Honest answer: I m not a ‘real’ writer. You folk follow the rules of writing; punctuation, person, grammar, etc … and I admire all of you so much for your ability to do that.
I am just an old storyteller, writing down the stories I tell so perhaps someone, somewhere will be able to avoid my mistakes.
If by doing that the stories in book form might gain enough funds to make the scholarship work for a person who knows what it’s like to experience a violent crime and offer them the opportunity to begin a new path in life.
For myself it’s a means of making indirect amends for the first 34 years of my now 68 year lifespan.
RE: "...Some get defensive, say they “should” be able to earn from writing." Please read a biography of Edgar Allan Poe. He had salaried jobs as an Associate Editor or Editor of magazines. His short stories, with one exception (The Gold Bug for which he won a $100 prize in 1843), paid next to nothing. IF it weren't for his intermittent work editing and writing reviews of other writer's submissions in said magazines, he would have starved to death.
So, it's reality check time. The "starving artist" is a stereotype for a reason.
“The minute you realize you could get more reads and follows if you write about ____, you have a decision to make.” So true! I’m lucky—retired and don’t have to make money with my writing—but it sure would be nice. And I’d sure like the respect that can accompany financial recognition. I also care about finding my tribe and participating in thoughtful comment exchanges, and that’s hard to develop too. Most of my followers are accounts w AI-generated stories, sales-oriented accounts, or outright Bots. The formula I’m trying to figure out is, “How do I reach more real people and not spend so much of my time deleting the not-reals?”
There seem to be two sides to this. Some write the stuff they enjoy, others write because it pays well. If you enjoy writing that pays well too then its easier for you. What matters the most in the long run is how unique is your writing and how much it stands out from others. Needless to say, you need a lot of space to be able to fulfill your writing needs and how conveniently you can deal with the "burning to write" phase. But turns out that that struggle itself is a prerequisite to become the kind of writer that you always wanted to be. It literally makes you one. Who knows what the future holds? Thanks for this post. A lot of this resonates with me. Grateful for the good things and the flexibility and all. :)
I've learned a lot about myself over the last few years in sorting through the anti-immigrant racism my wife and children have to face. There are so many things that people believe that are detrimental to their wellbeing. Ultimately, the thing I've always wanted in life is to simply live in a home filled with love. I have that. I think you get there by sorting through the things that confuse you and the the things that make you frustrated and you figure out what you can do to be a little better. I've often felt I'd prefer to sleep under a bridge next to somebody I love than sleep in a mansion next to somebody I despised. So, the lack of financial support for writers isn't the worst thing in the world--living a miserable life without meaning is. But then again, I'm getting older and I am noticing my strength is ebbing away, and perhaps there will be a day when I regret not enduring the people I despise so I can get the comfort of a bed. Sigh... I guess that's not really an answer. Thanks for the thoughtful post!
I discovered a bit too late that writing on Medium is unpredictable and can’t pay my bills, as long as I want to adhere to my vision and principles. So I’m honoring my itch to write by returning to the job hunt, as my current freelance work can’t pay my bills either. My longer-term plan requires 16 months of further studies before a pivot. Not easy, but nothing worth fighting for is. I’m currently on a sabbatical after 13 years of full-time work. Thanks for writing this honest and brilliant piece that articulates what my soul has been aching over for months. ♥️ I deeply appreciate you and your integrity.
I really enjoyed reading this. It stirs up many emotions about writing for me. There's always the hope that someday I'll earn money via my writing. The truth is I've spent more money learning how to write (a MFA program, many writing ecourses out there) than I've earned via the writing itself. It takes guts to write, and I'm only beginning to build that courage now in my older life. It saddens me that many writers can't get paid a living wage. Your analogy of the plumber and the surgeon hit me hard. But I will continue to gain the courage to write. Even as I search for other ways to earn money on the side, as both my husband and I are still figuring out how to pay all the bills and spend less money. I wrote this in my journal the other day questioning why I write:
It's not only about my giant ego. "I'm a writer" is also this knowledge that this is what I love to do.
This is how I, as a human, show my love.
I serve up words to make you feel less alone. I serve up stories to show you my humanity. I am here to let you know that although we may be vastly different on paper, in terms of age, gender, class, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual differences, yet inside we are much alike. We hurt. We suffer. We laugh. We desire. We love.
If more of us knew each others' authentic and vulnerable stories, the less we'd want to hurt each other.
Linda, you nailed the issues at the heart of writing. Because I'm an editor at 3 Medium pubs, I had to scale back my NF writing. I was in the wrong headspace to write what I'm good at: poetry and fiction. I don't have the mental capacity to turn out copy that fast. I was so relieved to read an essay by Peter Lovesey at the end that he considered himself a slow writer. It was in the reissue of the first book in his Peter Diamond series. I will be writing in retirement because I will have the time. It has always been my dream. Breaking even would be great. Making money? Like winning the lottery. Once he was successful, Stephen J. Cannell told off the tv producer who gave him his first rejection (the guy was cruel): "Don't kill the dream."
Good article, Linda. Money is a thing - maybe it's important, maybe it's nice to have and maybe it's a rather pleasant form of validation. You're okay, kid. Let's face it, the Internet (our workplace) is filled with crap, it just is. You can go to a landfill and find some amazing things - it's true. But 99.9% of it is just garbage, no getting around it. So, when someone shows their deposits slips ($80,000) a month and they write humorous articles on How to dress your cat or How to apply make-up while driving without crashing - some really good writers get discouraged, hurt, pissed off that their timely well-written articles are getting buried by broken dollhouses, left over sushi and dirty diapers. It's a direct hit to our egos, our self-esteem, our belief that the Universe rewards good deeds and good works. Personally, I like making money with my writing, as I liked making good money in business. It's rewarding and a positive acknowledgement. But when Rage Writers hit success, and How To writers strike pay dirt over and over again - yeah, it sucks. Not because we're all about sour grapes - but because this actually tilts the playing field to such a degree that Good Writing is not wanted. Good stories are just too long, rather watch an 8-second TikTok video of a cat getting stuck in a washing machine. Good writing takes a lifetime to create - it's all about our experiences. But what's on the Internet, what is displacing good content - is scary. So, we try to emulate it - but doesn't that mean creating more of it? That's even scarier. Cheers.
Interesting what you say about surgeons and plumbers not doing the work for the love of the job. I'm not sure about surgeons to be honest, would they only be in it for the money? In any case a similar thing pops up with my work as a social worker, we're in it for the people and because we want to help make the world a better place. I've been lucky enough to get a couple promotions in the past years, but in general a social worker is never going to be rich. Lucky if they can pay the bills. Very similar to creativity. Why is it that when we want to do something we are truly passionate about (be it helping people or being creative) we have to give up receiving any real pay for it???
I enjoyed your piece, Linda. I'm always happy on Medium if I end the month in the black (earned over $5 for the month.) I know it is a miserably low bar, but I'm retired and don't need the extra cash. Still, it's nice to see the earnings rise each month, and I do find it validating. I could probably do better. But, it's a hobby for me, not a paying job. I write about what interests and what I think will interest you that I know enough about (or want to know enough about) to share. Thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking piece, Linda.
Linda, thank you for writing so clearly about this topic. It needs frank discussion on a regular basis. Especially given today’s crazy cost of living increases. I agree, artists, writers especially (because that’s us) need to become more comfortable with the elephant in the room. As you say, some of us/many of us have bills to pay either through writing plus another source or the really lucky ones( so few) do it with their writing alone.
Me? I have an MBA instead of an MFA so I built a large business for many years where I helped people save and pay the bills. It involved looking into options that were tailored to each person’s strengths, interests and where they were currently in their life goals. And yes, goal setting was part of it. That business was my “ Chapter One”.
I left that phase of my life to initiate my Chapter Two: ( I now do two things, coincidentally, since the first one (see #1 next) does not generate sufficient income): 1. My writing AND 2. I started a new consulting business to work with individuals who do not normally have anywhere to get help if they are wishing to start any type of part time, small, home based business. Often ( more than two thirds of people I talk with) don’t have any idea what that business might be, let alone know where to begin. A lot of my time is spent helping people find that sweet spot of identifying a hobby or passion they currently enjoy that could be monetized as a business to a small (or larger) extent.
My Chapter Two consulting business is nothing like all those regurgitated side gig lists out there. My approach deals with a skill (hobby/interest) the person ALREADY HAS but had not previously considered it as an income generator. ( side note: lol, sorry for the promo but this was the way to answer your question!)
This then, is what I do now. I have passion for both things I do, but no question it is a good thing I enjoy my Chapter Two consulting business because as rewarding as writing is…it doesn’t pay the bills.
I write for fun money, so I don’t need the income to pay the bills, but I would sure as hell like to have a lot more fun. I used to be paid a regular salary with benefits to write, but I didn’t get to write whatever I wanted. Now I have the luxury to write (or not write) whatever I want, so that’s a nice position to be in. That said, I hate when I write something good and it gets no distribution. I like the validation that reads bring but I prefer if it comes with money. Medium is always telling me about my views. Screw my views. I have a story with 3k views that has earned me just over a dollar because only a tiny percentage of those readers subscribe to Medium. What good is it to tell me what might have been?
Hey Linda, I recently read Tim Denning's article called (approx wording) "The Worst Way in History to Make Money From Writing is to Get Paid By the Word." I know on Medium, it's more about being paid by read time (and other factors). But it made me think about the conventional view of making money from writing directly, and making money from writing because of the business opportunities that your stories bring you. E.g. Editing, coaching, freelancing gigs.
In the past, I thought things like editing, coaching, teaching "didn't count." But now I think they do count. Your writing advertises and promotes your services. (Whether by posting regularly on social media/ Medium and getting noticed. Writing great newsletters and attracting potential clients, etc.) So you ARE getting paid for your writing, just not directly. That's what I've come to believe anyway, haha. I also really enjoy doing coaching (and counselling, for my other job that I also love). I love coaching and counselling just as much, and sometimes even more than, writing. So that probably makes it easier for me, I admit.
I have a sometimes brutal hospitality job. Got a degree in Fine Arts and knew it was up to me to produce. Writing has always been the form of choice but life and work demands push the creative work aside. At the moment I have a playwriting class and I am off the schedule I gave myself just from a single disorganized event and co-workers that have difficulty stepping up their work pace in 100° weather. Go figure.
Honest answer: I m not a ‘real’ writer. You folk follow the rules of writing; punctuation, person, grammar, etc … and I admire all of you so much for your ability to do that.
I am just an old storyteller, writing down the stories I tell so perhaps someone, somewhere will be able to avoid my mistakes.
If by doing that the stories in book form might gain enough funds to make the scholarship work for a person who knows what it’s like to experience a violent crime and offer them the opportunity to begin a new path in life.
For myself it’s a means of making indirect amends for the first 34 years of my now 68 year lifespan.
RE: "...Some get defensive, say they “should” be able to earn from writing." Please read a biography of Edgar Allan Poe. He had salaried jobs as an Associate Editor or Editor of magazines. His short stories, with one exception (The Gold Bug for which he won a $100 prize in 1843), paid next to nothing. IF it weren't for his intermittent work editing and writing reviews of other writer's submissions in said magazines, he would have starved to death.
So, it's reality check time. The "starving artist" is a stereotype for a reason.
“The minute you realize you could get more reads and follows if you write about ____, you have a decision to make.” So true! I’m lucky—retired and don’t have to make money with my writing—but it sure would be nice. And I’d sure like the respect that can accompany financial recognition. I also care about finding my tribe and participating in thoughtful comment exchanges, and that’s hard to develop too. Most of my followers are accounts w AI-generated stories, sales-oriented accounts, or outright Bots. The formula I’m trying to figure out is, “How do I reach more real people and not spend so much of my time deleting the not-reals?”
There seem to be two sides to this. Some write the stuff they enjoy, others write because it pays well. If you enjoy writing that pays well too then its easier for you. What matters the most in the long run is how unique is your writing and how much it stands out from others. Needless to say, you need a lot of space to be able to fulfill your writing needs and how conveniently you can deal with the "burning to write" phase. But turns out that that struggle itself is a prerequisite to become the kind of writer that you always wanted to be. It literally makes you one. Who knows what the future holds? Thanks for this post. A lot of this resonates with me. Grateful for the good things and the flexibility and all. :)
I've learned a lot about myself over the last few years in sorting through the anti-immigrant racism my wife and children have to face. There are so many things that people believe that are detrimental to their wellbeing. Ultimately, the thing I've always wanted in life is to simply live in a home filled with love. I have that. I think you get there by sorting through the things that confuse you and the the things that make you frustrated and you figure out what you can do to be a little better. I've often felt I'd prefer to sleep under a bridge next to somebody I love than sleep in a mansion next to somebody I despised. So, the lack of financial support for writers isn't the worst thing in the world--living a miserable life without meaning is. But then again, I'm getting older and I am noticing my strength is ebbing away, and perhaps there will be a day when I regret not enduring the people I despise so I can get the comfort of a bed. Sigh... I guess that's not really an answer. Thanks for the thoughtful post!
I discovered a bit too late that writing on Medium is unpredictable and can’t pay my bills, as long as I want to adhere to my vision and principles. So I’m honoring my itch to write by returning to the job hunt, as my current freelance work can’t pay my bills either. My longer-term plan requires 16 months of further studies before a pivot. Not easy, but nothing worth fighting for is. I’m currently on a sabbatical after 13 years of full-time work. Thanks for writing this honest and brilliant piece that articulates what my soul has been aching over for months. ♥️ I deeply appreciate you and your integrity.
Writing feeds the soul. Finding a line of work that pays the bills while keeping your integrity is a life well-lived. You'll do it.
Thanks so much, Margie. Sending you love too!
I really enjoyed reading this. It stirs up many emotions about writing for me. There's always the hope that someday I'll earn money via my writing. The truth is I've spent more money learning how to write (a MFA program, many writing ecourses out there) than I've earned via the writing itself. It takes guts to write, and I'm only beginning to build that courage now in my older life. It saddens me that many writers can't get paid a living wage. Your analogy of the plumber and the surgeon hit me hard. But I will continue to gain the courage to write. Even as I search for other ways to earn money on the side, as both my husband and I are still figuring out how to pay all the bills and spend less money. I wrote this in my journal the other day questioning why I write:
It's not only about my giant ego. "I'm a writer" is also this knowledge that this is what I love to do.
This is how I, as a human, show my love.
I serve up words to make you feel less alone. I serve up stories to show you my humanity. I am here to let you know that although we may be vastly different on paper, in terms of age, gender, class, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual differences, yet inside we are much alike. We hurt. We suffer. We laugh. We desire. We love.
If more of us knew each others' authentic and vulnerable stories, the less we'd want to hurt each other.
This is why I write.
Linda, you nailed the issues at the heart of writing. Because I'm an editor at 3 Medium pubs, I had to scale back my NF writing. I was in the wrong headspace to write what I'm good at: poetry and fiction. I don't have the mental capacity to turn out copy that fast. I was so relieved to read an essay by Peter Lovesey at the end that he considered himself a slow writer. It was in the reissue of the first book in his Peter Diamond series. I will be writing in retirement because I will have the time. It has always been my dream. Breaking even would be great. Making money? Like winning the lottery. Once he was successful, Stephen J. Cannell told off the tv producer who gave him his first rejection (the guy was cruel): "Don't kill the dream."
Keep writing and good things do happen.
Good article, Linda. Money is a thing - maybe it's important, maybe it's nice to have and maybe it's a rather pleasant form of validation. You're okay, kid. Let's face it, the Internet (our workplace) is filled with crap, it just is. You can go to a landfill and find some amazing things - it's true. But 99.9% of it is just garbage, no getting around it. So, when someone shows their deposits slips ($80,000) a month and they write humorous articles on How to dress your cat or How to apply make-up while driving without crashing - some really good writers get discouraged, hurt, pissed off that their timely well-written articles are getting buried by broken dollhouses, left over sushi and dirty diapers. It's a direct hit to our egos, our self-esteem, our belief that the Universe rewards good deeds and good works. Personally, I like making money with my writing, as I liked making good money in business. It's rewarding and a positive acknowledgement. But when Rage Writers hit success, and How To writers strike pay dirt over and over again - yeah, it sucks. Not because we're all about sour grapes - but because this actually tilts the playing field to such a degree that Good Writing is not wanted. Good stories are just too long, rather watch an 8-second TikTok video of a cat getting stuck in a washing machine. Good writing takes a lifetime to create - it's all about our experiences. But what's on the Internet, what is displacing good content - is scary. So, we try to emulate it - but doesn't that mean creating more of it? That's even scarier. Cheers.
Interesting what you say about surgeons and plumbers not doing the work for the love of the job. I'm not sure about surgeons to be honest, would they only be in it for the money? In any case a similar thing pops up with my work as a social worker, we're in it for the people and because we want to help make the world a better place. I've been lucky enough to get a couple promotions in the past years, but in general a social worker is never going to be rich. Lucky if they can pay the bills. Very similar to creativity. Why is it that when we want to do something we are truly passionate about (be it helping people or being creative) we have to give up receiving any real pay for it???
I enjoyed your piece, Linda. I'm always happy on Medium if I end the month in the black (earned over $5 for the month.) I know it is a miserably low bar, but I'm retired and don't need the extra cash. Still, it's nice to see the earnings rise each month, and I do find it validating. I could probably do better. But, it's a hobby for me, not a paying job. I write about what interests and what I think will interest you that I know enough about (or want to know enough about) to share. Thanks for your thoughtful and thought-provoking piece, Linda.
Linda, thank you for writing so clearly about this topic. It needs frank discussion on a regular basis. Especially given today’s crazy cost of living increases. I agree, artists, writers especially (because that’s us) need to become more comfortable with the elephant in the room. As you say, some of us/many of us have bills to pay either through writing plus another source or the really lucky ones( so few) do it with their writing alone.
Me? I have an MBA instead of an MFA so I built a large business for many years where I helped people save and pay the bills. It involved looking into options that were tailored to each person’s strengths, interests and where they were currently in their life goals. And yes, goal setting was part of it. That business was my “ Chapter One”.
I left that phase of my life to initiate my Chapter Two: ( I now do two things, coincidentally, since the first one (see #1 next) does not generate sufficient income): 1. My writing AND 2. I started a new consulting business to work with individuals who do not normally have anywhere to get help if they are wishing to start any type of part time, small, home based business. Often ( more than two thirds of people I talk with) don’t have any idea what that business might be, let alone know where to begin. A lot of my time is spent helping people find that sweet spot of identifying a hobby or passion they currently enjoy that could be monetized as a business to a small (or larger) extent.
My Chapter Two consulting business is nothing like all those regurgitated side gig lists out there. My approach deals with a skill (hobby/interest) the person ALREADY HAS but had not previously considered it as an income generator. ( side note: lol, sorry for the promo but this was the way to answer your question!)
This then, is what I do now. I have passion for both things I do, but no question it is a good thing I enjoy my Chapter Two consulting business because as rewarding as writing is…it doesn’t pay the bills.
I write for fun money, so I don’t need the income to pay the bills, but I would sure as hell like to have a lot more fun. I used to be paid a regular salary with benefits to write, but I didn’t get to write whatever I wanted. Now I have the luxury to write (or not write) whatever I want, so that’s a nice position to be in. That said, I hate when I write something good and it gets no distribution. I like the validation that reads bring but I prefer if it comes with money. Medium is always telling me about my views. Screw my views. I have a story with 3k views that has earned me just over a dollar because only a tiny percentage of those readers subscribe to Medium. What good is it to tell me what might have been?
So weird that it's all lumped under "writing" because in many cases, writing's the last step in a massive process.
Hey Linda, I recently read Tim Denning's article called (approx wording) "The Worst Way in History to Make Money From Writing is to Get Paid By the Word." I know on Medium, it's more about being paid by read time (and other factors). But it made me think about the conventional view of making money from writing directly, and making money from writing because of the business opportunities that your stories bring you. E.g. Editing, coaching, freelancing gigs.
In the past, I thought things like editing, coaching, teaching "didn't count." But now I think they do count. Your writing advertises and promotes your services. (Whether by posting regularly on social media/ Medium and getting noticed. Writing great newsletters and attracting potential clients, etc.) So you ARE getting paid for your writing, just not directly. That's what I've come to believe anyway, haha. I also really enjoy doing coaching (and counselling, for my other job that I also love). I love coaching and counselling just as much, and sometimes even more than, writing. So that probably makes it easier for me, I admit.
I have a sometimes brutal hospitality job. Got a degree in Fine Arts and knew it was up to me to produce. Writing has always been the form of choice but life and work demands push the creative work aside. At the moment I have a playwriting class and I am off the schedule I gave myself just from a single disorganized event and co-workers that have difficulty stepping up their work pace in 100° weather. Go figure.
Thank you for your articles!