Do You Write For the Money?
November 1st 2006 22:07
Most beginning writers start only with a burning desire to write. They feel as though they have something to say and they want to get their words onto paper. As time passes, however, they begin to wonder how they can make money from their writing. Eventually, they may start to write only for the money, forgetting about what drove them to write in the first place.
The internet is a good example of this. It was once filled with writing wanna-be's, filling the internet with written works just because they wanted someone to read them. Now, it seems you can't write anything for the internet without thinking about how to pull in the traffic and how to make money off the traffic you pull in.
The desire to make money from writing isn't just limited to the internet. Fiction writers need to decide whether they want to aim for a best-seller or write a literary piece that speaks from their soul. Article writers may toss aside their desire to write about the issues that matter to them, in order to go for the fluff pieces for glossy magazines.
There's nothing inherently wrong in writing for the money. Some people use their writing skills to try and gain some sort of income. But before you start thinking about all the best ways to make money off your written skills, you should spend some time thinking about why it is that you really want to write.
I'm afraid that writing for the money is often stopping us from producing good quality writing.
I'm not pointing the finger at anybody. I'm guilty of it, too. I start thinking about the money side of things, and forget about writing from what is inside of me. We all have unique traits, experiences and skills that can come together to produce writing that nobody else could write. And I'm not just talking about literary fiction. Even blogs can display a writer's special style and personality.
This isn't to say that writers should just forget about the money altogether. If you want to write for a living, it's something you do need to think about. But perhaps it is something that needs to be thought about in terms of your own desire to write. Don't give up on the things that drove you to write in the first place, just so that you can pull in an income. If necessary, do a number of writing projects. Write some things for the money and some things from the heart.
The internet is a good example of this. It was once filled with writing wanna-be's, filling the internet with written works just because they wanted someone to read them. Now, it seems you can't write anything for the internet without thinking about how to pull in the traffic and how to make money off the traffic you pull in.
The desire to make money from writing isn't just limited to the internet. Fiction writers need to decide whether they want to aim for a best-seller or write a literary piece that speaks from their soul. Article writers may toss aside their desire to write about the issues that matter to them, in order to go for the fluff pieces for glossy magazines.
There's nothing inherently wrong in writing for the money. Some people use their writing skills to try and gain some sort of income. But before you start thinking about all the best ways to make money off your written skills, you should spend some time thinking about why it is that you really want to write.
I'm afraid that writing for the money is often stopping us from producing good quality writing.
I'm not pointing the finger at anybody. I'm guilty of it, too. I start thinking about the money side of things, and forget about writing from what is inside of me. We all have unique traits, experiences and skills that can come together to produce writing that nobody else could write. And I'm not just talking about literary fiction. Even blogs can display a writer's special style and personality.
This isn't to say that writers should just forget about the money altogether. If you want to write for a living, it's something you do need to think about. But perhaps it is something that needs to be thought about in terms of your own desire to write. Don't give up on the things that drove you to write in the first place, just so that you can pull in an income. If necessary, do a number of writing projects. Write some things for the money and some things from the heart.
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Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
Raises the question: Why exactly would anyone think there IS something wrong with writing for money?
To put it another way: What, if anything, is inherently wrong with killing or sex for money? I mean, making the big assumption that the activities of killing and sex in themselves are morally neutral, why should the "for money" part add any wrong?
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
The funny thing that I kept hearing when I was studying was that controversy sell so always try to be controversial. Not commenting on a subject because it is controversal is stupid. However trying to be continually controversial is sophistry.
Comment by historylass
The Written Word
History Lass
In regards to say killing for money, who would you look on more favourably, someone who killed to save their child, or someone who killed to gain $1 million?
I guess that most people would not consider the gaining of money as something that should be that important, or that should take priority over other things. When something is done for money, there is always the risk that it will compromise other things that should (but perhaps not always are) as important.
Damo, I agree with what you said that it becomes a problem when people start taking money to compromise theeir principles. Taking money to write something that is untrue is one way that principles may be compromised. I also like your comments about controversy.
Comment by Joy
Comment by historylass
The Written Word
History Lass
And I think when you say it's kind of sillly to expect to write for money, you've hit a really good point. If you do write soley for the money, then there's always the chance you'll be disappointed. We all know of Stephen King. We haven't heard of the millions of people who have tried to write like Stephen King just to try and make money and haven't ended up making a cent from their work. If you write because of the need inside you, then any money you make is just a bonus.
Comment by Trudy
I don't see anything wrong with either.
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Cinema Three
Getting stinking rich as a result of it all will just be a dream I'll have in the meanwhile.