Writing what sells - Is it wrong?

[cooltodd]

Like all forms of art, with literature there's a difference between quality writing and what sells. An author will make more money and gain more fame if they give in to commercial pressure and write pop books.

Isn't that selling out? Is it wrong? What do you think?

What should be a writers priority - making money or creating quality literature?

[sleepydumpling]

I think a writer should write what's in their heart and soul. If raking in the $$'s is in their heart and soul, then fair be it. Simply because popular fiction actually draws people into reading that might not otherwise have a go.

Every book, whether pulp fiction or work of literary genius or anywhere in between gives something to the reader. Whether it be stronger vocabulary, a life lesson, a laugh, a way to relax... doesn't matter. Reading is never an experience that takes something from you (even if emotionally it wears you out!)

And who's to say that what's popular and a best seller isn't a good book? Reading, like music, is all a matter of taste. There are people out there who will tell you that Harry Potter or The Da Vinci Code are the greatest books they've ever read. Can you think of many books that have raked in more dollars than these?

My personal rule is "Never apologise for what you read."

[theroneshellman]

Writing is art. And art is about a persons views in relation to themselves, those around them and the world. So what a person writes really has to do with who they are as individuals. I used to get into these debates all the time within the urban lit bookclubs, since my writing crosses between urban and mainstream. Alot of fiction writers write to entertain b/c these books sell well and have an easily found audience. I grew up reading lit by James Baldwin, Richard Wright etc so my views are alot different then most writers in my genre b/c for the most part I started reading non-fiction books. Furthermore, I feel that if you feel one way then there are millions of others who feel the same. Lit is art, but in todays time it is also a business. With this in mind writing the book is only 20% of the work, the other 80% revolves around reaching your audience.

For some writing whats popular and a easy sell is selling out. For others its what they really have a desire to write about. I personally write to educate, entertain and inspire. But this is me and who I am. I really do not want to say what I think about people who take this as just another way to make a buck. Especially when the stories are negative and mislead young people into think that they can live the lifestyle of the character and come out on top. "Drug dealing, neighborhood hoes, pimps etc who live the good life and at the end of the story walk off in the sunset without a scratch."

[kaytie]

Since there's no guarantee that what sells today will sell tomorrow, it's not a good idea to try to write what "sells."

Writing a book-length work is very difficult so it's better to write something you're passionate about--ideally, your passion will come through and ignite enthusiasm in others. If the end result is commercial or literary, what difference does it make? You've still accomplished something amazing.

[DanteAzrael]

I think it is wrong for a person to write for what sells. It devalues what they are writing about and it devalues art itself. It is the same for writing, painting, photography, drawing, music, etc. Any person who uses art just to make money is purposely destroying what art is about.

Art is about one's values, one's passion, one's mind. It is not a creation of society and art is not for society. It is for the individual making the art. Their life and their art is their purpose and that is what makes art wonderful. You don't go around hoping to find meaningless art and try to give it meaning. The meaning of the art comes from the creator. I know people will have their own perception and their own standards in which to view that art, but it isn't them that give it meaning. An artist doesn't care about what society thinks of what he has made. An artist only cares if it fits his standard, his values, his life, his passion. For one to do it purely for money is destroying art. It's not bad to make money for your art. But any self-respecting, self-valuing individual who creates art will not want money from people who do not understand the meaning, who devalues the meaning, and from people who do not have any standards or values whatsoever. Especially if those values do not match his own.

[complimentarymatters]

Writing what sells is giving people what they want. Isn't that a good thing?

[Tracey Neal]

Is it a bad thing to give people what they want??? No I don't think so lol I'm not into the whole "selling out" concept, if you write what you think the masses want and they do indeed buy it, well everyone got what they wanted, right? And it doesn't hurt the author writing these sort of books by no means.
For example JK Rowling some don't like her much, but I think she is great, even if she had just the one book that itself was enough, she will go down in history. Thats a BIG accomplishment to a writer to sell, and to sell that many! I myself love Harry Potter I have all the books thus far, I've seen all the movies, have them too So yeah go for it! Write what you will...whatever you please. If it turns out to be a BIG FAT seller to the masses then that is awesome! Good for you sweetpea

[Syrcco44]

I think it should come from one's heart. I would hate to read something that was written soley for the money. Money is fleeting and fame dies - but good literature surpasses these things always - in quality and in time. I would never write for the money. I could never write for what sells the best. I don't want to write what others want me to write - that's taking on the world's definition of myself and writing and I couldn't do that. Never.