The art and the business of writing
There are as many reasons to write as there are writers, but anyone who has a passion for putting words on a screen or page knows the joy of being an author. Success is not the measure of that joy. The simple act of writing is.
I have had the good fortune to write for varied markets: popular magazines, blogs, academic journals and presses, and print-on-demand books. Each format takes a different set of skills. Each format presents the reader with a different finished product. But each requires the art of writing.
With the expansion of online media, authorship has become the Gold Rush of the 21st century. There are outlets never before imagined for aspiring authors. There are published writers who never imagined that the public could see their work. But much like the Gold Rush of 1849, while few will strike it rich, some make the journey because of their sheer passion for adventure. They live for the joy that words on a page bring. For them, writing is not a business, but an art.
Writing in the Postmodern era
As a clinical psychologist in private practice, I am accustomed to feedback from clients. When I first began my career as a writer, feedback from readers was almost unknown, with the exception of an occasional letter to the editor.
And now? Comment sections, email access, and the ability to post instantly mean that readers offer commentary on an ongoing basis. It is a feature of a media-savvy culture that I appreciate. It keeps writers in touch with readers, and it allows us to fine-tune writing to meet the wants and needs of those in our audience.
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