The most profitable books are artfully crafted for an audience
Is it art, or is it garbage?
I recently saw a post that made me do a spit take. The post featured a statue of a child with its pants pulled down and a brown stain at the anus, while a little dog sniffed the offending area. The caption said, “found this in the attic… can’t wait till Antiques Roadshow comes to town.”
Several thoughts hurled their way through my mind. Who bought that thing? It is no wonder that it ended up in the attic. Most significantly, I wondered who the hell created that and thought that was a good idea to put into production.
How can an artist or writer avoid having their work end up in an attic and the butt of some joke years later, or worse thrown out? Artful and profitable books are less likely to end up in the trash bin.
Writing is Art, Isn’t it?
As an editor, I am often faced with the dilemma of trimming and cutting words, characters, or scenes from stories. Sometimes, those cuts are painful to the writer/artist who spent countless moments crafting them. I understand the struggle. Stephen King once said that editing is like killing your darlings. He said, “Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler’s heart, kill your darlings.”
“But why?” you ask.
I will tell you why.
Because you want people to read your work.
It’s that simple.
As much as people fight against it, the capitalist mindset is alive and well. People want to spend their money on what gives them enjoyment and satisfaction. The average person does not “waste their money” on things that don’t fill a need or desire.
History Lesson: The Origin of “Art for Art’s Sake”
There is a phrase that I have heard thrown around a few times, “Art for art’s sake.” This phrase is believed to have originated in the early 19th century to express that art should be positioned and purposed with a moral, political, or utilitarian inference. During this “revolution,” art opposed Romanticism and Neoclassicism. At the time, it was perceived as “true art.” It was self-sufficient, complete within itself, and morally neutral or subversive. What does that mean? It didn’t conform to formalist ideas or persuasions and rather it focused on the autonomy of art. However, it later became the mantra of artists who embraced abstract art in a modernist world.
In the 20th Century, the “Art for Art’s Sake” battle cry became radicalized and led to many artists creating work in complete opposition of what critics would have considered morally virtuous. What is interesting is that these artists took the position that they were fighting against the classes and proving that art can be and come from anywhere. However, that attitude was quickly invalidated.
Don’t be an Elitist Sycophant
Art for Art’s Sake became an elitist and egotistical position. Not only did it not blur the lines in classes, but it deepened the cavern. In an 1872 essay (a long time ago), George Sand had already claimed that Art for Art’s Sake was an empty phrase. He postulated the artist is obliged to communicate their deeds with a wider public. Let me say that again.
An artist has a duty to express big ideas and share their work with a wider audience.
The system of creating and selling art depends on the market and the people interested in it.
This ultimately dissolves the inclination that anything and everything you create is worthy of being called art.
Ouch!
The arts encourage conversation, appreciate beauty in all its forms, and enlighten and broaden perspectives. If you want an audience to read, share, and purchase your art, you must infuse value into that work. Sometimes that will require killing darlings.
How to Create/Write Praiseworthy Art
So, what does this mean for you, the writer? It means if you want your book to sell to an audience, you must do the following:
- Know and write for your ideal reader.
- Know and write within a genre.
- That doesn’t mean you lose your creative control. Just know the rules so you know which ones you can break.
- Understand marketing and what your audience is looking for.
- Do those things that will legitimize and professionally set you apart from people who are unwilling to put in the work. This will prevent you from being overlooked and discounted by influencers.
- It is not enough to talk a good game; you must have a worthy product to back up your claims. Stephen King would have fizzled out years ago had he not perfected his craft and written for an audience.
If you don’t know and do these things, will you be able to publish? Maybe. But you have to ask yourself if it is enough to create something or do you want people to share it with. Do you want your book to be the relic in the attic? If not, put in some work and cast your ego aside.
If you want help to develop your story or make sure your manuscript appeals to an audience, set up an appointment for a free author introduction at EditsByStacey.com. I will be happy to help you craft a masterpiece that you can be proud of, and that people will be proud to own.
