Question: Why Publish?

[M.D. Holloway]

2 Questions:
1) Why do you think people publish - books, articles, blogs?

2) Why do you think they should or shouldn't?

(and as a bonus - what makes the work good?)

[tweezers74]

I think people publish books for different reasons. I think most just want to express their story and see if people want to listen. This includes non-fiction. Some people actually want to make money. Some people actually think they have value to share and that they have an obligation to share this information. Writing is just their choice of medium.

Should they? Some cases yes, some cases no. But freedom of speech is good. It gets ideas out and what you get out of it, is up to you. You choose and discern what you need to know. Not all writers express themselves well.

What makes it good? Well, that depends on the reader. Lubey, sometimes the questions you ask all have the same answer. Depends. Just like beauty, a good book or article is in the eye of the beholder. I know a lot of women who would say "shades of grey" or the "twilight" series is good writing. I have no interest to even pick up one of those books in my hands, let alone open it. Scanning someone's kindle or bookshelf is about as varied as looking at someone's playlist or record collection.

It all depends. But variety is the spice of life. If we all were the same, creativity and innovation would not exist.

[wdfifteen]

There are so many reasons. Reasons for the books we've published range from authors who want to tell their life stories to amateur historians who want to share their research with others.
The books I've written and photographed myself I did because I was getting paid well. Ironically, though I've published a dozen or so books for others, I've never published one I've written myself. I don't pay well enough.

[oldE]

In the case of my wife, she is driven to write. She learned, at her Grandmother's knee that stories and poems were another method of expression which could provide enjoyment for others.

She had done some magazine articles in her field of interest around 25 years ago, then life got too busy. Then, ten years ago, a manuscript she had written for her grade six class (historical fiction),won an award and was published.

The next book was a series of short stories about animals communicating with their people and each other. The third is another piece of historical fiction, which will see print next month.

All three pieces have come to life because the stories are within her and needed to come out. That they have found their way into the hands (and hearts) of others is, for her a bonus.

I have no need to write stories, but every now and then a song comes to me for one reason or another. People tell me I should put some of them on Youtube, but I have little desire to 'put them out there' beyond my gigs.

Everyone is different, I suppose.

Best
Les

[pavulon]

1) money or they have something important to convey (or believe so).
2) subject matter dependent.

(relevance, accuracy and delivery)

[IROC]

I'm in a different situation, but in my world I've written papers for scientific conferences because that seems to be a primary method of collaboration. I'm involved in things that literally no one else in the world is doing (or has little or no experience with) so writing papers is a way to disseminate information.

I used to write articles for our local PCA newsletter because I thought it was fun.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by tweezers74

.... Lubey, sometimes the questions you ask all have the same answer. Depends. ....

Unless it is a math question, pretty much all answers are dependent and even then it isn't absolute.

The idea is to bring about discussion and have some fun doing it

[nostatic]

create or die

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by IROC

I used to write articles for our local PCA newsletter because I thought it was fun.

Yes, fun. I wrote for the 356 Registry for about 10 years just because I enjoyed it.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by nostatic

create or die

Says the academician...

[Dantilla]

[caution: random ramblings unencumbered by the thought proccess...]

Our Western culture glorifies success.
On a deeper level of human needs, the proper question is not "Am I successsful", but "Am I significant".

Everybody needs to think they matter- There's some reason the world is a better place because of one's existance.

There is something permanent about getting published, something that will last long after the author's death.
Same for musicians, or inventors, or celebrity status.

Getting published proves that the author has significance on this planet.


[/random ramblings]

[wdfifteen]

'Cause he's a ramblin' kind of man.

[Por_sha911]

People publish books because they are narcissistic attention whores who...Oh...wait...never mind...

People publish books and articles because they have knowledge and discoveries that need to be known or, for fun and profit.

[tweezers74]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

Unless it is a math question, pretty much all answers are dependent and even then it isn't absolute.

The idea is to bring about discussion and have some fun doing it

I know. I wasn't disputing you. Just stating what you already know.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by nostatic

create or die

my Dad's saying (one of many) was "Publish or Perish..." but he was a printer

[RWebb]

scientists publish articles to inform others about the nature of the universe; it is not enuff to merely create new knowledge, it must go thru peer review (or it didn't happen) and be out there for others to build on

once in a while a scientist writes a book usually a textbook because they are crazy

liberal arts professors write books and no one knows why

[Hugh R]

I've published a few articles in peer-review periodicals. But its been years. Mostly in the Air Pollution Control Association, now the Air and Waste Management Association. I did it with encouragement from my employers. I also found that if I published and presented they would be more inclined to pay for me to go to the annual conferences.

[Mericet]

1. The motivation to publish depends on the person writing. For some it is to make money, others just enjoy creating and want to share it. Others like to share knowledge. For instance, I write my blog for these reasons: To share my work and experiences with others (especially my family/friends in South Africa as they have no other way to see it), to show potential employers I can do more than just be a gunsmith and lastly, because it gives me enjoyment.

2. Some should, others should not.

Bonus: this is very subjective and will vary according to subject matter and motivation. Remember, sometimes people just follow something because it is really bad. (Thinking really bad sci-fi movies for example)

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I published FirstTime Dad magazine to get men more involved in the birth and care of their children from the start. All the attention is on mom during pregnancy and after birth, rightfully so, but that just makes it easier for men to stay stuck in the provider role, like their fathers, and their fathers. I wanted to give new dads some support, get them better connected with their new baby as early as possible.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by IROC

.

I used to write articles for our local PCA newsletter because I thought it was fun.

I have written a bunch for my local regions magazine. Probably too many that people think my car is a POS (usually tech articles). The editor is a friend and needs the content.

Is kinda cool. I was at the tire shop and on the table was an issue with my car in it.