This thread is for those who want to be published. Tell me WHY you do.

[The Backward OX]

I’m simply curious, regarding the different reasons that people seek publication.

If you consider it a silly question, you might enjoy yourself more in another thread.

[Bilston Blue]

Personal satisfaction and pride, a sense of achievement. The feeling of being recognised, or of one's work being recognised. For me it's not about earning a living from it, though if it ever happens that would be nice (and I know that's a cliche). Also, I suppose it's a journey of learning, improving, of making mistakes, and publication is the goal at the end of the journey; but then that first publication would probably mark the start of a new journey.

[Bloggsworth]

For exactly the same reason that when I played rugby I wanted to be picked for the first XV, or when I worked I wanted clients to buy my designs, it validates your competence. To write poems only for your own consumption is literary onanism, you can then tell yourself that you are the greatest lover poet in the world.

I "do poetry" at college on Friday mornings and yesterday had a perfect illustration of why writing in isolation is not neccessarily the best way to improve (There are, of course exceptions, like Emily Dickinson). Three of us were having coffee, one of whom had missed the last two weeks and asked about the newcomers in the group; when it came to the other regular talking about one of the newbies I heard "I don't like all this sexually confessional poetry, quite frankly I don't want to hear it and it generally doesn't make good poetry anyway..." Hold on a minute! Last week I heard him telling that particular poet that his poem had "Strength and a vibrant....."

When showing or reading your poems to friends or acquaintances they tend to be too polite - I would dearly like to tell it as it is, but people "don't like it up 'em" as Corporal Jones used to say! So, if you send your poetry to someone you have never met, and who has never heard of you, and they consider your work good enough to publish in their magazine or anthology, then you have an independent judgement - That said, there's not much point in sending a sonnet or villanelle to a Slam Poetry Magazine.... Or don't go onto the rugby pitch wearing pads, a box, carrying a bat and wondering where the stumps are.

[KyleColorado]

Because, until I'm published, I don't consider myself worthy of touting the title, "Writer". And I desperately would like to be able to call myself such. : )

[shadowwalker]

Validation. Pure and simple. As mentioned above, someone I don't know from Adam and who knows what they're talking about saying "This is good."

[Foxee]

There is no point in me arranging upwards of 50,000 words in a pleasing format and sweating my guts out getting it revised so that it tells a really good story in order to say 'hooray!' and then leave it on my hard drive. If I do all that I'd like other people to read it, to enjoy it, and to pay me for giving them that experience.

[philistine]

Personal satisfaction and pride, a sense of achievement. The feeling of being recognised, or of one's work being recognised. For me it's not about earning a living from it, though if it ever happens that would be nice (and I know that's a cliche). Also, I suppose it's a journey of learning, improving, of making mistakes, and publication is the goal at the end of the journey; but then that first publication would probably mark the start of a new journey.

Pretty much this.

[thinkingaboutit]

At one time I would have said validation, and I guess I still have that reasoning on an emotional level. I'm trying to purge it, though, for a couple of reasons. We've all read published works and thought, "This is crap! And they rejected my work? Seriously?" I don't necessarily have any more respect for an editor's opinion than anyone else's.

Also, feed that impulse and you're not satisfied; instead, you just want more. Before I got a piece published, I was convinced I'd be happy if I could just become a published author. Nope. Then I just wanted to be published in better journals. Now I want to be published in even better journals. I had a book published by a little indie publisher, and as soon as my swoon wore off, I wanted sales. (Still waiting.)

So my rational, practical reason for wanting to be published is to be published more - and more, and more, and more - and to eventually become able to support myself and my family doing something I love. I want to make money. It doesn't have to be a lot relative to other fields, but I want it to be a lot relative to the poetry field. Nice dream, right?

[patskywriter]

I want my book to be published for the same reason that I put out a newspaper every month. I have 'invaluable' information that I want to share.

[Grape Juice Vampire]

I want to be published so I can hold my book in my hands and say I did it. I reached my goal, achieved my dream. I'd like to live off it, but I could honestly say I had an accomplished life and die happy, just from getting this book in print.

[Daesu]

I want to be published because I want my story read. I’m sure everyone feels this way about their novels, but I truly believe in the message that is being promoted in what I’m writing, and I hope that I can reach not only youth, but adults. There are certain things in society that bug me, and I hope that someone reading my story can start to see things the way that I see them.

[Hawke]

I suppose it's like carving your initials into a tree. To say: I was here.

[WriterJohnB]

For me, it's an ego thing. I went through most of my life depressed and with little self-worth. When I finally got help (drugs) to keep me from being so low, I felt good enough to start writing again after giving up on the idea in my teens. When my first poem was published and went on to win fans and a minor award, I felt even better. I submitted more and the editor suggested a children's poetry book. More stories began to be accepted, more minor awards, and then I got an unsolicited e-mail asking the use of one of my stories for a textbook anthology to be used in a university class on writing Gothic and horror. A small publisher accepted one of my novels. Then it happened again with a different publisher. When I couldn't get anyone interested in a niche book I had written, I self-published it through create space. Now I have 3 self-pubbed novels and 3 from small publishing outfits.

There's nothing wrong with self-publishing these days. The internet has changed the playing field. I'm even prouder of my self-published books because I personally took care of every aspect: editing, cover, formatting, layout, etc.

I don't make much money at writing and that's okay. It's a great hobby and, if I should hit the big time, the best thing wouldn't be a life-style change but that I'd be able to "play" at my hobby full time. I just gave away over a thousand kindle novels and it's great to think there are that many people reading about my characters, settings, etc. The best thing about it all is that I feel good about myself and nobody can take that away. Instead of the depressed introvert I once was, I feel completely comfortable talking to anyone about anything, and I can try to make an influence on society as an author by writing about social injustice, etc. I've gotten "slammed" by reviewers now and then and, yeah, it hurts. But I now have the self-confidence not to judge myself based upon the opinions of others.

Take care,

JohnB

[alanmt]

Because it would be cool.

[Potty]

This is going to get flamed but... I'm in it for the money, pure and simple. Yes I enjoy writing. I enjoy it enough to dedicate several hours a day to it. I also enjoy a beer but, belonging to that class of people, I don't see the point of drinking unless I'm going to get shitfaced.