Writing Envy Lesson: Write to Entertain

[Wenlock]

While I agree that entertainment of readers is definitely important, there are countless books in the world for that. If I just wanted to amuse strangers I might as well start a petting zoo. What I am saying is there are books you read to pass your time and books you read that become a part of you. You see yourself in those characters and they change your world view. Those are the books that a reader remembers, not some over-produced trope (very entertaining ngl). You will remember Dostoevsky, Charles Dickens, Dan Brown but you won't remember a generic webnovel. So I guess, write if you believe that your work contributes to a space no one has done before. Write if your work has a USP that you are confident in.

[Side Note: Writers are free to write with whatever mindset they want. There really is no wrong or right. However, commit to that mindset and don't complain if you are not receiving the response you want]

 

[L1aei]

While I agree that entertainment of readers is definitely important, there are countless books in the world for that. If I just wanted to amuse strangers I might as well start a petting zoo. What I am saying is there are books you read to pass your time and books you read that become a part of you. You see yourself in those characters and they change your world view. Those are the books that a reader remembers, not some over-produced trope (very entertaining ngl). You will remember Dostoevsky, Charles Dickens, Dan Brown but you won't remember a generic webnovel. So I guess, write if you believe that your work contributes to a space no one has done before. Write if your work has a USP that you are confident in.

[Side Note: Writers are free to write with whatever mindset they want. There really is no wrong or right. However, commit to that mindset and don't complain if you are not receiving the response you want]

You're right. I do see where you're coming from, and I agree with most of what you're saying, but there's just one thing I'd like to point out: if we're writing at all, there has to be a reason behind it. I mean, why share something you've written if there's no real purpose or intention behind it? If it's just about creating for amusement's sake, then why not just daydream and save the effort?

Writing should be more than just a way to entertain.

That's why I pointed out earlier about the experience or time (you know, like catharsis or the journey?) you get out of writing. Because writing should change you in some way, even if it's just for your own growth or clarity. If it's all just about entertainment, then sure, but that feels like putting in a lot of work with nothing gained.

So, yeah, I agree that having a unique perspective or a genuine reason to write is important, but it's also about what you, as the writer, take away from the process. Without that, why bother?

 

[Saine]

While I agree that entertainment of readers is definitely important, there are countless books in the world for that. If I just wanted to amuse strangers I might as well start a petting zoo. What I am saying is there are books you read to pass your time and books you read that become a part of you. You see yourself in those characters and they change your world view. Those are the books that a reader remembers, not some over-produced trope (very entertaining ngl). You will remember Dostoevsky, Charles Dickens, Dan Brown but you won't remember a generic webnovel. So I guess, write if you believe that your work contributes to a space no one has done before. Write if your work has a USP that you are confident in.

[Side Note: Writers are free to write with whatever mindset they want. There really is no wrong or right. However, commit to that mindset and don't complain if you are not receiving the response you want]

I would say that Dostoevsky, Charles Dickens, and Dan Brown are all entertaining, though. Even if they don't have as quick gratification as some of the things you're comparing them to, that doesn't mean that "high literature" is any less free from this guideline. Most of the classics are classics because they were both entertaining and effective at delivering their messages and themes. Some may not be as entertaining by today's standards, but it's not like they aren't memorable through the survivorship bias of the many poor pieces of writing that existed during their time as well.

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written in the same period as millions of other penny dreadfuls, but we would consider that a classic despite being in the same genre as millions of other stories no one remembers.

 

[Wenlock]

You're right. I do see where you're coming from, and I agree with most of what you're saying, but there's just one thing I'd like to point out: if we're writing at all, there has to be a reason behind it. I mean, why share something you've written if there's no real purpose or intention behind it? If it's just about creating for amusement's sake, then why not just daydream and save the effort?

Writing should be more than just a way to entertain.

That's why I pointed out earlier about the experience or time (you know, like catharsis or the journey?) you get out of writing. Because writing should change you in some way, even if it's just for your own growth or clarity. If it's all just about entertainment, then sure, but that feels like putting in a lot of work with nothing gained.

So, yeah, I agree that having a unique perspective or a genuine reason to write is important, but it's also about what you, as the writer, take away from the process. Without that, why bother?

This just perfectly finishes my perspective towards writing. I am not saying that the way I think is absolute but that I disagree with the op saying that entertainment should be the number 1 target

 

[Envylope]

This just perfectly finishes my perspective towards writing. I am not saying that the way I think is absolute but that I disagree with the op saying that entertainment should be the number 1 target

We shall agree to disagree.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

This just perfectly finishes my perspective towards writing. I am not saying that the way I think is absolute but that I disagree with the op saying that entertainment should be the number 1 target

If you are writing true FICTION, it must be. Otherwise you're either writing biography, history, political discussion, parables or philosophy, where the number one target seems to be 'bore the reader to death' where the goal is to inform, teach, or "sell a view" rather than tell a story.