[JeremyReimer]

I'm a writer. What you've said here is basically correct, but I disagree with your conclusion.

In 2009 I took basically the same path that Howey is proposing here. I started self-publishing on Amazon in 2011 and I've written five novels so far, and am working on a sixth.

Obviously I did not experience anywhere near the success that Howey did. This may be due to luck, but I've read Wool and it's also a much better novel than anything I've written (so far!) So it's not always about luck. An amazingly good novel can sometimes generate its own luck.

But my lack of success hasn't dissuaded me and I don't consider the journey I took in becoming a writer to have been wasted. On the contrary, it's been amazing every step of the way. I've learned so many things, met so many wonderful people, and even sold a couple of thousand books along the way, which isn't much, but it's not nothing either.

And at the same time, I've been writing non-fiction articles for Ars Technica, which has been considerably more successful for me. (An example would be my article on the history of OS/2, or my history of the Amiga computer). These articles have been read and enjoyed by orders of magnitude more people, which is very satisfying.

I guess what I'm saying is that there are more possibilities for being a writer than being a famous fiction author picked up by a major publishing house. There are all kinds of paths for writers to take.

Success is never guaranteed, and if you want to be a writer you have to be realistic about this. But if you really want to be a writer, nothing can stop you. In fact, that's kind of the only prerequisite for becoming one. If you feel compelled to write, regardless of any success or rewards, you will keep doing it. At the very least, you will become a better writer. And if you become a better writer, it's almost inevitable that, at some point, somebody will notice.

Don't expect to be famous. Expect to write.

[thenerdhead]

Yeah but are you writing what you love to write or writing what the world pays you to write?

Great writers can find jobs just about anywhere. The real question is whether or not you enjoy what you are writing.

[JeremyReimer]

I can honestly say that I love all the writing work I do. Every article I wrote for Ars Technica was a labor of love, even though I got paid. My novels are as well.

I still have a day job (although I did write full-time for Ars for a couple of years) so this is a luxury I can afford. But I’m still happy to be able to do it.

I would also posit that the only way to be successful as a writer is to write about things you love. If you try to chase popular topics or genres without loving them, this cynicism will show in your writing and it won’t be much fun to read.

[brudgers]

Your comment got me thinking about what I love to write.

And it produced this, which I am loving to write.

Because it is transformative (for me).

Because the realization that what I love to write is writing that transforms me -- a new reification of several ideas that oscillate in my low frequency thoughts.

Which puts writing for money in the light of is-the-money-tranformative? I mean the statistically likely best possible option is getting paid enough to write to quit a less satisfying way of making money. The choice is between proverbially pumping gas and writing for most people, not between two amazingly fulfilling creative options.

To me, the real question is is producing nothing more fulfilling than producing the best I can?

For me, it isn't. YMMV.