what would be good reasons why someone would want to become an author?

Question

aside from getting money list reasons why

Answer 1

Some people have an unexplainable urge to put words together. When they sit down and work on a composition, there is a tremendous sense of achievement looking at something they created. Sort of like when an athelete plays an extraordinary game or makes a completely awesome shot in basket ball, golf or some other sport. There is a sense of pride and personal achievement that is more rewarding than any amount of money. But the money's still good as an added bonus.

Answer 2

Because you want to say something. Because you like to write. Because your professor said you had the talent. Because your teacher said anyone can write well if they just write enough. Because you are a lover of mystery stories and that mystery plots just pop into your head. Because you have had some fantastic experiences you wish to share. Because you have just got back from Africa and you just can not contain yourself and must tell the story to at least several friends. Because you are writing letters to the soldiers in Iraq and you have decided to make your letters and the return letters a book with your reactions. Because you have a wonderful life and want to share your secrets, or because you have a problem and want to write about it. Because you just where given a special gift and you are determined to tell the story of the gift and the people who gave you the gift, and so on.
Because you are looking inside yourself to find an answer to a question that is forming in your subconscious. Because you are wondering if the faith you have discovered is the real faith that all the wise people before you were talking about. Because you are a happy and content person and you need to explore this wonderful feeling or sense of wholeness.
Because you are trying to ask a good question.

Answer 3

Your question is tilted; it really is two questions.

Your simple question asks why someone wants to be an author.

The simple answer to why someone wants to become an author is that people want to become authors for the fame and fortune.

The public believes writers make money. Most writers don't make much money.

That has nothing to do with the actual reasons why someone becomes a successful author.

Your implied question is about what it takes to actually become an author. That's much more complicated.

Writing well requires a double whammy. Two things:

1. Talent
2. Something to say.

However...
Lots of people who can't write their way out of wet paper bags feel the desire to be known as writers. Many of them want to have written something. Many people want the reputation and the supposed fame of having written but don't have the seat for it. They want to seem to be an authority on their subject. They want the perks.

Real writing doesn't have a whole lot of perks. It is a whole lot of work.

Writing involves a whole lot of alone time, a lot of butt-in-chair time. It requires a personal determination as well as a personal vision which is satisfied only when the words come out "just so." Writers are addicted to that endorphin-packed moment when the words are right. The process is the thing.

Writers get hooked on the process of writing. It's a quest to say it right, to say it well, to get what is in the mind out on the page. It's a journey from a theoretical concept (I can do this, I can tell this story, I can paint this picture) to its realization. Writers have this other thing too: intellectual curiosity. It is a quality of being driven by answering the question, which becomes part of the quest. As a writer, it is my goal to be able to take you--my reader--on to my magic carpet, and get you there. (Where ever there is.)

If you don't love the process of writing, you'll never make it as a writer. Wannabes want to spend their time at private parties showing off having written.

In fact, there are innumerable fine writers who haven't made it commercially because writing is one thing, publishing is something else. Publishing means you have to attract the big boys (publishers); you have to get a public reputation; you have to be well-marketed; you have to have adequate publisher support. The best writers in the world are unknown because some publisher didn't snap them up and invest millions of dollars in making them hot.

The best-seller lists are comprised of authors that publishers have selected. Essentially, they are best sellers because publishers printed millions of copies of their books. You can't make million-seller bestseller lists if your publisher only printed 1,000 copies of your book. It is just too expensive.

For publishers, half of the battle is won if the author is famous. There's going to be a market for people who are already famous--hence the market share of books by big-name people who are lousy writers. (You never know it though because most of the time, those books are ghost written...by the writers who can't publish under their own names because they're not famous.)

So that list I started way up there about becoming a successful author is incomplete. A successful author usually has 1 and 2...but they also have 3 and 4.

1. Talent
2. Something to say
3. Publisher support
4. Marketing

Also, consider how many potential authors have gone for another market: screenwriting.

Answer 4

why is everyone answering money?! An author can expect to make 0-200$ in their first year! The money is terrible unless you get lucky - JK Rowling, Stephen King etc;

People become authors for a hobby, and then if they're lucky enough to get published, they can turn it in to a job

Answer 5

For no other reason than they enjoy writing and telling of a story. For some, the recognition may play a part. But, I would think (perhaps would like to think) that it is just an unadulterated act of writing providing the motivation-out of pure enjoyment. Some people just NEED to write, an urge that cannot be denied.

Good luck convincing those that question your desire. :p

Answer 6

Money

Answer 7

Social acceptance, gratitude, and recognition!!!!

Answer 8

Its wat u love wat u thrive on doing wat sets ur mind thinking and makes u happy.Its wat u are passionate about