Is There Money in Writing?

Recently a friend of mine sent me an excerpt from an article. It stated that freelance writing was one of the top 5 high-paying home businesses. There was a quote from a writer who said he’d made almost $50K in his first year of business. When I was starting out I had that same goal. My mistake was mentioning that goal to someone I’d met who’d been in business for 20 years who said she thought my goal was unrealistic.

Based on that response, I scaled back my expectations and silently beat myself up for being so ambitious. Since she had been in business for a couple of decades, she obviously knew more than I did, didn’t she? She proved that what I’d heard all along was correct – you can’t make any money as a writer.

Fast forward three years and though I’ve gained confidence in my writing, I’m just starting to accept that professional writer does not have to equal “starving artist.” Though I've had some anxieties about leaving a steady paycheck (well, as steady as a paycheck can be these days) for a life of never being sure how much will come in every month. It’s a high risk way of living, but certainly not without rewards.

Thinking of a Freelance Writing Career?

Last month I had the opportunity to be part of an entrepreneurship panel at my university. It was the first time I'd been back there in quite a while, and I enjoyed the chance to talk to the students. One of the students, Christopher Ming Lee contacted me afterwards and interviewed me about going freelance. The interview is posted on his blog and you can read it here: Freelance Writers Have an Edge Over Corporate Transitioners

Though I have been posting mainly about transitioning from employee to business owner, I've decided to make a change in direction. As a writer I certainly know how difficult it is to be a creative person in this society. Perhaps it's a challenge in any society, so maybe it isn't exactly limited to our culture. I do know that as a business owner I have constant conflicts between my desire to create and my need to make an income. I'd love to just write all day long without any regard about getting paid - but that is not the reality.

I've managed to go into business doing what I love, but it's not without anxiety. Yes, I do believe that the money will follow if you do what you are passionate about, if only because you will put all your energy into it. When things are tough that passion will keep you going.

One other thing has motivated me as well, and that is my total dislike of corporate life. So when the passion seems on the verge of flickering out, you can be certain that my decision to never return to a cubicle will re-ignite it. For me it has been a combination of the strong desire to express my creativity in my professional life, and my equally strong desire to never return to the corporate world.

Are You Ready to Change Your Life?

Are you stuck? Are you still in a job you hate or a relationship that makes you unhappy? Do you feel that things could be better, if only you knew how to change your situation? There is no one way to go about having the life that you want. However, there is one way to be sure you never have it, and that is by doing the same thing that you’ve always done.

If you want change then you have to be willing to do it right now, instead of waiting for some time in the future when things will suddenly be different without any action on your part. If you are focused on the past or dreaming of a future - while doing nothing to live differently right now, you will never have the change you desire.

In order to change you’ll have to drop old baggage and stop living your life based on yesterday’s events. Just because you’ve had jobs you didn’t like doesn’t mean you’ll always have jobs that are unsatisfying. Having bad relationships in the past doesn’t mean you are doomed to repeat the heartbreak over and over.

It is up to you how you will live the rest of your life. You make the choice. What will it be? Are you willing to begin today to live the life you want? Are you ready to take responsibility for your happiness?

If the answer is yes, then start today.