More writers than readers

On arriving in London Samuel faces the hard realities of being a writer.

...

Samuel: This street I lodge in. It's full of writers.

James: What did you expect? This is Grub Street.

Samuel: I go to the coffee shop and everybody is writing. Nobody is reading.

James: It’s a hard road you’ve got to hoe.

Samuel: But mark you, there’s a lot of words they read that they don’t understand.

James: There’s an opening. Write them a dictionary Sam.

__________

Voiceover

Samuel (who in this context can only be the Samuel Johnson of dictionary compiling fame) has the impression of the area (Grub Street), near where he used to live, that there are more writers than readers in the London. In Johnson’s day the literacy rate was much lower than today, but he probably did slightly exaggerate the ratio.

Johnson’s comment foreshadows the blog writer who makes a similar observation: that he may well find that he has a readership of only himself and perhaps a captive relative, if he is lucky.

Maybe “James” (Boswell would be an anachronism here), has a good idea. Find a niche. Which Johnson certainly did. The print and online dictionary market may be fully mature but there are many niches for would–be bloggers to branch out into. Try http://www.copyblogger.com/