Moan for the Day

I suppose in many ways i am new to the world of writing, really only taking it seriously for two years. In that time i have met and enjoyed the friendship of many other writers who have interests in a variety of differing genres. I suppose the most startling observation i have made from visiting forums and belonging to some groups(not all i hasten to add) is the overwhelming snobbery of some fellow writers. First of all you have those that clearly believe that traditionally published authors are the only authors worth bothering about. Switching to the other end of the scale you you have the indie and proud brigade, who seem to believe that signing a contract with a traditional publisher ranks favourably with treason. Personally both points of view are in fact 'tosh'. Writers put pen to paper or more likely these days mouse to mat for a multitude of reasons. If i take the validation argument first, does being selected  and paid by a publisher validate you as an 'authentic author' not at all it merely says that the book you have written has a chance of selling enough copies to make them money. It does not in any shape or form validate the quality of your work. If you question this, take a walk down to your local bookshop and try not to be amazed by the amount of absolute rubbish that is churned out by traditional publishers almost on a daily basis. The latest z list celebrity had released yet another kiss and tell, or some chef has released his/her 90th cookery book of the year. Its my belief that the only person who can validate you as a writer is the person that stares back from the mirror. As for the indie brigade, most traditionally published authors have to do most of there own marketing these days, they may get a little help with final editing or the look of the book. The most important thing that the self righteous should remember is that most published authors earn less than self published because their slice of the cake is so much smaller. So unless they sell novels by the shed load the chances of making a living at it are slim. So the selling out argument falls flat. So to sum up; don't judge we are all writers, but the reasons for writing are as varied as pebbles on a beach. The journey that we choose to take as writers can only be done in our own footprints.