The other day, I was talking to an individual, and we were talking about sports, politics, and business. I indicated to him that I was retired, and now I was doing a little bit of writing on the side. He asked me how I could handle that being a competitive individual by nature, as writing does not seem that competitive, in fact it seems a little boring. It's not that I didn't disagree with him because I had always thought the same thing. But now as a wannabe writer, I realize just how competitive it is. In fact, it's become more competitive with the Internet, than I suspect it ever has been in the past.
Oh sure, we've all read about how newspaper reporters were so competitive to get the scoop. And we all know that the top novelists compete strongly to be at the top of the New York Times Best Seller List. And unfortunately, there are probably fewer novel readers today, than there have been in the past, just due to the influence of the Internet, and the age of distraction, thus the novelists fight for a smaller reader base. Today, it seems everybody is so busy multitasking, so no one has time to sit down and read anything, not even a good novel. In fact over the years, I have always considered that this may be the last era of fine literature.
After all, the kids are so busy text messaging, and abbreviating every word. It's hard to understand what they are writing, but they seem to know. If I were an English teacher, I would just shake my head, and I've talked to English teachers who say that it is a challenge. Of course, more and more people have electronic devices and e-readers, and there is a good amount of e-books sales going on, which does mean some people are at least a reading. However, in the future I imagine most electronic books will be multimedia by nature, and not just straight writing.
Still, there is a lot of competition in writing for e-books, and although there are an abundance of e-books out there available, many of them for as low as $.99, there is still quite a competition to produce these books, and to gain or garner a following. And if you want to talk about competition, I take several e-mail newsletters for writing clubs, Writers Digest, and writer's groups. It seems every other day or so I am getting an e-mail advising me that there is a new essay, poem, short story, screenplay, or novel contest going on. Some of the prizes are quite dazzling, and although I've never entered, who knows maybe it's worth a try.
Now then, I suppose a new writer trying to make a name for themselves might enter these contests early and often. Over the years, I've seen many writers' websites where those writers and authors list all the contests they've won, and which of their books have been rated five-star by the various writing clubs. Yes, I'd say the competition in writing is quite heavy. I'd also say that the competition for online content, articles, and literature is also quite strong.
For instance, there are people that write articles to develop a name for themselves and a reputation, or to establish themselves as experts so that they can sell their seminars, DVDs, e-books, or products and services on their websites. They will write articles and in the byline have a link to their website which usually is an e-commerce website where they are trying to sell something. Apparently this strategy works pretty well, but in many cases some of the categories are supersaturated, meaning the competition has reached the point where it is difficult with all the different players involved to stay strong in that category.
Is it worth competing as a writer? Now that's a really good question, because one has to decide if it is worth it or not monetarily. After all there's only so much time in a day, and not everyone can write 14,600 words a day as I do. It takes a lot to do that, it is hard work, and it doesn't make sense to compete against folks who were just throwing up garbage articles, 25 page e-books, or pretending to be experts in something they know nothing about. Does it make sense to compete against those types of individuals? Because if that's what it's come too, I am sure many of the more qualified and experienced writers would think not. Of course, in any business or any marketing campaign there is the issue of differentiation.
It's difficult these days to compete on quality alone, and to try to compete on quantity is quite time-consuming. Therefore, there seems to be the right mix, and that mix would be different for each individual writer, and perhaps also different depending on the category. So to answer your question and to speak to the title of this article; "is there competition in writing?" The answer is yes, absolutely! And thus, folks should not be surprised that competitive type individuals have come into the field of writing even if it doesn't appear to fit their psyche.
For myself, it's been an incredible transformation, I used to hate to write, and now it seems like every time I get an idea, or a new thought, I have the urge or need to go write it down somewhere. Perhaps the competitive aspect to writing does not serve a good number of writers who are generally introverts, but in the information age, it does tend to draw out extroverts into the field of writing too, those who may never have considered themselves writers in the first place. I would submit to you that, that is a good thing, and it is not a net negative.
However, I certainly understand the reality that many writers are not necessarily good business people or entrepreneurs. They may not even be capitalist thinkers, or competitive in any way. They're perfect utopian world might be that of a minimalist living under the theory of socialism -- to each his own of course. But if you think writing isn't competitive; you'd be wrong.
By Lance Winslow
Oh sure, we've all read about how newspaper reporters were so competitive to get the scoop. And we all know that the top novelists compete strongly to be at the top of the New York Times Best Seller List. And unfortunately, there are probably fewer novel readers today, than there have been in the past, just due to the influence of the Internet, and the age of distraction, thus the novelists fight for a smaller reader base. Today, it seems everybody is so busy multitasking, so no one has time to sit down and read anything, not even a good novel. In fact over the years, I have always considered that this may be the last era of fine literature.
After all, the kids are so busy text messaging, and abbreviating every word. It's hard to understand what they are writing, but they seem to know. If I were an English teacher, I would just shake my head, and I've talked to English teachers who say that it is a challenge. Of course, more and more people have electronic devices and e-readers, and there is a good amount of e-books sales going on, which does mean some people are at least a reading. However, in the future I imagine most electronic books will be multimedia by nature, and not just straight writing.
Still, there is a lot of competition in writing for e-books, and although there are an abundance of e-books out there available, many of them for as low as $.99, there is still quite a competition to produce these books, and to gain or garner a following. And if you want to talk about competition, I take several e-mail newsletters for writing clubs, Writers Digest, and writer's groups. It seems every other day or so I am getting an e-mail advising me that there is a new essay, poem, short story, screenplay, or novel contest going on. Some of the prizes are quite dazzling, and although I've never entered, who knows maybe it's worth a try.
Now then, I suppose a new writer trying to make a name for themselves might enter these contests early and often. Over the years, I've seen many writers' websites where those writers and authors list all the contests they've won, and which of their books have been rated five-star by the various writing clubs. Yes, I'd say the competition in writing is quite heavy. I'd also say that the competition for online content, articles, and literature is also quite strong.
For instance, there are people that write articles to develop a name for themselves and a reputation, or to establish themselves as experts so that they can sell their seminars, DVDs, e-books, or products and services on their websites. They will write articles and in the byline have a link to their website which usually is an e-commerce website where they are trying to sell something. Apparently this strategy works pretty well, but in many cases some of the categories are supersaturated, meaning the competition has reached the point where it is difficult with all the different players involved to stay strong in that category.
Is it worth competing as a writer? Now that's a really good question, because one has to decide if it is worth it or not monetarily. After all there's only so much time in a day, and not everyone can write 14,600 words a day as I do. It takes a lot to do that, it is hard work, and it doesn't make sense to compete against folks who were just throwing up garbage articles, 25 page e-books, or pretending to be experts in something they know nothing about. Does it make sense to compete against those types of individuals? Because if that's what it's come too, I am sure many of the more qualified and experienced writers would think not. Of course, in any business or any marketing campaign there is the issue of differentiation.
It's difficult these days to compete on quality alone, and to try to compete on quantity is quite time-consuming. Therefore, there seems to be the right mix, and that mix would be different for each individual writer, and perhaps also different depending on the category. So to answer your question and to speak to the title of this article; "is there competition in writing?" The answer is yes, absolutely! And thus, folks should not be surprised that competitive type individuals have come into the field of writing even if it doesn't appear to fit their psyche.
For myself, it's been an incredible transformation, I used to hate to write, and now it seems like every time I get an idea, or a new thought, I have the urge or need to go write it down somewhere. Perhaps the competitive aspect to writing does not serve a good number of writers who are generally introverts, but in the information age, it does tend to draw out extroverts into the field of writing too, those who may never have considered themselves writers in the first place. I would submit to you that, that is a good thing, and it is not a net negative.
However, I certainly understand the reality that many writers are not necessarily good business people or entrepreneurs. They may not even be capitalist thinkers, or competitive in any way. They're perfect utopian world might be that of a minimalist living under the theory of socialism -- to each his own of course. But if you think writing isn't competitive; you'd be wrong.
By Lance Winslow
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