The winner of one full copy of Spinword PC game from Joyboost from the How to Become a Freelance Writer entry is Karen Swim! Congratulations again, Karen. It’s possible to win more than once in the blog entry prizes.
This entry’s prizes are a book by Tara Calishain and AWAI’s Accelerated Six Figure Copywriting program (excellent — I have it… but never had time to finish it). Just leave a 30-word comment on this post by June 21 to get an entry for a drawing.
I was going to call this “Telling the Violent Truths of the Writing Life,” but Freelance Folder already has dibs on “violent.” Just joking — that’s the name of guest blogger Bob Younce’s excellent series over there.
I met Bob through Poewar. Obviously, John Hewitt of Poewar connected me with a lot of new writer friends. Thank you, John. It only took me a second to consider him a friend. His articles on writing and freelancing — whether on his site or elsewhere — provide a lot of value.
Telling the Hard Truths of the Writing Life
It’s easy, if you listen to one element of the Internet writing community, to think that freelance writing consists entirely of days on the beach sipping margaritas and writing for half an hour on your laptop. For anyone who’s been writing for more than a few weeks, though, you know it just isn’t true. Anyone who tells you that it’s possible to make a living in minutes a day is selling something.
Not that selling is bad, mind you; in fact, writers have to do it in order to be successful. But these folks are selling a false idea. In this life, you reap what you sow, plain and simple.
These folks prey on unsuspecting new moms, for example, that want to work from home. They prey on guys tired of their cubicle careers who are looking for a way out. They look for a felt need and offer a fake solution.
At the same time, there are folks on the opposite end of the spectrum. There’s me, for example. If you’ve read much of my writing at all, you know I constantly promote the idea of hard work and, sometimes, long hours. I have probably turned more people away from a writing career than I have recruited, in my time.
I like to think that the realist approach is a good thing, and that it helps folks considering the writing life to count the cost before they get into something they’re not willing to follow through on.
Maybe I’m just trying to keep away the competition. I don’t think that’s it, though.
Here’s the danger that I constantly find myself in, though. I want to be able to encourage writers. I want to cheer them on. I want them to see the same kind of success I’ve had, and the same kind of success Meryl has had right here.
So, those of us honest folk in the Internet writing community wind up saying something like this:
“Freelance writing is hard work. You can make an honest living doing it, and there’s no better life. But you’ve got to work hard and you’ve got to have your wits about you.”
On occasion, I think it’s worth talking about all of the good things in the writing life. I think it’s worth celebrating a success or two, both our own and others’ successes.
Like Meryl, here. She’s been plugging away at this site for the better part of a decade. My goofy little blog has been on the map since February; Meryl’s been here for 8 Februarys.
That says something, folks. It says something about character. It says something about tenacity. It says something about dedication. It’s these characteristics that you’ve got to have to make it as a writer.
So, I celebrate with Meryl. I thank her for her inspiring example. I take a moment away from telling the hard truths of the writing life to tell a pleasant one:
Writing success is possible. Look at Meryl, and at others who have done it. Dream your dream, and dream it big. You can get there, no matter what challenges you face. Stick with it. Be dedicated. And remember: you’re standing on the shoulders of giants.
Thanks, Meryl. Enjoy your vacation, and come back soon.
About the author: Bob Younce is a full-time Internet writer and writing mentor living in Linwood, Michigan. He is dedicated to helping Internet writers to achieve their dreams. Visit Bob at The Writing Journey or follow him on Twitter.
I think Meryl read the name wrong, it was supposed to be “Karen Putz,” not “Karen Swim.” It was early in the morning and Meryl didn’t have her glasses on when she read it. 🙂
I’ve only been writing for moolah for a year now, but I do enjoy it much better than some of the other jobs I’ve had. So bring on the hard work– I’m up for it.
And by the way, you can work hard at the beach while sipping a Margarita, just make sure you’ve got an umbrella overhead or you’ll end up with third degree burns from the long hours there.
Karen Putz / DeafMoms last blog post..Welcome to my World, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing–Entwined
@ Karen – You can, but the glare from the monitor is almost unbearable 🙂
And you sure as heck can’t make a living doing it in half an hour a day.
Oh, and by my second margarita, I’m toast, so there’s that, too 🙂
Bob Younce at the Writing Journeys last blog post..Why Writers Fail
@Karen P. I double-checked when I realized both of you Karens had comments next to each other. No matter the outcome, Karens rule! My mother’s name is Karen. 🙂
It’s a good thing I have a dog that needs walking around lunchtime… or else, some days I might never get away from the monitor. This forces me to do it every day no matter what. Either that or cleaning the stains out of the carpet.
Oooo, speaking of colorful circles on the carpet– mine is so far gone that it now looks “interesting.” And it isn’t from the dog– it’s from the KIDS.
Karen Putz / DeafMoms last blog post..Welcome to my World, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing–Entwined
Hi Bob
Thanks for your great post.
As you say, Meryl is an inspiration. 8 years of blogging is pretty darned cool, and something worth celebrating, for sure.
I agree with your realistic approach. Luckily for most of us, writing is a passion as well as a business.
Marketing is a huge part of the “real world” of a freelance writing too. Often writers aren’t as comfortable with that as with the writing part.
Yvonne Russells last blog post..Seth Godin, Meet Yvonne Russell – Yvonne Russell, Meet Seth Godin
Yes! I am so tired of scammy “make money online” sites that talk about how easy writing is and how anyone can do it. It’s not that I’m an elitist — I think just about anyone can learn to write clearly and engagingly, even if they might not ever achieve Shakespearian levels — but it’s something you learn to do, not something you just can do. And it’s freakishly hard, sometimes — I’ve written a 4700-word book chapter in 4 hours, but I’ve also slaved for 3 days over a 250-word book review (which the editor changed about 50%, to boot).
So there’s all these people out there convinced that they can make millions writing sales letters or blog posts or whatever, they send their money to whomever, and the money’s wasted. On top of that, it makes those of us who do write professionally look like slackers, because we’ve chosen to dedicate ourselves to such “easy” work that “anyone can do”. Which means job posters think nothing of offering a job writing 10 500-word posts a month for $100 — I mean, it’s not like it’s work or anything.
Well, that was healthy 🙂 Get it all out there, Dustin! Sorry for the ‘splosion — I almost spilled my margarita.
Thank you for the mention Meryl. The Madness made me a lot of blogging friends as well. For that reason above all others it was worth doing.
Bob, I like to call blogging a get rich slow scheme. The beauty of blogging is that every post I add to my blog is another potential income stream. Individually they don’t pull in much money. but as the number of posts builds, so does the income.
John Hewitts last blog post..Homegrown Poetry Retreats
Well, anyone who thinks writing is easy ought to stop on by and check out my shrine to twenty years of writing without making a nickel. That’s right. Well, it was until I read Bob Younce’s paper on Helium.com and got the urge to write an article. 🙂
Writing is hard work. I don’t have to say that to the people commenting on this thread. This is for those of you who have come by this post and read it and wondered just what you might be signing up for when you take the plunge.
Well, the only way to write is to write so get cracking and put your 30 choice words into the comment box. No time like the present! Join the rest of us here in our own private, yet strangely public, writing hells. 🙂
Jamie Grove – How Not To Writes last blog post..Writers Behaving Badly: An American Scoundrel’s Success
P.S. One more Well for the editors to scrub… Well. Jeez.
Jamie Grove – How Not To Writes last blog post..Writers Behaving Badly: An American Scoundrel’s Success
@Yvonne – that’s the key: passion. It’s passion for writing that lets us live the hard truths, and that makes it worth it.
Congrats on the Seth Godin win, by the way. I’m tremendously Jealous.
@ Dustin – I think you need another margarita 🙂
Seriously, thought, you’re right. The longer I go, the more I get annoyed by the MMO crowd.
@ John – I’ll offer credit where it’s due, too. The Madness introduced many of us to one another, I think. I know it really helped put me on the map.
I like what you’re saying, too, about getting rich slowly. Sort of a tortoise and Hare thing.
@ Jamie – Aw, shucks. I’m so tickled that it paid off for you.
It’s the first of a bunch of money you’re going to make writing, Jamie. You’ve got talent coming out your arse, as do most of the rest of the folks here.
Bob Younce at the Writing Journeys last blog post..The Hard Truths of the Writing Life
Hello all! as @JamieGrove said, I happened on to this blog from a link on Twitter. It caught my attention because I’ve been researching freelance writing. The interesting thing I’ve discovered is a lot people want you to buy a program that will show you how to make a fortune writing.
OK, so I’m a realist, and I understand what it takes to run a business. No denial here. Hard work, dedication and honing your skills. I know there has to be more freelance work out there than just writing blog posts for fractions of pennies.
So anyway, I’m glad I found Meryl’s web site. I’ve spent a good amount of time reading. Thanks for sharing all your insight.
@Thom, I agree… lots of programs for sale. I do have some of the programs and they are very good. Some get carried away with their claims, but they do help you practice and improve your writing.
@Dustin Whew! I cleaned it up just before it spilled over into the comments — so all is A-OK! You mean that $799 I spent on X program was a scam??? It won’t help me write the greatest non-fiction in two weeks??? 🙂
For those of us who simply love to write, writing for a living is made easier as we are doing what we love!!!
I am so full of admiration for Bob and Meryl who are willing to call it as it is. The ‘it’ being the reality of what it takes to be able to earn your crust through writing.
Donetta, we try. People forget writing is a business… not an art. You can be the most talented writer in the world, but it’ll do you no good if you can’t manage the business side of it.
Hi,
I like this post and comments so much and I learnt so many things. Thank you!
Solomon