I like to write, people compliment me on it-how to run with it?

[missouri resident]

Oh-and to add- the best writers READ. Read the best. Research niches that need to be filled on the market. Consumer trends statistics is a good place to start

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

The other unfortunate truth is that the business of writing is in a downward death spiral. Fewer and fewer people are reading print media as the Internet and other multimedia forms of presenting information predominate. Newspapers and magazines are folding. Book publishers are struggling to keep their doors open. College-educated journalists are looking for work. Much of the work that was previously paid is now done by volunteer writers. Many of those who do get published are not professional writers per se, but professionals in other lines of work whose knowledge is being sought. It's expertise of content that gives writing proposals market value; editors are always able to polish up the prose.

[MommaBear2Cubs]

Brenda:

Your observation was extremely interesting to me.... I guess I wouldn't necessarily call it a death spiral--more like a HUGE transition. In a lot of ways, I think things like Kindle, iPhones, iPads etc are bringing back a huge number of people back into reading. I do think though--to your point--that the forums are changing.

My sense is that there is less mass appeal to things such a lengthy and complex novels---that's going to become more and more of a niche, unfortunately. However--people are diving into written communication more than ever--from blogs, to forums like this one, to articles on online versions of magazines etc.

There are opportunities for writers now that were not open before--ways to take your words directly to the readers without a middle man. What is going to be harder, however, is to do it in a profitable way......

That's what I am trying to figure out!

MB2C

[missouri resident]

I agree with Momma here-we as a human race have always evolved-from writing on caves, stone, papyrus, paper, ect. We will adapt and evolve, but we can't close ourselves to the art of human expression....without it, we will be lost. We must keep moving forward!

[missouri resident]

To add to my last comment, let us think a minute. Here we are, connected strangers in this vast cyber network, claiming our place within it, as it belongs to all of us. The future is pregnant with endless possibilities. Cool to think about

[Zea mays]

— remain a business major.