Comments on 'Write What Will Sell!' That Explains Much Blogit Nonsense

Go to Blog-Page - Add a comment - Go to 'Write What Will Sell!' That Explains Much Blogit Nonsense

Zachary.N.Miles. It gives me hope when a few people see my point

posted by beachbelle on December 3, 2004 at 11:07 AM | link to this | reply

Chris2303

The Sun is actually brilliantly put together and what is amazing is that it sells like hotcakes to the very people it puts down.

posted by beachbelle on December 3, 2004 at 11:06 AM | link to this | reply

Wow

You grabbed me good on this post. You've even inspired me to try harder around the content of my own posts. Thanks.

posted by Zachary.N.Miles on December 3, 2004 at 10:48 AM | link to this | reply

beachbelle

Write what will sell...how sad The Sun is the most popular newspaper in Britain. 

posted by chris2303 on December 3, 2004 at 10:35 AM | link to this | reply

I think Dr Johnson was of the same mind. I'm working on the adage 'Write what will smell' at the moment. Trouble is I keep producing stinkers.

posted by _dave_says_ack_ on December 3, 2004 at 9:14 AM | link to this | reply

L.E.Gant

Could you rephrase that second sentence in your comment? It is not clear.

I am saying that you can write what interests and still sell that a good amount of that work rather than giving yourself over entirely to fulfilling market demands which might mean producing stuff which is of as little interest. If a writer is good the stuff should sell anyway.

I find the idea that one should focus entirely on writing what sells the most copies to be depressing. There must be experimentation with new styles and subjects if we are to explore new horizons. Sometimes that involves taking risks. Of course people very enormously in comfort levels. For instance I could make the most money from writing if I spent all my time churning out certain copy but it would leave me no time to further develop writing as a living.
I have been detained long enough by selling material that I was not passionate about to the highest bidder.

I would rather give the most attention to writing the material I want to and give 5%-10% of my time perhaps to writing for extra money

People for whom money is the main motivator will write accordingly but there are other needs which at times must be heeded.

posted by beachbelle on December 3, 2004 at 1:58 AM | link to this | reply

I'm not too sure you got my point, BB - If you do good writing, you have to put it in the right market (ie sell what you write). The other side (write to see) is academic convolutions to explain why they can't get published

posted by L.E.Gant on December 3, 2004 at 1:19 AM | link to this | reply

Well Said!

Ihave not been around blogging long but first impressions is that it can be much like a dating service gone mad. If writing is to be done, I believe, it is to be done well. I think what "sells" will take itself one direction and thoughtful well written discussion of some of the important issues that face us humans will take us another. I'd rather go in that direction.

posted by Wordslinger on December 2, 2004 at 8:43 PM | link to this | reply

BB, I don't know about everyone else, but to me, you managed to tell the truth about the ugly side of Blogging in a nice way. Bravo and great post.

posted by Kay-Ren on December 2, 2004 at 7:00 PM | link to this | reply

Beachbelle

That makes sense, but then you always do. Have a happy weekend luv

posted by WileyJohn on December 2, 2004 at 5:47 PM | link to this | reply

IKD

I believe there is money in it. But yes it is good to allow a little space for your passions

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 5:42 PM | link to this | reply

Beachbelle...

excellent points made here.  I love to write but I know that what I write is not that interesting to other people.  Technically sound but boring.  Maybe I should look into writing instruction manuals.

posted by theinnkeepersdaughter on December 2, 2004 at 5:39 PM | link to this | reply

L.E.Gant

He was an academic and poet but he DID say that " every minor canon must be subordinate to the rule" of writing what will sell. It sounds like the same thing to me.

The line I take is that one can write good stuff and still sell. Technically I could write and sell much more but I choose not to write some material I could sell because it brings me no pleasure to do so. I don't want to turn myself into something else merely to sell more. I accept the consequences and risks of my action and I am finding that it is not bad because I am selling.

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 5:32 PM | link to this | reply

Obviously someone who did not have to make a living as a writer...

Sure, one should always write to the best level they are capable of. But the real crux of writing for a living (as opposed to, as Klara put it, writing for money) is that you need to sell what you write. Robert Heinein put it that way, and he's still right.

You need a showcase for your stuff. You need a prtfolio of your stuff. But, in the end, the only part of being a professional writer that counts is finding a market for your stuff, and there is a market for all good writing. The problematic side is that not all markets are equally lucrative.

posted by L.E.Gant on December 2, 2004 at 5:17 PM | link to this | reply

UntoldOne ...

Word?

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 4:40 PM | link to this | reply

beachbelle . . .

Word!

posted by UntoldOne on December 2, 2004 at 4:27 PM | link to this | reply

Mary x

If anyone is insinuating something about me I am unaware but thanks for the offer. I know what you mean about the same 10 stories

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 2:52 PM | link to this | reply

Rovesciato

I should add I disagree with copleton about subordinating ALL to selling

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 2:50 PM | link to this | reply

Rovesciato

I suspect the same - soundbites worked then too. Did you see my answer to your question about the website?

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 2:35 PM | link to this | reply

people have been bemoaning the wealth of poor writing since the spread of the printing press. I rather doubt that Mr. Copelston was all that clever.

posted by rovesciato on December 2, 2004 at 2:15 PM | link to this | reply

There's nothing wrong with writing well all the time.

Sometimes we just may not be as vigilant as at others, especially if posting just for the sake of clicks and not because of any profound info to be imparted.

posted by word.smith on December 2, 2004 at 12:47 PM | link to this | reply

beachbelle

This is what I mean when I speak of the difference between "writers" and "bloggers." The definition of good depends on the reader, but there should always be an attempt to provide something worthwhile.

posted by Talion on December 2, 2004 at 12:40 PM | link to this | reply

Beachbelle,

It seems to be a sad comment on culture that the only news that attracts attention, sells newspapers and tv, and therefore feeds the cycle are the controversial, the derogatory, and the horrific.  Feeding fear of terrorism is much more lucrative than reporting on the number of planes that  did not get blown up and landed safely. 

Magazines are so drearily repetitive that there seem to be about 10 types or topics of articles that are endlessly recycled. 

As for insinuations, who's picking on you? Let me at 'em. 

posted by Blanche. on December 2, 2004 at 12:37 PM | link to this | reply

well one of you better do it

and quickly I might add! Cuz you know me, the click whore. I already got some ideas on how to use this info on my next post (cha-ching). I am warning you though...I type fast!!! LOL

posted by David1Spirit on December 2, 2004 at 12:34 PM | link to this | reply

Celeste

That is a really interesting analogy. You should write a post about that exploring that. And if you don't wish to, may I?

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 12:31 PM | link to this | reply

Celeste

Oh absolutely. Just look at my posts! Comes from all them years on a steady "diet" of Spiderman and Mad Magazine....!

And yes, I do visit Burger King often...LOL

posted by David1Spirit on December 2, 2004 at 12:30 PM | link to this | reply

poetkitty

Yep.. then we can live with ourselves ..well I can

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 12:29 PM | link to this | reply

This post makes me think of an analogy -

comparing some of the popular blogit posts with fast food which also sells well in our culture.  I wonder if ingesting large quantities of some kinds of writing has as much ill effect as a longterm steady diet of fast foods does on our general health?

posted by Celeste632 on December 2, 2004 at 12:26 PM | link to this | reply

I'm with you

Write what you know to be true and authentic, and which comes in your own unique voice, and there you have it - something good.

:)

posted by poetkitty on December 2, 2004 at 12:23 PM | link to this | reply

QA

insunations no more ...lol. I really do wonder what he would have made of it. Who could have imagined bloggers?

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 11:34 AM | link to this | reply

Ginnieb

Yep. We have to comply to the requirements of the market particularly when we seek that first big break.
As long as we can remain true to ourselves (pretty much) that makes it possible

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 11:29 AM | link to this | reply

I think a scream is called for today, Beachie, but for different reasons!

I haven't even bothered to post. LOL

posted by KlaraRoberts on December 2, 2004 at 11:27 AM | link to this | reply

Klara

I can tell it is one of those "over the top" days when my blog is sinking like a stone ;-).
I am not sure if I am purist, perhaps more of a snob, but I like the idea that I do OK here without having to scream too much.

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 11:25 AM | link to this | reply

You're what I consider a "purist" Beachie. But that is above all, what I

love about you, so that's not said derogatorily at all. It is, though, Blogit, and it is about the clicks at all times. Sigh. Wish it weren't so, but it is. Glad you said it though, as it is somewhat extreme today, isn't it??? What I consider, as a marketer, "overselling" and there definitely is such a thing.

posted by KlaraRoberts on December 2, 2004 at 11:03 AM | link to this | reply

Just going through that myself..

..if you want to get paid you have to tow the line somewhat don't you?

posted by ginnieb on December 2, 2004 at 11:03 AM | link to this | reply

Well Belle,

(hey I like the sound of that)...it's not that I don't agree with you cuz I do...but why write about what other people want to write about...isn't it their choice...and yours to click or not? The best advice is to be true to yourself...and if that means for some, to write stuff solely because it sells...well hooray!

P.S. insunations--did you mean insinuations or do I need to get out my Webster?? 

posted by Julia. on December 2, 2004 at 10:59 AM | link to this | reply

Ha, ha

posted by beachbelle on December 2, 2004 at 10:53 AM | link to this | reply

Ouch!

I really felt the sting of that slap! I guess I'll try doing much more quality posts!

Then again maybe not! 

posted by David1Spirit on December 2, 2004 at 10:47 AM | link to this | reply