Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hanging out for a couple of months on GR now and reading different threads here like "how many books have you written" and stuff like that plus my own feelings, it seems to me that writing and getting the books out there are quite addictive.
People are willing to take a lot of pain and frustration of rejection by traditional publishers, low sales, etc and write more and more books in hope that one day they would harvest glory.
What do you think?
If you think it's addictive like gambling, maybe it should be limited to Las Vegas and Atlanta, so that folks won't blow their money on editors, cover designs, etc? -:)

Nik wrote: "What do you think?"

For me, it's not the writing itself that I could call the addiction. Writing is just one drug of choice and the one that satisfies me at the moment and the one that has satisfied me most through my life.

If the word "addiction" applies at all, for me it would be applied to the desire to be creative. I've studied acting, I've always been a bit of an artist, etc. A few years ago, I expressed myself mostly with goofy videos on YouTube. I feel that my thoughts and ideas, the ones I really want to express, aren't the kinds of things that come out in everyday, natural conversation, so I need other vessels to let them go.

But, is it an addiction? I don't really want to attach that word to it as addiction is often connected to things that can do us harm: alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc. I would rather label it an affection or even love.

I don't feel any real pain or frustration from the writing itself. Writing brings joy and peace to my mind. Frustration over lack of sales doesn't seem to fit the love of the writing as much as the desire of money.

Well explained, Dwayne.
I, however, have a feeling that it's like a drug of a sort: once you tried it (written a book), you have this longing to continue and it's hard not to. It takes years for someone to actually come through with the first book, but then - it's unstoppable.

I'm addicted. Even if I never sell another book I'll keep writing. It's a need in me. Of course I'd rather sell, but in the end, I couldn't stop telling stories no matter what.

Nik wrote: "Well explained, Dwayne.
I, however, have a feeling that it's like a drug of a sort..."

It's probably something a little different for all of us. I don't think any of us experience it quite the same. I am struggling to see how it would be a drug for me. It's not something that is ingested in to produce an effect in the body. For me, writing is more an exercise for the mind, stimulating and working what is already within.

I do see where you're coming from and I could label my need to create an addiction and writing a drug, but it's not wholly accurate.

It's addictive in the way I used to find video games addictive when I was growing up--just that it's my preferred avenue to spend the bulk of my time not sleeping and working. And that I
can't stop thinking about it. And that I seem to be reading something if I'm not writing.

Maybe I'll blame the whole written word. ;)

Creative writing is addictive. Writing--not so much.

Nik wrote: "People are willing to take a lot of pain and frustration of rejection by traditional publishers, low sales, etc and write more and more books in hope that one day they would harvest glory.
What do you think?
If you think it's addictive like gambling, maybe it should be limited to Las Vegas and Atlanta, so that folks won't blow their money on editors, cover designs, etc? -:)"

While yes, I feel that creativity is a compulsion that some folks, myself included, have, I have to strongly disagree with the quoted comments above.

You'll find that a good many of us do not care to be traditionally published and have never felt the sting of rejection because we did not bother with that route.

Sure, low sales may be frustrating, but in my opinion, if you are publishing books with the main intent being to profit, you are not a writer. You are an entrepreneur. I'm not saying this to diminish anyone, only to distinguish between art and business.

As for making the distinction that like gambling, writing can be a harmful addiction, not only do I disagree, but I find the comment about 'blowing their money' to be rather out of line with the concept of support.

This thread is giving me an idea for a TV show.

A high school English teacher teams up with a former student whose deepest thought about literature is, "Yo! Hamlet was a cold ass bitch, talkin' to a skull and shit." They begin an underground creative writing course and sell the idea that the ideas behind the story count more than punctuation and grammar.

I'll call it Breaking Bad Grammar.

Dwayne wrote: "For me, writing is more an exercise for the mind, stimulating and working what is already within."

But isn't that what a drug is? Something that stimulates the mind? :)

April

Whether it's technically addictive or not, I'm always thinking about when I'll be able to sneak a few moments to WRITE. I spend my free time writing. I don't watch movies or TV or go shopping so I can write instead. That sounds pretty addictive to me. There's nothing I'd rather be doing because it's so pleasurable. Sounds like an addiction to me. :)

There are a couple of TV shows I like, and I'm behind on watching them, because I think, "I can spend 45 minutes watching my favorite show, or I can spend that same 45 minutes writing." There's no contest. Writing wins out.

I don't write for glory or riches (although I would never turn those things down, and I envy those who attain them). I'm happy to earn a little extra money; right now I see writing as an incredibly pleasurable part-time job on the side, to supplement my full-time day job. Sure, I would like for it to become more than that one day, but even if it never does, I won't stop doing it.

April

Nik wrote: "Hanging out for a couple of months on GR now and reading different threads here like "how many books have you written" and stuff like that plus my own feelings, it seems to me that writing and gett..."

I suppose it depends on how picky one wants to be about what "addiction" means. Personally, I don't embrace the broader, more colloquial, use of "addiction" to describe anything we enjoy doing a great deal. Expressing ourselves creatively I don't think qualifies as a true addiction, anymore than another pleasurable social interaction (which is what storytelling essentially is).

But I find this telling: "People are willing to take a lot of pain and frustration of rejection by traditional publishers, low sales, etc and write more and more books in hope that one day they would harvest glory."

That may be true, but I personally don't think that has anything to do with writing. That is a separate desire altogether, and it's possible that in some cases, it may act like an addiction. But it applies equally to any human endeavor, not just writing, and like anything people do, it can be overdone.

So in that sense, I'd have to say: no, I don't think writing and sharing one's writing can be an addiction.

Dwayne wrote: "This thread is giving me an idea for a TV show..."

You may have just made your fortune? ;-)

April wrote: "But isn't that what a drug is? Something that stimulates the mind?"

There aren't a lot of drugs that will stimulate cognition. There are some out there, developed to treat Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Caffeine could be considered a brain stimulant. Alcohol and nicotine can alter one's mood and perception.

Many medications are created for the treatment or prevention of illness.

Drugs are taken into the body. Personally, I work with what is already in my skull and have never felt the need to take a drug to improve my writing.

I am often caffeinated while writing, but it's not necessary. I am addicted to caffeine, I am not addicted to writing. If I go 24 hours without caffeine, I become ill. If I go a week without writing, I just miss it, but I don't suffer any physical effects.

Owen wrote: "Expressing ourselves creatively I don't think qualifies as a true addiction, anymore than another pleasurable social interaction (which is what storytelling essentially is). "

Right. I agree completely with what you said Owen. This part is especially interesting to me. We don't see people referring to other forms of social interaction as "addictions". To me, it's just a creative way to express myself, who I am inside.

Sex addiction, social media addiction, Internet addiction, selfie addiction... all considered types of addictions. (Please don't mind me, I'm just being ornery today.) :) Please ignore everything I say.

I'll be quiet now.

April

We're all chasing the dragon.

There are television and religious addictions as well.

Remember...addiction, like obsession, is more than just a nine letter word...it's a life style...

Owen wrote: "Nik wrote: "Hanging out for a couple of months on GR now and reading different threads here like "how many books have you written" and stuff like that plus my own feelings, it seems to me that writ..."

You never know what you have until it is gone. The addictive symptoms wouldn't appear until writing was removed from your life.

But to support what you say, if we were truly addicted to writing in a more traditional sense, we would not have to take breaks from it.

I'm not sure it's an addiction, but I would say it's a vice... Sitting alone on the computer and all. So my wife says, "You've been on that computer again, haven't you? HAVEN'T YOU?"

Me, "Um... yeah, I was jus' look'n some stuff up."

"No, you've been writing again. I saw you, writing... the shame!"

"Heh, heh... yeah 'n it was gooood."

[Okay, full disclosure and all fairness, my wife tolerates the writing vice and even encourages it and helps with research. Luv 'er for that.]

Christina wrote: "Nik wrote: "People are willing to take a lot of pain and frustration of rejection by traditional publishers, low sales, etc and write more and more books in hope that one day they would harvest glo..."

Dear Christina,
I don't see what you are so upset about. You didn't try a traditional publishing route - fine. I just gave few examples. Whoever tried I don't see anything wrong with that.
I mentioned glory, not money. But I guess being a bestseller is some kind of glory. Besides if anyone has money as his/her driver and writes an excellent book, Idon't see why you disqualify him/her as a writer.
Re blowing - I thought this was '-:)' well recognizable sign... and yes - warning against blowing money is well within support concept

No.

The writing process, which includes editing and revising, is just too damned slow to be an addiction.

An addiction is something that gives instant gratification and is generally a waste of time (or at least eats up a huge amount of time) that could be spent doing something productive.

Video gaming can be like that. It's incredibly fun. And I wouldn't exactly call it a waste of time...but unless you're doing it online for a living, it's not producing anything valuable to anyone but you. Entertainment is valuable to those who consume it, but spend too much time at it and it can cause issues in your life.

Writing isn't like that. Unless you do nothing but pound out raw wordage and never suffer the agony of going back and forcing what you've written into something presentable.

I enjoy writing--when I can sink in and do nothing but write new stuff--and it can eat up enormous amounts of time. But ultimately it's a creative, productive activity. That's called a job, by the way. Do it seriously enough and it also involves work.

Nik wrote: "Dear Christina,
I don't see what you are so upset about. You didn't try a traditional publishing route - fine. I just gave few examples. Whoever tried I don't see anything wrong with that.
I mentioned glory, not money. But I guess being a bestseller is some kind of glory. Besides if anyone has money as his/her driver and writes an excellent book, Idon't see why you disqualify him/her as a writer.
Re blowing - I thought this was '-:)' well recognizable sign... and yes - warning against blowing money is well within support concept "

Did I say I was upset? No. I said I strongly disagree with the statements that I quoted. I also owned the comments as my opinions, rather than stating that they are hard and fast rules.

As far as you statement of support, no, telling an indie author that anything they are doing is a waste of money is just as out of line as telling them they *must* spend money on editing and a professional cover.

Ann wrote a lovely piece in the August newsletter regarding what type of comments are considered supportive and which are not. Yes, we do *enforce* positivity and yes, we do see the irony in this. Adding a smiley face does not automatically make a statement positive.

Don't know, guys, I feel that once you discover this joy of creative writing, you're hooked - it's very hard to quit. No need to quit, I know, although I wouldn't be surprised to find out that for some of us the writing comes on account of other, maybe not less important, things. In this sense the writing is addictive (but not necessarily in its negative sense), however I can agree with most of distinctions and reservations that you've mentioned

Yeah, I would call it addicting.

There's a feeling of euphoria that comes when you've tied up a sub-plot or ended a chapter really well. And a frustration when you can't get your thoughts across correctly, you search and you search for that perfect rhythm, the right words in the right order, not too many, not to few. Nothing like the feeling when you nail it.
I finished my first book, Rebecca, and within a few weeks I had to start something new, I just didn't know what to do with myself not writing something.

I believe so. In fact, I know it is for me.

Since the beginning of time I think mankind have had an obsession with trying to figure out our purpose, and that led to drawings, the creation of speech and the development of communication, eventually resulting in language. From that, we started to write.

It's interesting that not everybody writes, though. I guess it's like when generations of people go to war to win certain freedoms, such as the right to vote, and now many people choose not to vote at all.

In general, people have the ability to write, which is one of the most beautifully expressive things we can do - yet only some do. I write every single day, and I'm not sure why. I mean, I love it, but I also love the feeling of running, yet I have to really motivate myself to do that on a semi-regular basis because I know it's good for me. Therefore, it's interesting that I write as a natural habit.

I have many creative goals with writing, and I have also designed my life so I get to write for a living, which I do as a copywriter, so for me it is absolutely addictive - to the point that it drives everything I do.

I would say that having written is more addictive than writing.