tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post45660104811632347..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Should Writers Delay Their Gratification?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-30941553565512997442012-03-23T11:09:15.337-07:002012-03-23T11:09:15.337-07:00Interesting thoughts. I don't know that tradit...Interesting thoughts. I don't know that traditional publishing will ever reach the point of non-viability (and if it does, I imagine that wouldn't be for quite a while), but there are certainly more options available now to writers that didn't exist a couple years ago. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-76922941218181747672012-03-23T11:05:06.316-07:002012-03-23T11:05:06.316-07:00You are absolutely right when you say that earlier...You are absolutely right when you say that earlier, before the advent of the internet, writers were forced into a scheme of delayed gratification (and frustration, as well) because whether their book will be published or not, and when, everything depended on the publishers (and agents). Now, thanks to information technology and internet, which have introduced vehicles like blogging, ebooks etc where creative writers can instantly showcase their work, in today's fast paced world, I think the time has come for instant gratification. <br />So it is best for budding authors to avoid the frustrating wait, slush piles and rejection slips of the traditional route. <br />I feel there will be drastic changes in the way books are published since it is a matter of time before the traditional print publishing process is no longer be viable.Vikram Karvenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-54168585172874106812012-03-23T09:34:46.268-07:002012-03-23T09:34:46.268-07:00I'd say you're also pretty darn good at ed...I'd say you're also pretty darn good at editing, but I suppose I'm a little biased. :) <br /><br />That's definitely true that we can get small snippets of gratification along the way, but I agree that the big boosts of gratification tend to have something to do with publishing. It's also true that indie authors have much more on their plates when it comes to the other not-necessarily writing-things they have to work out as well as releasing the next book, such as marketing, cover art, formatting, etc. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-76429142866913661002012-03-23T01:32:26.798-07:002012-03-23T01:32:26.798-07:00For me, gratification comes with any forward momen...For me, gratification comes with any forward momentum (if my writing is markedly improving, if I have a flash of understanding when plotting, if I finish a short story and gain approval from my first round of readers, &ct).<br /><br />MORE gratification comes with each baby step along the traditional publication route, but that's only because publishing houses & agents & so forth have the power to bring me a career that I wouldn't be able to organise alone. <br /><br />Truly, I'd never make it as a debut indie author; there's too much to schedule & plan. I'm hopeless in most aspects of normal adult life and spend most of my non-writing time running about and flailing my arms, trying to catch up with the list of things I'm meant to be doing involving insurance or housework or the stock market (?).<br /><br />Quite literally the ONLY THING I AM GOOD AT is writing, perhaps reading? And I'm not even certain I'm good at those things? So I'll need an agent & so forth to see that I don't end up selling 'zines out of a cardboard box helpfully labelled "Bookstore" in felt-tip pen.Alice M.http://twitter.com/notveryalicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-29067134158491494392012-03-22T07:07:24.216-07:002012-03-22T07:07:24.216-07:00Well, Freud did have this theory on sublimation of...Well, Freud did have this theory on sublimation of desires in order to channel them into creative... oh. That's not what you meant. Carry on. Daniel Swensenhttp://www.surlymuse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-36949823118184373172012-03-22T06:07:11.113-07:002012-03-22T06:07:11.113-07:00I agree that indie publishing is certainly not ins...I agree that indie publishing is certainly not instant gratification (as you said, there's a lot that goes into it), however I imagine it's different when, as you said, you have control over the process rather than waiting a year or two for your book to hit the shelves. Granted, there are many in-between things traditional authors have to do, but the actual publishing part is out of their hands. <br /><br />I don't think there's a right or wrong answer when it comes to which publishing road to take. As you said, it varies per writer and the decision is certainly not a simple one. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-44942379322257939932012-03-22T03:31:12.860-07:002012-03-22T03:31:12.860-07:00My book hasn't even released and I have so muc...My book hasn't even released and I have so much more gratification from being in control and moving forward. I can't really say it's instant gratification and it's not as easy as just uploading your book if you take into consideration learning how to do it right, do you want print, how is blogging going to change, how are you going to reach past your bubble on the blogosphere then it's a lot of hard work. There a lot of decisions. I guess you could just upload a book but most authors I know don't just upload a book. Much more to it.<br /><br />But only each writer can decide when it's right for them. I did the research and didn't make the decision overnight. Laurapaulingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-51523231724934662462012-03-21T11:09:37.413-07:002012-03-21T11:09:37.413-07:00It's a difficult decision, to be sure, and one...It's a difficult decision, to be sure, and one that definitely shouldn't be made too quickly. <br /><br />Thanks for linking me! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-73198958616511208062012-03-21T09:52:59.483-07:002012-03-21T09:52:59.483-07:00I think knowing the right path and moment to publi...I think knowing the right path and moment to publish is difficult, but discernable, if you give it some thought about what is right for you. Which is why I posted <a href="http://www.susankayequinn.com/2012/01/seven-questions-to-ask-before-self.html" rel="nofollow">Seven Questions You Should Ask Before Self-Publishing.</a> :)<br /><br />p.s. I linked to you in my post today!Susankayequinnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-68366375556831497812012-03-21T08:43:54.492-07:002012-03-21T08:43:54.492-07:00You make an interesting point about what forms gra...You make an interesting point about what forms gratification comes in for writers. You're probably right that even that is changing--both in the "lump" gratification of traditional publishing, and in the spread out smaller instances of gratification for each sale. I haven't done either, so I can't speak from experience, but I imagine depending on which route you take, gratification would come at different stages. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-22577202691574542232012-03-21T06:59:34.104-07:002012-03-21T06:59:34.104-07:00I don't think it's much better at all. Sur...I don't think it's much better at all. Sure, you now know you can publish your book, but the act of publishing doesn't have the gratification any more. That comes when a lot of people buy the book, but who knows when that will happen? I think instead of having one large lump of gratification when the book is published with a traditional publishing house (which isn't that great when you think about it because it still doesn't mean people are going to buy it), we have swapped it for many tiny pieces of gratification each time we see that our book has been bought.<br /><br />Thinking about my recent published works, the gratification has come for me when I finished the book, when I had put it together with the cover to make a final product and the rare occasions I've noticed a sale. Maybe others are different. I'm very early in my career so I don't have the experience other writers have had but that's how I feel now.Matthew Rowehttp://twitter.com/RoweMatthewnoreply@blogger.com