Why Do You Write?

Before you sit down and start writing, you need to ask why you are writing in the first place. Different people write for different reasons, and some of those reasons don’t make for great writing.

Money: Let’s nail this one right off the bat. The odds of you making any money at writing are slim to none. You may make enough to pay for materials, but that’s about it, and that’s if you are extremely lucky. The problem is that most people either don’t go in with a business plan, or they go in it specifically for the money.

Because this is a business that depends so heavily on the art, you can’t really predict what kind of money you will make; the art will either be incredible or mediocre, and either a fan favorite or not. And neither has anything to do with the other.

Fame: This is more likely, but not by much. Fame in any art is fleeting; this is exacerbated with any internet-based art form, given the web’s fickleness. If you want fame, try a rock band instead or an acting career instead; at least you will have something permanent to remember your fame by, not to mention some interesting stories.

Advertising: This is sort of debatable. The idea is that the website acts as an advertising panel for your art. The problem with this is that you are trying to run two entirely different kinds of business. The main business requires a certain kind of mindset; you have the same kind of self-promotion, but you can go for weeks or months without having to post anything more than a social media post. Articles, however, require a posting at least once a week. Only the worst writers don’t have decent storytelling skills, and without them, the writing falls flat. As it was your source of advertising, your business could die quickly. Seriously debate this.

Because You Have To: Now, we’re talking. The more passionate you are about what you want to do, the more successful you can be. If you need to draw, and you don’t feel good unless you have written or drawn something, then that’s the best sign. You may see it as a way to join the Major Leagues, even if you need some training and experience. But this is something you see yourself doing for a long time, just like you intend to breathe for a long time, but you should consider breathing optional; without the writing, you are nothing. That’s what I’m talking about, and that’s the only acceptable response.

Before you take up the pen, you need to seriously debate the reason why you’re doing it. Given that it’s not an easy road, if it’s for any reason besides love of the art, it won’t likely end the way you were expecting.