“Artist is an overused term when it comes to musicians. Most are primarily entertainers, giving the public what it wants. Their motivation is not self-expression but attention and acclaim. If no one were watching, they wouldn’t be making any noise.” — Neil Strauss
Would you still be blogging if nobody was reading your posts? If nobody ever left a comment or re-tweeted your thoughts?
For some of us it’s about discovery, building out ideas, examining content, delving deeper, and connecting dots. Maybe.
For many of us it’s about narcissism, pride, and reinforcement. Doubtful.
Some desire to help. Most likely.
Others desire to profit. No chance.
I suspect it’s more complicated than that. It’s a combination of multiple, if not all, of these explanations poking, prodding and tugging away at our identity — shaping not only our writing, but who we are.
There’s no right answer. There’s just your answer. Understand the question – it will lead you down the path that makes the most sense for you. And if you’re like most people it’ll change countless times anyway.
That’s why my personal little slogan is “Write like no one is reading.”
Because if no one read would I still be writing? Yes. Maybe not in public form like on a blog, but I would still write privately in a journal.
I think when it comes to any type of art whether it be writing, painting, music, etc you have to do it for the love first. Every other driving forces has to come a distant second.
What I’ve discovered is that I’m a writer first — always have been. Throughout the course of my life, the outlets have changed — diary to notebook to computer to blogging — but writing has always been the medium of expression for me.
There will always be those who create for passion. Just like there will always be those who do it solely for the money. Then there will be those who use their passion to make money and connect with people, but it will still be their passion, their purpose.
So, it really is complicated. But I think the trick is finding out what it means to you first and foremost and holding onto that.
Hell no I’m not an artist. I love attention from people and I love changing their mind about something.
I also like to get paid.