do you consider becoming a published writers as your end goal in writing?

[Blue]

There is often a lot of talk on whether or not people who have been writing as a hobby would at some point want to be a published author, whether it's self-published or traditional. If you're in fanfic spaces, you might know that there are many people who were originally writing fanfiction and then later on went to write original fiction (tho this discussion deserves a separate thread, as I think it's very interesting to talk about).

Is this something that has ever been on your mind, or do you think you could never monetize it?

Personally, the thought of being a published author has always been on my mind since I was little and was writing random things in my notebooks, thinking I would publish it at some point. As I grew older and stuck more with fanfiction, the less I thought about wanting to get into publishing (on the site of being the writer at least) and now I treat the thought of it as something that can happen, but I won't regret it if it doesn't. I still stick to fanfiction the most and even with some original stuff I have in mind, I don't desire to make it into something that will go off ao3. I think that even if I at some point only write original fiction, I probably won't try to sell it and rather just have it on ao3 or my website.

[larvapuppy]

I've never written fanfiction, but when I was a teen my dream was either to be a published comics artist or published author. This lead to me drawing and writing a lot less than I could have been, because I needed everything to be at a professional level but my skills didn't match up to that. I think it's great to have dreams but putting too much pressure on yourself can really ruin the fun of working creatively.

Nowadays I still play around with some webcomic ideas and write stories occasionally, but I didn't end up sticking with any kind of creative career. I do these things for fun and as a hobby. I'm still trying to train myself out of the toxic mindset of worrying about what other people (editors, fans, etc) would think of my work, because in the end other's opinions shouldn't matter. 

[Semper]

I intend to self publish my original fiction for sure, and that's because:

• My country's government hands out ISBNs for free.
• All published works with an official ISBN from my country gets a copy saved at both the national archives as well as my province of residence's archives.
• Which means that even if I have a digital free to read copy on my website, there will also be a physical edition professionally archived by two branches of government.
• I really want to hold a physical copy of something I made in my hands

[drmollytov]

I sold my first piece to a professional outlet at 17, so most of my life I have been a published writer. But yeah, I definitely spent ages 7 to 17 wanting to be published.

That said, I probably produce 20,000 words of stuff I never intend anyone to read for every 2,000 words I sell or allow in public view (like my blog). So I do not think a desire to get paid for writing is required to write a lot or to write well.

[Blue]

My country's government hands out ISBNs for free.

That's so cool actually?? I had no idea something like that could be possible! If someone wants to be writer it does make it easier for them. And everything else mentioned is so amazing. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before.

[Semper]

That's so cool actually?? I had no idea something like that could be possible! If someone wants to be writer it does make it easier for them. And everything else mentioned is so amazing. I don't think I've ever seen anything like this before.

It is something one would have to register for (which does include registering an address, which can be handled by having a PO box), but yeah it's pretty cool! I'll be making an account on the government's ISBN site soon, since I have plans to self publish a small comic later this spring.

[candycanearter07]

I don't even know what my goal is in this or why I started