Following Your Bliss: Should You Write Professionally?

Let’s face it, being a writer has never been one of the biggest money-makers in the world.  Still, I have to say that it’s easier than ever to make money writing on the web.  Between blogging independently, writing for the various content distributors around the web (like Triond, for example), and ghostwriting for any of the dozens upon dozens of pro bloggers who can’t physically keep up with their readers’ demand for content, there’s no end of opportunities for writers.

Still, that’s not to imply that becoming a professional writer is ever simple.  There are a few pitfalls to look out for on the way.

First is the investment of time.  There are lots and lots of different places promising you instant riches with just a few articles in the system.  Just try googling “make money writing” and see how many hits you come up with!  And sure, writing seems like an easy enough career – all you have to do is create an account on Blogger or Wordpress and start typing in order to be published on the internet.  But the truth is, writing is a career just like any other.  Just like you wouldn’t (well, shouldn’t) expect to be a multi-billion-dollar CEO straight out of business school, you also shouldn’t expect to be a full-time freelance writer within days of publishing your first article online.  Whatever the payment model, making money as a writer takes time – and may involve some working for free in order to gain traction, just like getting your dream job in a different career might involve some interning.

Second is your reputation.  This is even more important if you’re looking to write online – after all, every single thing you ever do or say will be preserved forever online.  Moreover, if you’re planning to write through some of the auction sites, your employers can leave you feedback.  But it takes time and effort to make sure that your work is high-quality.  If you’re churning out several articles an hour without taking time to fact-check, spell-check, or grammar-check, eventually it will come back to bite you when you set your sights on those more prestigious, higher-paying jobs.  You should also keep one eye toward writing things that matter to you.  Not that there’s anything wrong with experimenting in a number of different topics.  But if there’s one thing that really gets your interest up and your mind racing, try to seek out those kinds of jobs.  Again, this will only help you when you’re looking for a better-paying gig in the field.

Finally, there’s your passion.  As I’ve said before, writing is far from a get-rich-quick scheme.  It takes time, hard work and dedication to make a decent living at it – at least as much as any other career.  Just like you shouldn’t go to medical school if you’re not thrilled by the prospect of spending 8 years of your life studying medicine, you shouldn’t dedicate yourself to writing as a career if you’re not thrilled by the act of writing.  After all, to be a successful writer, you have to be both willing and able to write as much as you’d work at any other job – 8 hours a day, 5 days a week at the very least, and probably more than that when you’re starting out.

That said, writing is one of the most exciting and fulfilling careers ever – and I say that as someone who’s been doing it for money for years now.  I wouldn’t trade my years writing for anything.  Nevertheless, as with any career change, it’s important to go into it with your eyes wide open and a love of the job itself, not just a desire for a quick buck.