Does everyone have a book in them?

[violin]

No, you probably don’t have a book in you

I was shared this article by a friend. It's kind of discouraging, but at the same time I don't think it's trying so much to discourage as to remind writers to be mindful that a book (a successful one) is more than just a story, and that a lot of thought and care goes into it, kind of like how movies are carefully crafted as opposed to home videos which can get boring to watch.

Anyway, since the topic seemed rather controversial, I thought I would share it with the wonderful community here at Tapas and get your thoughts. What do you all think?

(For me, I guess it is encouraging in a way, because it reinforces the message that things are supposed to be hard, which makes me feel slightly better when things do get hard and I'm tempted to throw in the towel )

[keii4ii]

One of the most encouraging things I've heard was "writing is (supposed to be) hard." But I didn't find that article encouraging because it seems to imply that some of us are just doomed...

[ar-ninetysix]

The thing is, this article is more about publishing a book and making physical copies rather than just writing as a hobby. And even then, the article is all like "you must have some stories to tell and you probably wanna get into writing- YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR CAPABLE ENOUGH TO WRITE A DECENT BOOK" like.. idk it sure is well intentioned, but it's poorly delivered, I think.

[keii4ii]

^ I agree. There's a difference between a well-crafted story that won't become a best seller due to niche appeals, and a story that won't become a best seller because it's not well crafted.

[grimnir]

I didn't find that article encouraging because it seems to imply that some of us are just doomed

I interpreted it as saying less 'for some people it's impossible' and more 'it's really hard and takes dedication that most people aren't willing to give'. Anyone could, but most people won't.
And they're not wrong, but the article gave me the vibe of 'I enjoy crushing people's dreams while telling myself I'm doing them a favor'.

That aside, here's a happier statistic: 10% of Icelanders publish at least one book.

[hjfsdh2222]

90% of published books suck. You don’t need to be talented to be a successful writer. But you need to be gifted from God himself to be a great writer. That’s how I feel. Either ya got it or ya don’t. And most people don’t; even most writers don’t.

[OneHappyChap]

I sure hope that nobody here has a book in them, or else the health risks it poses might be high.

[grimnir]

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."
- Sir Francis Bacon

[OneHappyChap]

I cannot believe this is an actual quote but it is.

Amazing.

[sararosebr]

I read this article and I have to agree. Yes, it could have been written nicer, but I don't think it should. The truth is hard to swallow and better forced down when you still have the chance to do a quick easy murder of their hope in it's crib than when its an adult and can fight back.
Yes, everyone has stories in them, but few have a book. Most people think authors are getting paid to do a hobby and could do it "if they just had the time to sit around all day." I think some people need to get the news that writing is kind of like anything else: anyone has the potential, a lot will do it as a hobby, few will make some money, less will ever be able to be of status and a mentor.

[shazzbaa]

From the article in question, emphasis mine:

I put it like this: I have been running since I was about a year old. Almost 40 years! But I cannot for the life of me run a marathon. I am not physically capable of it, even though I can run a few miles in a row. Writing a book is a marathon. You have to train for it, practice, understand your strengths and weaknesses and work hard to overcome them. You need help, feedback, and support, and you need to try many times before you run your best race. Writing a book that someone else wants to read is running your fastest marathon. No one does it right out of the gate, and few writers can expect to have the stamina without rigorous training.

If you want to write a book, do it. It’s wonderful and horrible and fulfilling and soul-crushing all at the same time. But do it because you want to, not because someone suggested it one time. Be mindful of what it fully entails before you start, so you have reasonable expectations and set reasonable goals. You don’t have to write with the aim to get published, and you don’t have to publish with a traditional publisher. There are many options if you just want a copy of your story that you can hold in your hands. Just be careful when well-meaning, though wholly uninformed, people say you should write a book.

This article honestly doesn't strike me as discouraging at all.

It seems to me like there's a lot of emphasis on how hard/unlikely this is because of the sorts of situations the author deals with. Over and over they give the example of someone having been told by a relative "oh! you should write a book!" just because they had a really interesting experience or because they can crack up the family around the dinner table.

That person needs to be told, "no, you can't just slap your family stories down on the page word-for-word how you'd say them and think that will be entertaining to read. This is actually really hard and requires a skill you haven't put any work into developing. If you want to develop that skill, go for it!!! but understand writing a publishable book is more than just relaying a thing that happened."

It's very specifically addressed to people with a casual, passing interest who think that a casual, passing interest is all that's required to put a book on shelves. That seems very reasonable to me!!

[djwaglmuffin]

Articles like this just make me want to write more.

Like I am defiantly in front of my keyboard clacking away with a very serious "f-you" eyes in this dude's general direction.

He don't need to publish me anyway. I got Tapas and Lulu, thank you very little.

[MariMontoya]

I hear it/read it all the time. Is it true? Probably. Does it bother me? No. Doesn't stop me from writing, because I can and I want to lol. Everyone has a story to tell but not all of them will tell it and only a few will ever be good at it. Writing is hard. Just like anything else it takes passion but also hard work...lots of hardwork which some people don't realize, especially to have a shot at being successful. Some days you might not want to edit but you have to, just as an example.
Also some write for the fun of it and that's perfectly fine. You do you

[keii4ii]

It's very specifically addressed to people with a casual, passing interest who think that a casual, passing interest is all that's required to put a book on shelves.

That's the thing -- this is for a specific audience. I would be very discouraged (a bit insulted, even) if someone told me to read it because they thought it'd help me. And I guess I find it discouraging because the title is a little click-baity, and seems to be targeting a general audience, i.e. "here, this applies to YOU."

[punkarsenic]

that article is clearly coming from a business perspective, which can often be a step removed from the creative approach - maybe everyone has a book in them, but not a publishable one. its true that most people dont realise how hard writing - and the business of writing - can be, which can devalue the craft. so their point is fair, if kinda harsh

i think its better to say 'everyone has a story in them' - take away the limitation of the form

everyone has something to say, and if theyre willing and able to put in the work and research, that can come out as a play, film, book, poem, dance, comic... whatevers most appropriate. but that never garuntees anyone else will want to consume it

[Croik]

everyone has something to say, and if theyre willing and able to put in the work and research, that can come out as a play, film, book, poem, dance, comic... whatevers most appropriate. but that never garuntees anyone else will want to consume it

Yes, this. This is a literary agent warning that writing isn't just about telling your story - it's about telling your story to people willing to pay for it. That's a crucial point for someone who wants to live off their work, as opposed to just creating from the heart for the sake of it. And not because publishers are meanies - because publishers have to eat.

[violin]

but that never guarantees anyone else will want to consume it

I wonder, though... there are so many different people in the world, each with different backgrounds and tastes. There are people who love Twilight and people who hate it. Obviously marketing is a big thing because without exposure you'll never get to people who either love or hate it, but I wonder if you look past that for a moment, might it be true that for every story there is SOMEONE in the world who will want to hear it, you just don't know who they are?

[punkarsenic]

thats very true, and why the internet has allowed many niche markets and markets by and for marginalised people to flourish (and why niche markets have always flourished)

that leads to questions about like, distribution and promotion and business and all stuff i know fuckall about and am trying not to think about like a good little future starving artist

[SilverLugia456]

If I may I would like to post some of my experiences to answer that question if everyone has a book in them. I hope no one minds if I reveal a little about my schooling as well.

If i had to answer this on a personal opinion I would say that everyone has a 'story' in them they would like to tell. You tell a story each time you upload a photo to your facebook or write a small entry on something like a journal. Now moving on to something like a book I think everyone has the potential to write a book. Whether that book goes out to print or not that is another different matter of just finding the right person to handle your work. For me I have spent 3-4 years attending college to get a Creative Writing Degree in both bachelor's and Master's. That article that has been posted is something that I often saw when attending my classes and the professors have told us that we shouldn't use it as discouragement but as a way to push ourselves more as writer. Whether you are writing as a hobby or that is your chosen career path.

Through college I have gotten many books that talk about writing whether its the creative steps to accomplishing your goals or talking about how to get a agent then going into the writing business. One of the things my professor always told me is that the writing world can be hard, cold and cruel. An idea that you think the world of and is your pride and joy may not be well received by others. However, that shouldn't stop you from writing because there may be people out there who like your idea. You just need to find the right audience. One of the best benefits as a writer is the feedback you get when others view your work. That feedback can help you improve as a writer and at the same time help you improve your story/book as well.

So to go back to the questions and article at hand, it seems like an opinion from one literary agent about how they view things through their eyes. There are other agents out there who have different views and opinions probably about the same thing. I think the biggest things and I have felt this fear before is that everyone could have a book in them but it takes courage to be able to put that book out there for everyone to read. Whether its an online site like this one (Tapas) or printed to be put out there in stores.

I hope that it was okay that I shares this. (I looked it over several times before posting it ^^; )

[LCT_m_a_d]

My head tells me, "my chances of creating something that will be successful or enjoyed is slim to none". Which is very true given my historical lack of success as a creator.

But, my heart tells me "that's not the point. The point is that I have an idea that should exist, so it's my responsibility to make it so, and pay the cost of failure and humiliation in the process"

I truly believe that we should rarely, if ever, make a decision to pursue a creative idea based on the probability of it being successful. Even a failed book is worth writing.

I think this article is very much valid, yet it should have no bearing on your decision to be a writer. Rather it should be to encourage us that success is often reserved for the top 1% of our purest of pursuits. You cannot be everybody and expect exceptional results. You either have to be born with it, or make a transformation. Of course, thats only coming from me.