Writing for Dollars

Face it – there are very few people that are out there writing just to send words through the air. Most people that are pursuing writing seriously want to make a few dollars along the way. Even those that fall into the “Christian” genre want to see a paycheck of some sort come their way (although much of that check might find its way to charity).

Deb Ng posted an article about how an email she received accused her of just wanting to make a buck. The post got me thinking about that concept. When does it become wrong to make a dollar off writing?

Wrong Ways to Make a Dollar

1. It is wrong to make money writing when you are suppose to be writing news and are just making up the stories off the top of your head.

2. It is wrong to make money writing when you are advertising your information as new and ground breaking and the information is used, trite and no longer technically relevant.

3. It is wrong to make money writing when you portray your own experience as something more than it is.

4. It is wrong to make money writing when what you are selling belongs to someone else.

Writing is a business. It always has been and it always will be. Some people are more successful with their business than others, but that does not make their writing any less valuable.

The RIGHT Ways to Make a Dollar Writing

1. It is okay to get paid for your writing when the person paying you is getting what they want.

2. It is right to get paid for your writing when you have built up trust and comfort by providing valuable information.

3. It is right to get paid for your writing when you do the job that has been requested.

4. It is right to make money as a writer when you are writing with heart and passion and others desire to read what you write.

Write for dollars. It is okay. Let the nay-sayers write for peanuts, popcorn, or accolades if that is what they want. Produce work that you are proud to stand behind, meet the needs of your readers and let the coins fall where they may.