I used to write for some imagined future audience. But this older me is grateful for the immediate reader, the now spark of connection, even the reader who finds me by happenstance and sighs a private solo yes.
What an interesting question. I never thought about it. I think there’s a hyper nowness to my writing - read it, laugh, move on. Disposability, even, like garbage!
I’m writing for me. For now. Sure, I Imagine other people reading my novel, but I’ve said from the start, I want to write a book I want to read. I’ve written two manuscripts that will never see the light of day. But this one, my novel in progress, this one I enjoy reading as I move forward writing every day. There’s hope for this one.
I can’t imagine writing to be read a hundred years from now. It seems an impossible task. I don’t think Dickens did that. Wasn’t his work serialized in a magazine? Art is subjective and it seems impossible to know what will last. Anyway, I’m just like you. I write in the hopes of connecting and making people feel seen and less alone, which is what reading has done for me my whole life.
I only hope that I write something that is read ... now, in the future, whenever, and it brings people some joy, some entertainment, a respite from their worries, a sense of community.
What a great question. I joke that historical fiction is great because people can pick it up any time—it doesn’t go bad. But also I want the stories to resonate with today’s challenges, so I’ll choose all of the above.
Fascinating question! I’m writing for the now. With my luck, someone will find my 8th grade diary in a time capsule in 100 years and those will be the words that live on. (pre-apologies to all the boys I loved)
I hope my books (I'm including the WIP) will be read in the future; they are my only progeny. Though I am also quite proud of many of the books I've edited.
I'm in a place at the moment where even thinking of a reader feels overwhelming. Did I put words down today? Were they honest? That's as far as I can go. :-)
I used to write for some imagined future audience. But this older me is grateful for the immediate reader, the now spark of connection, even the reader who finds me by happenstance and sighs a private solo yes.
What an interesting question. I never thought about it. I think there’s a hyper nowness to my writing - read it, laugh, move on. Disposability, even, like garbage!
I’m writing for me. For now. Sure, I Imagine other people reading my novel, but I’ve said from the start, I want to write a book I want to read. I’ve written two manuscripts that will never see the light of day. But this one, my novel in progress, this one I enjoy reading as I move forward writing every day. There’s hope for this one.
I'm definitely a "now" person. My bank account verifies that as well.
Ha, same!
I can’t imagine writing to be read a hundred years from now. It seems an impossible task. I don’t think Dickens did that. Wasn’t his work serialized in a magazine? Art is subjective and it seems impossible to know what will last. Anyway, I’m just like you. I write in the hopes of connecting and making people feel seen and less alone, which is what reading has done for me my whole life.
I only hope that I write something that is read ... now, in the future, whenever, and it brings people some joy, some entertainment, a respite from their worries, a sense of community.
What a great question. I joke that historical fiction is great because people can pick it up any time—it doesn’t go bad. But also I want the stories to resonate with today’s challenges, so I’ll choose all of the above.
Now, but also yesterday. 100 years seems too much, but 50? I’ll take it.
Fascinating question! I’m writing for the now. With my luck, someone will find my 8th grade diary in a time capsule in 100 years and those will be the words that live on. (pre-apologies to all the boys I loved)
I hope my books (I'm including the WIP) will be read in the future; they are my only progeny. Though I am also quite proud of many of the books I've edited.
I'm in a place at the moment where even thinking of a reader feels overwhelming. Did I put words down today? Were they honest? That's as far as I can go. :-)
Barely managing the now. Can’t even imagine writing for the future and I’m 100% ok without that potentially added pressure.