Writing For Money: “How Much Can I Make?”

Oliver Twist: “Please sir, can I have some more?”

Here’s the question writers ask me most often (surprisingly, the question’s equally popular with experienced writers, as it is with new writers): “How much can I make?”

Here’s the answer: I don’t know, and no one else knows, either.

I have no idea what you’ll write today, or tomorrow. No one else knows, either, not even you. That’s the best thing about the writing life, it’s full of surprises.

I’m going to say something which will sound odd, considering that this blog is predicated on writing for money…

STOP THINKING ABOUT MONEY WHEN YOU WRITE. Yes, I’m shouting.

Just write, as best you can, when you’re writing, each and every time you sit down to write. That’s all you can do, and that’s all that’s necessary.

Sooner or later, you’ll make money. Then you’ll make a bit more. Then you’ll begin to see how much you COULD make, if you wrote this… or that… or if you took a risk…

New writers (and some experienced writers who should know better), get all tied up with wondering how much they should be making. This is pointless. Just because Writer A was paid X amount of dollars for whatever, doesn’t mean you should be making that much, or that little.

Focus on WRITING.

I love Mark Twain’s advice, from this blog post, Advice on Writing from Modernity’s Greatest Writers | Brain Pickings:

“Write without pay until somebody offers pay; if nobody offers within three years, sawing wood is what you were intended for.” ~ Mark Twain”

Your writing is all that matters. And yes, you should write without pay until someone offers to pay you — they will offer, sooner or later — IF you focus on your writing.

Here’s the kicker. When I ask the Oliver Twist Writers (“may I have some more?”) what they’re writing, and how much they write, it turns out they’re not writing much at all.

Write more. You’ll be paid more when you’re worth it.

2012 is just around the corner. It’s a brand new year. If you haven’t been as much focused on your writing as you should have been, make 2012 the year you concentrate on writing. The money will come.

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