Should people from small countries just write in English or even German? I am from The Netherlands, and writing in Dutch feel hopeless. Any frens from Europe with a similar feeling?
Writing in English
Should people from small countries just write in English or even German? I am from The Netherlands, and writing in Dutch feel hopeless. Any frens from Europe with a similar feeling?
It depends on how much you care about your own cultural heritage. If you feel no connection towards Dutch literature, then there is no reason to write in a language that is more appealing to a wider audience.
*no reason not to
I want to write in Dutch, it's just that nobody will read it. Everything written in this language is about evil Germans, israelites, feminism, or postmodernism.
I wanted to study Dutch at uni (cheap) and everything was about the aforementioned themes, so I went into law instead.
Most likely no one will read you regardless in which language you write. This is just the deal of any artistic project - 99% of them will never be succesful. So feel free to follow your artistic vision without compromise.
Translations exist
>Write in english and have a small chance to get published
>When you do you wont be read by many unless you are super lucky
>Write in dutch and have an easier time getting published
>When you do your reader base is limited to the amount of dutch speakers
Both seem horrendous
Write in whichever language you prefer and write better in. If it’s Dutch, become the best eek ook writer.
Translations exist.
It really depends on what your delusions of grandure are
Since you frickers have no lit, if you're actually good, you could probably make a name for yourself easily
English is much more competitive but you won't be bound to a Dutch audience alone
Which uni?
It's in Holland. For a bachelors in Dutch I went to them all, the worst was in Amsterdam.
You are right in the lack of competition. Still it does not pay well, so a full-time career in it is impossible.
UvA is the most Liberal bullshit I've ever seen, even in law, just look at their law PhD vacancies right now lmao
I feel like my uni gives them a run for their money (though one of their profs is a based moron who quoted Ayn Rand)
>full-time career
I'd say this is not something you can start with
For many great writers, they began with writing as a sidething which became their main thing once they could support themselves from it
That is of course very hard but what can you do
I am studying my literature/writing at night now. Still the state of our language depresses me greatly. The non-whites barely speak the language, and the educated classes prefer English over Dutch. Who will read a book in Dutch 10 years from now?
This is why your country is falling. Zero loyalty to your people.
"tom is dood" is just too funny
Wtf did I create a meme?
no
I can only speak for myself.
I feel no loyalty to my country and I'd be okay with it dying out and its corrupt language and culture
Unfortunately that language is English and that culture is American
i love my people and it's history, not some nation-state run by zog
Why not both?
I write for fairly narrow international audiences (hobby shit) so I write in English. My mom writes for fairly narrow local audiences (professionally) so she writes in Dutch. If your interests are not at all rooted in the Netherlands then Dutch may not be the most strategic choice of language but there's Dutch text all around me and it must be coming from somewhere
I think it’s cringe to write in a second language. Learn to appreciate your mother tongue more.
Frick off. disgusting thought
the last nobel lit prize was won by a guy writing in fricking nynorsk, if you’re good you will get an audience no matter the language
I think you should write in the language you can write best in, and don't care about your audience or whatever. If you start a creative process by trying to appeal to the widest audience you're bound to fail.
Personally I talk English 10 hours a day at my job and then go here to use English some more, to the point where I'm starting to feel that my English vocabulary and range of expression is genuinely becoming better than my Dutch.