Being A Writer: Why No One Takes You Seriously

Dance of the Cham people.

Image via Wikipedia

When I came back from Vietnam and told my father I wanted to be a writer he said to me, “That’s a hobby for rich white boys.”

A few decades later as I worked on my MFA in fiction writing, after winning a fellowship that paid for everything, I realized that the writing program was not so much about teaching me how to write but was really about teaching me how to teach; so that I could make money at a real job.

To actually make money writing short stories or novels, you not only have to be talented but also very lucky.  And if you are not making money at writing, few people take you being a writer seriously.

That’s just the way it is.  In other words, you better go into writing just for the sheer pleasure of writing.  If you actually make money at it, that’s just icing on the cake.

Woman, Wife And Lover

 

About these ads

I Was A $2.00 A Day Ghostwriter

Some bloggers and writers make money blogging and writing.  Some make a lot of money.  Some make a little money.  I want to make a lot of money blogging and writing.  Right now I make a little bit of money blogging and writing.  Some day I would like to make, oh, $30 a day blogging and writing.  Recently, I was making $2.00 doing online ghostwriting.  You have to start somewhere.  It was wonderful. 

I figured I was on my way.  I had a reason for getting up every morning at 6:00 am so I could be online by 7:00 am.  My friends, life was sweet.

You will find the true story of my adventure here: Confessions of a Ghostwriter

New Bloggers: What’s Your Niche?

If you are a new blogger you need a niche if you want to make money.  What is a niche?  A niche is an area of expertise that you feel comfortable with and that you can turn out an endless amount of content about.  It can be anything.  Just make sure it will entertain your readers or help them solve a problem.

My niche is flash fiction, writing and blogging.  I do all three.  I can write all day about them.

So, if you’re just starting out as a blogger, choose your niche wisely.

This is the Old Soldier reporting from Pitt Panther basketball country.

How Much Money Will You Make Blogging?

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 822 other followers