can't see the point. I wish I didn't feel like that.

As with other posters, I think the main draw for me would be to prove to myself I could do it. I'd love to be able to write. I got praised a lot for my creative writing at school and kept diaries and journals as a teen. But then stopped. I don't know why really. I'd love the time and will to actually write. Maybe one day I will! I have a shelf of empty journals I don't know how to start.

To be honest, writing is the only thing I'm any good at. I've got over 25 published novels, they've won awards. I write because I love it, I get such a feeling of achievement when I finish a book, I love the whole ideas creation part, and I actually 'live' inside the stories when I'm writing. They are more real to me than my 'real life'.

I was only interested in traditional. Self-publishing doesn't hold any appeal for me personally.

I didn't do any marketing. I got an advance, and I viewed that as all the money I was likely to make from that contract. It's down to the publisher to market if they want to recoup their costs. Royalties would be nice but even friends who are what people would perceive as 'successful' authors make relatively little from royalties.

Partly because of my experience as a reader. Books have been so transformative for me, taking me all around the world and into the minds and lives of characters that are very different to me. I want to create that feeling in readers.

@callywag I noticed you said your book was published some time ago. From going the traditional route and you got an advance - aren't they like hen's teeth now? - I'm wondering how long ago that was?

Sometimes achievements from the past don't feel like a big deal. I'm guessing you were very excited when it happened?

I originally wanted to be traditionally published as well. That's going back more than 20 years though. It seems like an impossible mountain to climb now, just writing a book would be amazing.

I go round in circles about whether or not to do any more writing because it all feels a bit hopeless these days, there's much content out there.

It was around 4 years ago.
My advance was around £15k.

It's true that I was excited at the time, although I have to say it quickly felt quite anti-climactic.

I do hear from friends that advances are getting smaller and smaller. I think this is in part due to the sheer number of people so keen to be published that they are willing accept very low or no advance, which means publishers don't see the need to pay them any more.

Which brings me back to my question really - why are so many people so hellbent on being published? It seems to have such an unwarranted status in society! Especially when, as you say, we are swimming in content. Hundreds of thousands of books published a year. Why do we want to create more?!

A lot of publishers aren't paying advances any more - which is great as it means you start earning as soon as your book goes on sale, rather than panicking about not earning out your advance (which is when publishers tend to drop authors).

People will always want to write books. People always have something new to say, even on old subjects, and the reading market is huge - if people read a book they like then they want to read more that are 'like' that book.

Four years? I thought you were going to say 20! That is a massive achievement.

Are you the sort of person who has very high expectations of themselves? Sorry I don't mean to sound like your analyst. It just seems like a massive deal to me, I didn't think people were getting advances like that anymore. Shows how much I know!

You're probably going to be inundated with questions now but hopefully that will show you why a lot of people will find you inspirational and helpful.

I would be interested to hear more about the journey.

You mention "status". There is so much books snobbery around. I think that there's always going to be somebody who doesn't think your achievement is much.

But please don't be that person towards yourself!

I do know a couple of novelists who are feeling like you, but they were published about 15 years ago at least.

I met another one who just pooh poohed the amount of money he makes from his novels. But he is a professor at Oxford so he will be on £90,000 ish?

I don't think it has "unwarranted status". It sounds like it just didn't mean much to you?

@LouisaMayAlcott I also wish I was like you!

I'm not so much interested in analysing my own feelings about it as analysing how we regard the book as a society.

Why is writing a long story considered such an impressive feat?

Sure, it takes time, and it's not necessarily easy, but it's actually rather low in terms of social utility. Supply far exceeds demand.

If people are willing to work for free on a project, why not make it, say, providing childcare or elder care? Things that are actually in short supply?

I sound like I'm being very disparaging towards hopeful writers, I know, but I don't mean to. I aim these questions at myself as much as anyone.

Well...but that's like saying why make any art when you could be volunteering at the local food bank instead?

Art is valuable in society, inherently.

Because making art is always valuable. Because as a pp said, I couldn't not write. I would continue the novel I'm currently working on if I had a guarantee no one would ever read it, and I wrote and my agent sent out two novels before I published one.

@callywag It kind of bugs me that people work for free in that way, I understand that bit

But in terms of the value of art...I can name doctors, police, all sorts of people who will say that reading fiction etc keeps them sane, keeps them going, gives them escapism and happiness.

There's a reason volunteers go round the elderly, go round hospitals and care homes and ensure a supply of books.

We want our children to read so they have access to many worlds.

And it's proven that engaging with characters helps develop empathy.

I was hoping for tips on how you achieved your success but guess I'm asking the wrong person!

It sounds as if you don't know why you bothered and would be happier doing something else.

I'm not here to argue that art or books are worthless and creating them is pointless.

I was just interested in exploring is why writing a book, and getting it traditionally published, is such a common ambition- and one that people seem to want so badly.

I know - I've been there. I've done all the waiting, the trawling agent and publishers wish lists, the refreshing of the inbox every 30 seconds, the getting a book rejected and sitting down and writing another 100k words the next year. But why? I couldn't tell you why the burning need.

Well, it interests me too that it's such a common wish, but among people who don't ever write. You need absolutely nothing to write, a pen and paper, or a laptop and Word, no qualifications, training, or enormous amounts of time required. The people who say they want to could do it if they really did want to. But from what I can see, what they actually want is the writer equivalent of those chicklit novels about women opening adorable tearooms in pretty villages and exchanging glances with the hunky gamekeeper.