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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Merlion" data-source="post: 3131539" data-attributes="member: 10397">Ok before we proceed with anything else, since it seems to have become an issue for some and people appear to have gotten some incorrect impressions, I'm going to say a bit about my own writing. First, although I have mentioned this before, and I realize most of you may not believe me, this discussion has basically nothing whatever to do with my own writing, in any direct sense. I havent been traumatized by peoples reactions to my stuff, nor do I expect to be. This conversation is a general, philosophical one. It was brought on mainly by the criticisms I've seen of works that I feel are a bit overly abrasive, and those that express the idea that the work in question is simply bad, that everyone agrees that its bad, and that anyone who doesnt think its bad simply lacks the judgement/training/senses/taste/intelligence to tell that its bad. Rather than admiting the fact that if it isnt bad for that person, then it isnt bad for that person.I am not currently striving powerfully to make my writing my primary living. Its something I would love to happen eventually, and there are things going on right now with me that may have a chance of making that happen, but I'm not "quiting my day job", so to speak. I write for several main reasons. Because the things in my head want to be let out. Because I enjoy it. Because I wish to bring people enjoyment and emotion through my work wether its joy or sadness or fear or whatever. Because I hope to maybe make people think a little, and maybe share some of the insights or knowledge that I've aqquired in my life (yea I know some of you will find that presumptious but I'm sure those of you who write most likely feel the same way).I am well aware that my work will be critiscised by people if it attains a wider audience. I'm well aware that people will say it sucks, that its crap, that its worthless. Its not going to break me, don't worry. I am also well aware that the primary criteria used by commercial publishers will be the same as that used by commercial anything: money. If I send a story, or a novel or a collection of stories to a publisher, there decisions about it will be based primarily on if, and how much they think it will sell. The widely-accepted criteria that we've discussed may enter into the decision about wether it will sell, but if it does it will be that publishers own personal version of those criteria, because they do vary and are when push comes to shove, a set of opinions, and because it will also depend on the target market. As far as people in general, the majority of people evaluate a work on a similarily basic principle. Their personal opinion, wether they like it or not. And I have no problem with people not liking my work. Even people calling my work worthless isnt going to wound me, or make me stop writing. I don't think its a good practice, but for myself and my work, because what I write has value to me, and because it has already given me and others happiness and enjoyment, I know that it isnt worthless, and nothing can change that. I just disagree with the practice of making those sorts of statements.    Anyway the point of the post is this: this discussion isnt about my work in an remotely specific way. Its a general discussion of certain practices and ideas, as they apply to art and creativity in general.</blockquote>

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