What makes you think your stories are worth reading?

[CrastersBabies]

Originally Posted by vrabinec

Just needs a conjunction:"The baby's freefalling corpse smouldered in the fire-lit sky that cast shades of purple and pink along the dusky horizon. Splat!"

See, I wanna READ THAT BOOK! Right now!

[flarue]

Because if I don't, the voices in my head won't be quiet. Oh, wait. That's the answer to, "What makes you think you should bother writing at all?"

I guess my stories are worth reading because I have so much fun writing them, and I've always had a wild imagination. If I can entertain at least a few readers, I've done my job. Why shouldn't they be worth taking a look at? That's not to sound egotistical. There are so many different kinds of stories out there - something for everybody, so I'm hoping someone out there likes what I have to contribute.

[TheWordsmith]

Originally Posted by flapperphilosopher

Mostly this. My novel still makes me cry even when I practically have it memorized, and some things my characters say still make me smile and think, she's awesome. I worry it's just me, but, still, it's better that than not, right?

That's funny. Reminds me of once when I was reading a book and muttered to someone in the room, "Man! That's a great passage and beautifully written. I wish I could write like that." Then I started laughing when he said, "Uh, you did," and I realized I was reading one of my own works!

So, no, flapperphilosopher, it's not just you. And, if your own work can take you by surprise, so to speak, and make you smile or laugh or cry, you've got it! Congratulations.

[TribalCat]

It doesn't matter to me really if anyone reads them. I have to write them. They're worthy to be told.

[Johnny Von Rotten]

Never said my stories were worth reading. Just that they were worth writing.

Two completely different things.

[flowerburgers]

They are hilaaaaaaarious (well, I hope!!)

[rwm4768]

I'd like to think they're fun and full of action.

[backslashbaby]

It was really a surprise to find out that anyone would enjoy my writing but me. I hadn't even thought of that back when I started writing.

It still surprises me, all of the time. It doesn't surprise me when I find folks who don't like it, but it is surprising sometimes who falls into which group.

I like my writing, btw. That's all I was ever doing, really. It feels so strange caring how it is received!

[Allana]

I know that people liked the small number of published short stories I produced, because they wrote to me and told me. I even discovered positive comments about them on forums I had never heard of until then (plus plagiarists pretending the stories were theirs, which I guess is a back-handed compliment...) .
But, as I'm just starting out on the novel writing venture, this post gives me pause for thought:

Originally Posted by Bufty

'Cos the alternative is to accept I've spent years pissing into the wind.

And makes me want to go away and think very carefully indeed about the original question.

[CatharsisChild]

I touch on a lot of psychological, philosophical, and societal issues, either directly or through allegory, in my writing. I also focus very heavily on the inner worlds of my characters, and the plots, in almost karmic ways, mirror them.

[Question]

Originally Posted by Allana

And makes me want to go away and think very carefully indeed about the original question.

NOOOO! Don't give up D: I didn't mean to depress anyone! I was honestly just curious! It's something I was nervous about until the day I figured out my reason and asked the question. I think that wanting to entertain someone is really enough. If you think you have a shot at doing it then there's no reason to give up.

Of course, it's good to aim to be traditionally published, but I think that the second you forget why you began in the first place you're setting yourself up to fail. The only difference is (in a way) greatly delayed gratification. And (as much as I hate to suggest it like some kind of cop-out option, because it isn't), you can always reach people through e-/self-publishing in the end, so it's not like it's ever impossible.

[Allana]

Originally Posted by Question

NOOOO! Don't give up D: I didn't mean to depress anyone! I was honestly just curious! It's something I was nervous about until the day I figured out my reason and asked the question. I think that wanting to entertain someone is really enough. If you think you have a shot at doing it then there's no reason to give up.

No, I'm not giving up.
The question made me focus more on my (possible) readers.

When I was writing short stories I'll admit I was into it mainly for the money, so I was looking at magazine publisher's guidelines more than at the actual audience.

I'll also admit that those positive comments did give my ego a boost, but they also made me hesitant. I began to wonder, 'what if I fail to get positive comments the next time?' and that gave me a serious writer's block!

I was quite young then, still at college, so a few years down the line perhaps it wont matter so much if my work gets slammed... Only time will tell.

But I remember reading on here someone saying that, not only did they want people to read their novel, but more importantly, they wanted them to stay with it and enjoy it to the very last page.

That's what I want to aim for, so focusing on my readers now has to be my main concern.

[iron9567]

I never truly know if my stories are worth reading or not. I can only hope that some one else finds joy in what I have provided for them to read. When I write the biggest requirement on any story that I write. Is to have fun while I'm writing them. If I can do this then the readers will hopefully have fun while reading it. That's my hope anyways.
thanks
the iron man

[blacbird]

My stories are the best I can do. It's not my realm to judge whether they are "worth reading" by others. From the many responses I've received on submitted material, the market appears to be convinced they are not "worth reading". That's all that matters, relative to this question.

caw

[WildScribe]

The fact that people keep buying them is good enough for me.

[Midian]

I don't recall ever saying I did. I haven't gotten that far yet.

[CoryG]

Hmmm... not sure? Because I like reading it?

[GFanthome]

I write because my MCs invade my head and beg me to tell their stories of all of the crap they've been through. Everybody wants their stories to be heard, and I feel as if my writing is doing that for my MCs - people who I believe represent others out there in the world whose stories are not being heard.

____________
One Broken Wing

[bunny-gypsy]

Um, because they feel interesting to me, I guess?

I write because I have to... The ideas keep invading my sleep and I need to write to keep from going crazy!

Also, the reason I'm writing is because it is a story I would like to see, but haven't seen it yet. Or at least not done in a way that would feel satisfying for me.

I like ultra-fluffy family-oriented and sweet, non-erotic romance stuff, but I don't see that done often in sci-fi and with m/m, too.
(That could be why I check fanfiction for those kinds of thing, I guess?)

[KTC]

Originally Posted by willietheshakes

If I thought too much about this question, I'd be tempted to put a bullet in my own head. So I just write, and let the stories sort it out.

THIS. absolutely.

[Shirokirie]

What makes any book worth reading?

I imagine mine are worth reading for the same reason as anyone else's book.

... because you care.

[Pinkclaw]

I write what I want to read, if people like it just make it better.

[Erin Kassikay]

Originally Posted by DeleyanLee

Because they're mondo cool stories worthy of being told and being read.

Whether or not they're worth reading depends more on my ability to put them on the page.

But they, themselves, are mondo cool stories worth being told and worth reading.

LoL. That's always my answer. The story speaks for themselves.

But I've always loved to write and want to share my ingenious ideas with the world!

[Darkwing]

When I was little, my friends and family told me they liked my stories. Whenever they read something I was writing, they would always say, "when are you writing more?"

When I started college, my classmates did the same thing. My teachers, along with giving me constructive criticism, told me that I was a good writer.

These teachers pushed me harder as I finished my bachelor's degree and went on to a master's program.
These teachers didn't bat an eyelash when I told them I wanted to go on for a Ph.D. in creative writing.

The writing group I'm a part of, while giving me constructive criticism, tells me they like my stories. And I don't think they're lying, because they like some a lot better than others.

I guess that's what makes me feel my writing is worth reading. Or maybe it's just what reassures me that my writing is worth reading. And even though I've gotten mostly rejections for my stories so far, I still get the occasional personal rejection that says my stories are "well written." So I can have at least a crumb of confidence amidst the rejections. (To be honest, I haven't written anything new in a year, and looking back on this stuff with the eyes of someone who's had another year of grad school, the stories needed some serious help before they were going to be publishable material, so I don't really take even the form rejections as any indication that I'm not worth reading.)

Plus, I like reading the sorts of things I write, so I figure someone out there's going to feel the same way about it.

[r_rian]

Wow. That's a thought-evoking question. Would saying that they just are be rather conceited? Probably. So I guess what makes me think they are worth reading is more hope than anything else. I write the kinds of things that I want to read, and so I hope there are more people out there like me, who would want to read the same things.