Are you creating for the fun of it or something else?

[nostalgicroxas]

@therealbereth - I actually a bit more in line with how you're seeing it...

I'm not so much on the "fun side" of it, rather that I fall into the category of "I'm making it for myself." If I don't enjoy what I'm doing creatively, namely writing, first and foremost then I. Will. Not. Do. It. This means that the "fun" aspect of it just isn't really there sometimes, or that it doesn't even occur to me?

As for making a career out of it, my goal is to sell it to people, yes. But not the sort who want me to dumb it down, censor cuss words or interactions, and make it a YA light novel fit for a 12-year-old. If you like my stuff enough to buy it, then yay, thank you. Motivation to buy it is TYPO FREEEE. (Hopefully. I've read through NTN enough that all the typo's should be gone for the sellable versions)

[TheNiceZombie]

OH MY GOSH!!! I hade no idea you felt this way! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
This gave me energy like you wouldn't believe!

@therealbereth Yeah at the end of the day I think this creativity has to be driven with fun and passion as a foundation. If simply making money was the goal then we'd be discussing the stock markets and crypto ; D
It's just for me personally,
my ampitions demand so much more from me now and I need to make up for lost time.

@Everyone I applaud everyone here for finding what they want to do!
Whether it be their hobby or carrier because not everyone has come this far.
It's not to be taken for granted. I want you all to be grateful today for finding your passion

[therealbereth]

As for making a career out of it, my goal is to sell it to people, yes. But not the sort who want me to dumb it down, censor cuss words or interactions, and make it a YA light novel fit for a 12-year-old.

You're speaking my mind here.

I originally dreamed what it would be like to be a traditionally published writer some day. But the more I learn of the industry, the more I just flinch and hiss at it because... no. I don't feel inclined to fit some "market", or worse, sell my work so it doesn't even belong to me anymore. Not to mention that there are limited spots for queer literature, diverse literature often gets put into YA territory even though it has nothing to do with it etc.

I do it for me, but I also do it for people who might feel the same. Maybe someone sees something in my characters; maybe their struggles resonate with someone. Then I've done my job.

[nostalgicroxas]

I do it for me, but I also do it for people who might feel the same. Maybe someone sees something in my characters; maybe their struggles resonate with someone. Then I've done my job.

That's my hope as well. I also flinch at the publishing norms where anything queer LBGT+ is just lumped together, or is censored down to some watery version. I can see, for example, story choices were different for a certain Percy Jackson author before a certain W-D publishing behemoth moved in on him . . .
Another thing about the "big" industry is that it seems to be expected that you hand over an outline and a complete manuscript, and then your publisher is likely to have some hired muscle tear it apart - take out scenes, truncate parts, and move things around to fit their "image agenda". It's just a weird Frankenstein operation that I can't imagine putting myself or my writing through.
If you can't just take out the scene where Vlalan and Elle kiss and move it to the start of the story, or farther down in the chapters, because it's important to their relationship and interactions with each other. Same thing if the characters have a tiff and someone decides "that's not important." You cant get into the dumbest arguments over comma placements, too.
Hardcore career like that, is not for me.
That said, I'm still mulling about in my head how to make the eBook file for NTN so I can make it available for sale for those who don't have space to purchase a physical copy, or want the instant gratification.

[therealbereth]

Mh, editing itself isn't the problem as long as the editor makes sure the author's voice is kept intact. I shift around scenes all the time and see where they make the most sense, or what development would fit a theme better etc., so that kind of "hardcore" editing is pretty valuable in my book.

As for the industry in general, however? Eeeeeh. I'll see if I can afford an editor for self-pub, and then try to go that route. Until then, I'll keep getting badgered by my characters day and night.

[tchotchkeco]

Multiple reasons I guess. It was first a way to healthily express myself, and eventually I wanted to share my story with others who would see the commentary in the background. If it makes money that would be great cause I can do more with the story.

[Clare_Cassidy]

I've been writing my whole life. It started out fun and still is to this day, but I'm pursuing publishing professionally now

[Azifri]

For fun, learning, and procrastination

[Ghostie]

I started off doing it for fun. But if it goes in a direction that takes off, and I know Patreon would help me make money on it, I'd quit my dayjob in a heartbeat to keep working on it as a job. I mean who DOESN'T want paid to do what they love?!

[Misuti]

Right now I'm doing it to tell a story I love! My comic is something I'm very passionate about and I love the characters in it so much. Making my comic is one of my favorite things to do and helps bring my little babies to life. It'd be great if I could get money one day for making it, but right now it's just my own little project.

Besides, the money would probably come from a different comic I make. I would like to publish under a company, but my main comic just won't cut it. It's filled with my own daydreaming and things that won't make it seem professional at all. But that's alright, I just want it to reach people and have them know about my kids.

[summermcallen]

I'm doing right now to tell others my story and to make them happy. That makes me happy too. especially when I get nice comments
but when I get the change to do my living with drawing, I wouldn't refuse

[arcojawa]

It's hobbyist stuff at the moment. I would love for it to become a career someday but I'm self-aware enough to realize there's gonna be some time and some work involved for it to get to that point.

........... wish the folks in my life understood that concept....

[LCT_m_a_d]

I used to have more career aspirations for art, but now I feel like it's more of a contribution or cause and leaving something valueable behind.

If I could learn to do it more consistently, I might give it some considerable thought.

[akitsukino]

Trying to keep work you care about fun is pretty important. The creator of Space Boy wrote a pretty interesting comic essay about it.

https://doodlealley.com/2013/10/28/fun-gets-done/

[fluffybonezz]

My comic is 100% for fun, in that I don't take it super seriously and I don't let myself get stressed out about it.

[Humbug]

I started my second comic to get into writing again and to finally get off my butt and work on colouring. For years I was terrified of colour which is why my other comics were in B&W. A couple of months later I started thinking. "Man, I put a lot of work into this comic, would be nice if more people read and enjoyed it." Will that happen? Eh, who knows. shrug

[Maps]

I create for fun but sometimes it stresses me out?! Like, I began writing and drawing for fun, but after posting I sort of feel a little pressure since I have readers. I don’t want to disappoint them. But I’m probably the most unpredictable poster of all time.

[NRScott]

I started this Tapas for fun and to work on parts that I sometimes struggle with (setting the mood/describing the surroundings,etc). I'm hoping to get to 100 subs soon (at 77) so I can at least monetize it a bit here.

I write romance novels and usually publish them on KDP. I'm also shopping a novel right now and I'm just waiting for responses to come in. I hope to make it a full time career one day, but for now it's the grind!

[TJSchongar]

Both, honestly. I have FUN making stories! That’s why I want to do it full or even just part time. Writing is what keeps me happy, healthy, and sane!

[yondoloki]

I mainly do it because I have a need to tell stories. After that it's more my opportunistic side that kicks in and says: "Well if you can make some money out of something you would make anyways, that would be a great bonus". Unfortunately I'm not really in a position to pursue the monetization anyways, so I'll "just have to" stick with the joy of storytelling for now