(no subject)

[bubosquared]

I don't think I'll ever understand the "I'm not writing this for publication, so I'm not gonna work as hard on this as I would on a story that I'd get paid for" attitude. You're putting it out on the Net. That is publication. What the fuck kind of writer writes for money?

Comments

[darthneko.livejournal.com]

What the fuck kind of writer writes for money?

Really really BAD ones! (see: A. Rice, M. Lackey, A. McCaffrey, etc...)

[sunshinegirl.livejournal.com]

*agrees*

That always pisses me off too. Generally my reaction is: Well, if you can't put your best effort into writing a story, why should I put my best effort into reading it?

[arkane156.livejournal.com]

Well...

On the one hand, I can relate to that. I mean, I'm probably never going to write War and Peace if I'm not getting paid for it. Because I'm just that much of a hack.

But on the other hand...

The ones that get me are the "writers" who barely make a minimum effort, but turn around and throw tantrums if anyone suggests they aren't the second coming of Anais Nin. It's like they think they aren't obligated to write decently, but the rest of us *are* obligated to love their work. Which makes no fucking sense to me. I mean, if you cooked for a hobby, would you serve your guests undercooked, over-seasoned meat and then bitch when they didn't want to eat it?

Hey, if people don't want to spellcheck, or write in coherent sentences, fine. It's a free country. But if they absolutely can't deal with the fact that not doing those things is going to cost them readers, then maybe they'd be happier finding a new hobby.

[lordlucan.livejournal.com]

By the same token, most peoples' motivation for doing their job is getting paid. I've always thought that an artist of any kind who says "I don't care about the money" is a liar and a wanker. It's why I go busking at nights. It's not for the music it's because I want to fucking eat! If writing (or whatever your chosen art form is) is your job, then you are doing it for the money
Nothing wrong with being honest and admitting it.

But, I do agree with what you said about people not putting the effort in if there's no money in it. In all the arts you do have to work for free a lot at the beginning, and it's a good idea to continue to do so from time to time when you eventually do start getting paid. You just have to do the best job you can.