The Challenge Of Being An Author

[Venusian42]

Many people take for granted the immense amount of work that authors undertake in order
to write a book, be it fiction or a memoir.
One may bump into a book reviewers column and find the unconstructive criticism behind an
amateur journalist or so called literary critic.

The majority of these people have the nerve to state comments such as "a boring book" or
"a book lacking exceptionality". It is true that people who have never written before or fail to
understand the extra hard put in by authors to complete a book-can never appreciate the
aesthetic beauty and discipline which results the end product.

Many book reviewers are quick to criticize-but the question one should ask-is whether are
they fit enough to also sit on their behinds and write a book.
Of course not-they would flee from the task at first sight.

The challenge of being an author is no walk in the park. So many loose canons think
that the trade itself is nothing but a hobby.
Wrong Again. Writers are innovators of which the world is eager to forsake-all because their
creativity is not an academic brag of rights-but rather it comes as the natural green forest, a
Spiritual gift that fellow human beings envy.

Lazola Pambo

Thank you, I couldn't agree more. You put it aptly. It was well expressed. Sadly, we live in an age in which everyone can assume the role of a critic. But I must admit here that after I read ‘Roads of destiny’ by O. Henry I can’t say that it is only the spirit of the age. The critic in that story was heartless. Moreover, there are good critics even in our modern age, even though they are very rare. But in general I agree with you that there is no respect between people anymore. Not only authors, but also other artists feel the same. But thanks for brining it up. You have my support on that issue.

[Starric]

I would agree with writing being a challenge as well as not something everything can do. Anyone can compose a tale and even be good at it. Authoring a work, in the context given, is to perform the entire gambit, usually not once but many times. Writing the tale, the editorial process, the adulation and challenge of fans and critics; ups and down of the industry. Its all part of it and not everyone can muster the will to work in that arena.

The challenge of writing is everyone thinks they can do it. Its looks too easy on the surface and so many are misled at what they believe is the level of effort required. The same thing happens with any kind of artist -- give a layman a pencil and he thinks he rates up there next to the divine -- when the truth could not be farther away.

[thebookworm4ever]

The hard part of being a author isnt writing the book its trying to get it published and then having people saying their opinions and they aren't always nice. Actually I've read some pretty mean reviews and I think they should try and look on it as the author see's it some people can be viscous.

The process of publishing a book can take years, and you have to find someone interested in your book.

[moderntimes]

Well, first of all, yes, I'm a real "arthur"! In my time I've worked for newspapers and strung for the AP and so I've had plenty of things published. I've also written the occasional short story or article that's been published (and yes, I got paid). More recently, I've been writing book reviews for an online mystery site, maybe 30-40 reviews thus far. And I've written two mystery novels (both sold and published) and the 3rd novel is in progress. So, although my publishing history is modest compared with other writers, I do have a small track record and can therefore speak as a real author...

I'll say that it's entirely possible and quite acceptable to be a critic, a good one at that, and not having written a book yourself. Not every good critic needs to write a book to prove that it can be done. Criticism is a horse of a different color. Of course, some critics are also insufferable snobs but then again, plenty of authors are also insufferable snobs, too.

I'm not too certain that being an author is a "challenge" per se. It's no more a challenge than being a bricklayer or a store clerk or stay at home father. I think however that you, as an author, must challenge yourself. You must always set new goals for yourself, try to write a better novel the next time, try to create that perfect paragraph, the ideal narrative or conversation between your characters, work hard to perfect your craft.

This is of course no different from a store clerk trying to help customers as much as possible, or a chemist trying to create a new polymer, or a parent who wants to be the best father or mother. Or, for that matter, just trying to be a decent person overall.

Authors are no different from anyone else. Their goal should be to do a better job each day at their chosen profession.

And by the way, it's "lose cannon" not "canon" (unless you're talking about wayward Vatican advisors, ha ha) -- sorry, couldn't resist the pun...

-- 12 Apr 2014, 12:55 --

A couple of points: "The point people have to keep in mind is : Everybody can write but everybody isn't published."

This is nonsense. No everybody can't write and this includes many who think they can.

The fact that the act of writing can be an act of "aesthetic beauty and discipline" does not exclude that writing can be bad - boring, unpleasing to some or all. The OP seems to dispute that some writing is indeed un-exceptional, asserting that all writing is an exceptional work of art simoply because the author mnay have worked hard to produce it.

Again - nonsense

Agreed. I've found myself assigned the most boring and awful subject imaginable and had to write a piece on deadline. Anyone who's worked for a newspaper can attest to that onerous task.

I've churned out some awful hack pieces over the years because the editor said "Go interview the city council Joe/Jane Smith about the new speed bump ordinance" and I did it and wrote the story. A work of aesthetic beauty it was not. Maybe of discipline however, the discipline of working on deadline. Ha!