#215: Writing for the Right Reasons
âDonât write for fame or moneyâ is a common piece of advice that writers whoâve made it give to the aspirants. Sure, but whatâs wrong with fame and money?
Clearly, it is possible to make money from writing as millions of writers around the world do. A lot fewer are famous, but it also isnât impossible to be known for what you write. Doesnât everyone want to succeed in what they do?
As an adult, you have to eat and live somewhere â preferably not your mumâs house or the street. Who wouldnât want to earn a living from writing?
Iâm also pretty sure that the vast majority of successful authors didnât just stumble into success while writing casually for kicks. They were determined and worked insanely hard. So whatâs up with this 'donât write for fame or moneyâ thing?
Honestly, it made me a bit nervous when I kept reading this early on. I would like to earn a living through my writing eventually. Does it mean that Iâm in it for the wrong reasons?
A few years in, I realised that the advice is, in fact, genuine and well-intentioned. Itâs just difficult to see the nuance behind it.
It doesnât mean that you shouldnât want fame and money. Thereâs nothing wrong with wanting to succeed. The problem is only wanting those things.
Lots of people like the idea of being a writer more than actually writing. That in itself isnât a problem â you can do whatever you want, and it isnât anyoneâs business whether youâre writing to change the world or to get laid.
The problem is that if your only motivation is that shallow, writing is a complete waste of time. Youâll have to grind way harder and sacrifice a lot more than you think to reach fame and wealth through being an author. The shallow things wonât motivate you to push hard enough and make those sacrifices to stand a chance. You will quit too soon.
The Right Reasons to Write
The good news is: you donât need a grand vision of how youâre going to change the world with your writing or write for any noble reason whatsoever.
You just have to write about something that you care about. Thatâs it. Find something that youâre passionate about and write about that. What strong opinions do you have? What do you spend your days doing or thinking about? What makes your blood boil? What makes you happy?
That will lead you to people who care about the same thing. Your readers will be people who you can connect with. Writing will still be difficult, but you will be writing about your passion â that makes all the difference.
If you donât have an obsession or something you feel strongly about, thatâs fine. Try some things out. Figure out what gets you excited. Passion isnât something you just have, you can develop it.
Writing is just a means to an end â a form of communication. Youâre sharing ideas, emotions and stories with your readers.
Instead of being passionate about writing, write about your passions. The rest will take care of itself.
Hi, Iâm Radek đ. Iâm a writer, software engineer and the founder of Writing Analytics â an editor and writing tracker designed to help you beat writerâs block and create a sustainable writing routine.
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#214: It Doesnât Count If You Donât Finish It, September 2021
#213: How to Be a More Disciplined Writer, September 2021
#212: How to Turn an Idea into a Story, September 2021
#211: Writing Every Day, September 2021
#210: Ed Sheeran on Writing, August 2021