Probably everyone who's ever read a book has thought, at least once in their life, "I could do this." If they've read a bad book, they've thought "I could do better than this." And rare is the young sci-fi/fantasy fan who hasn't scribbled something down, whether it was a short story or a rough outline for an epic novel, maybe even the first few chapters of same, thinking that they were going to become a Writer.
With fandoms blossoming online and fan fiction emerging from its furtive photocopied 'zine past and exploding across the Internet, even more people have at least dabbled in writing. But the ratio of people who would like to write a book someday and those who actually write a book remains about the same as it ever was, I think. As for how hard it is to actually get published, who knows? Depending on who you ask, the publishing industry is in its death throes, or it's easier than ever to get published, given that more books are published every year than ever before (and that's not even counting self-publishing).
I was discouraged in the early 90s when pro science fiction authors were saying that the industry was dead and there was no future in professional SF writing except for a lucky few big names. Funny, now a lot of people say the same thing and think the 90s were fat times by comparison.
Anyway, I know that a lot of readers are also would-be writers, so here's your chance to wave your writer's flag.
Note: For purposes of the poll, self-published and fan fiction does not count as "published." Sorry.
ETA: For the "I am an English Lit/Creative Writing major," substitute "Literature/Writing major" or whatever the equivalent might be in your country.
Are you a (would-be) writer?
I am a published author!
7(8.8%)
I've been published professionally, but I haven't published any books (yet).
8(10.0%)
I am serious about being a writer and am trying to get published.
12(15.0%)
I dabble in writing (fan fiction, short stories, etc.), but haven't really tried to go pro (yet).
40(50.0%)
Sure, I've always dreamed of writing a book.... someday.
7(8.8%)
Nah, I have no writing ambitions. I'm just a reader.
6(7.5%)
If you are, which of the following have you done?
I have at least one book published. (Eat your heart out!)
4(2.2%)
I've had non-books published. (Articles, short stories, academic or technical writing, game books, etc.)
23(12.4%)
I am an English Lit/Creative Writing major.
16(8.6%)
I've attended a writing workshop or conference.
19(10.3%)
I am a regular participant on a writers' list/forum/community.
11(5.9%)
I am part of a writing circle that shares/critiques manuscripts (not fan fiction).
6(3.2%)
I write (unpublished, so far) original fiction.
54(29.2%)
I work in the publishing industry.
6(3.2%)
I write fan fiction.
31(16.8%)
I sit in my dark basement dreaming about the epic fantasy novel about moon-elves and space dragons I'm going to write that will make me the next Robert Jordan.
15(8.1%)
What's your genre? (Check all that apply; yes, some are overlapping)
Non-fiction
13(5.7%)
Science fiction
30(13.1%)
Fantasy
58(25.3%)
Horror
14(6.1%)
Historical
20(8.7%)
Romance
19(8.3%)
Thriller
8(3.5%)
Mystery
16(7.0%)
Literary
20(8.7%)
Young Adult
25(10.9%)
Other
6(2.6%)
Describe your current/best work in one phrase:
Previous Saturday Book Discussions.