What Inspires You?

[Richard]

Okay, the economy is crap, everyone has problems, and we just got through all the garbage of an election process (at least anyone living in the U.S.).

Now back to something that brought us all here in the first place, writing.

I am currently finishing up two separate books, on two completely different subjects, and have 2-3 more in the planning stages.

The inspiration for these recent projects came from reading books from two authors here, and one completely unknown author.

Sometimes inspiration comes from reading new authors. Be on the lookout for free e-book downloads from Kindle and Smashwords. If you didn't have to pay for it, you don't feel so bad if you end up not finishing it or trashing it. (There is really some garbage writing out there.) And, you may just end up being inspired or entertained in the process.

So what works for you?

[Lily]

With the current state of publishing, there doesn't seem to be much point in slaving away over a manuscript that it's almost impossible to market to a major publisher, while small epublishers and the self-publishing route are nickels and dimes. I'm not saying that money was the overriding reason for my writing, but it's still an incentive that can't be ignored.

[Lily]

Just want to add here that more and more readers are simply downloading free ebooks, and that's not good for writers. But heck, who am I to complain? I've had a Kindle for over a year now, and have never once paid for an ebook. What goes round comes round.

The Internet is now saturated with badly written, unedited trash. Anyone can scribble any kind of rubbish and then publish it on Kindle, Smashwords etc, and voila he's a published author. There is no quality control. Even the tackiest of ebook publishers have some sort of standards, and wouldn't publish half the dreck that is flooding the net. This is not a good time to be a writer.

Sorry to be so negative, but I'm simply telling it as I see it. Others may not agree.

[Richard]

Okay, so there is no financial profit, and the quality in the market is lacking as a whole.

But, what inspired you to write in the first place? And is that inspiration gone now?

[Lily]

Nov 27, 2012 19:21:26 GMT -5 Richard said:

Okay, so there is no financial profit, and the quality in the market is lacking as a whole.

But, what inspired you to write in the first place? And is that inspiration gone now?

I've been scribbling away for as long as I can remember. I always loved stories, and the idea that one day I might get something published spurred me on. When I actually got a piece for a magazine published (I was fourteen at the time) and got paid for it -- one whole guinea -- I was over the moon. There is no feeling like it.

As for my inspiration, yes, it's largely gone. I have some 30 novels published, but not with the publishers I would have wished, and now I really feel no enthusiasm for writing at all. The thought of all that submitting, editing, and the disappointment of rejection is not something that I miss.

If I do write again I'll self publish, but as we know that's largely a waste of time. Sorry to sound so negative and jaded, but it's how I've been feeling for a while, in regard to writing. I hope it's just my take on it, and that others see it differently. But looking around at different writers forums, I notice there isn't as much participation as there used to be, or publishers looking for stories. So maybe my angst is catching. ;D