5 Popular Writing Myths That Are Crap

If I see one more ‘don't write for money’, article I will scream

So I’m just going to get into it. The writing advice out there is shady as hell.

Writing is hard. I mean for God’s sake no one intentionally trades peace of mind for tired eyes, hunched achy back, and headaches from staring at the screen too long. Writers write because the damn compulsion won’t leave us alone.

So it is particularly disappointing when writers are treated as by the way. You need only look at the paltry pay of $0.01-$0.05 per word pandered on certain questionable sites. Yes, it's been argued that it's a great starting point (is it though?), but writers deserve better.

So here are some of the 5 Popular Writing Myths that I have seen ;

Myth 1- Don’t Write For Money

Please for goodness sake write for money, especially if the opportunity presents itself.

If this is shameless of me to say, so be it. The way I see it, you do not want to be living under a bridge because you gave your talent away for free or cents. We all gotta eat.

I get inexplicably violent thoughts when I see this statement. It really grates on my nerves. It's like a carpenter or tech support giving away their skills for free. And if you think it's incomparable, therein lies the problem- you don't think writing is valuable (which is a shame, because writing is how we disseminate and deliver information).

Writing is a highly cognitive craft that takes a lot from the writer. It is freaking hard and to tell writers to not use their craft or expect chump change in return is quite frankly insulting. I mean you wouldn’t dare tell Shonda Rhimes to write for free or write for $0.05 cent per word. (Yes she is in a different league, but what we can learn from her is knowing our worth and going where our value is celebrated.)

I understand the sentiment of not writing for money because burnout is imminent. But this is where balance is needed. If you begin to see writing as a chore and not enjoyable anymore, it means you have to reevaluate your priorities. My advice, write for money but have something of yours that is yours alone.

In a utopian society, the ‘not writing for money advice’ might carry weight, but in a capitalist world where people are struggling to get by, it is damaging to advise people not to use their skills- in this case, writing, to their advantage.

However there is a caveat, Be Smart when writing for money and Manage your expectations.

Being smart means you have to know yourself enough to withstand the vultures out there ready to swoop in and take what they want whilst leaving you in the dust. It means finding work that aligns with your personal values and ethics. It means not selling your soul for a dollar (whatever that means to you).

Managing your expectations mean knowing you will have to eat humble pie from saying ‘No’ to opportunities that don't serve you; like exposure for instance. I’m sorry, but exposure won’t keep the lights on, it won’t help with the bills. Exposure won’t do you diddly squat. I mean if a major publication like HuffPost can repent from not paying its contributing writers, you can charge a decent amount for your services.

There is no shame in recognizing your talent and adding a tax on it. The best thing you can do for yourself is to find ways to get your work in front of people and organizations that will value it.

Mek nobody tek you fi eediat (Translation: don't let anyone take you for an idiot)

Side Note: If you feel yourself being imbalanced from writing solely for money, please have a separate place for your other writings. For instance, I have my personal blog where I write what I want. Now whether or not I make the move to monetize it, that is my prerogative. Right now I am enjoying having something that is mine and mine alone without the pressure of marketing it.

Myth 2- Write Everyday

Hi excuse me, you are not a robot, are you? You are a living breathing organism, right? You have hobbies right? I mean even robots are powered down at some point. Taking a break is necessary for a myriad of reasons. One of them is, if you don’t your body will force you to.

Rest and play. Take a moment.

The push to write every day is beginning to sound like another version of the toxic 24/7 hustle culture(looking at you Gary Vee). That is not healthy and is quite frankly a one-way ticket to burn out city. We especially don't need that in this climate.

The line in the sand is divided between writing every day and not. Advocates for writing every day might disagree with the sentiment of not- that's cool, more power to you.

I am on the side of not writing every day. Yes, in the world of writing, quantity=quality, but living life and experiencing things also=quality work as well. And how do we expect to experience those things if we don't actively live the life we have?

Granted, we are in a pandemic which makes things a bit challenging, but with challenges, there are opportunities. For example, you can go out for a walk (with a mask of course) around your block and enjoy humans humaning and get writing ideas; like lessons from my quirky next-door neighbor or something to that effect.

Rather than write every day, have a content schedule; how about 3 times a week? 5 days a week? whatever you decide, do it, but also make time to live life.

Myth 3- Write What You Know

You should write what you know, in fact, I highly recommend this when you start writing to test the waters and your capabilities.

However, over time, it's a great idea to explore other areas of interest and push the limits.

It is fun writing on topics you don't know. Why?

• You bring a fresh perspective
• It expands your vocabulary
• It challenges your writing
• It challenges your reality
• You become an avid learner and that is cool as heck

We are all interesting individuals with dynamic interests that exists beyond the borders of what we know, so why not explore that in writing?

Can you simplify quantum physics speak for a noob like me? Can you make me understand what would happen if the Large Hadron Collider creates a black hole and why anyone would want to press the button to TRY and make a black hole? Can you explain tech jargon to someone like me, using 4th grade English?

Reading simplified pieces of a foreign concept is refreshing and even better when it comes from someone with a genuine interest and simplified vocabulary to boot.

Myth 4- Follow The Crowd

Please don't. Unless you have to then I guess that's okay. But again be smart.

Most people are guilty of following the crowd. I mean look at the homepage of Medium. It is a classic example of people following the crowd. The top curated articles are a different rendition of the same thing. New ideas often take a backseat.

Hell, I’m doing it now. I am following the crowd by adding my voice to the many advice listicles on this platform because I know the payoff lies there. It's a formula replicated over and over again by most people on here.

You can judge me, that's okay I am doing it already. Sadly society rewards crowd followers, more so than those that express their individuality unapologetically (unless that individuality is profitable).

As hard as it is to hold on to your individuality, it is necessary especially in a world hell-bent on making you conform. So have a mind of your own. I shall leave you with this advice from my mum whenever I develop the urge to be stupid;

If your friend puts her hand in a fire, would you follow her?- My African Mom

Basically, you have your own mind. Own it, keep it, celebrate it, and express it the way you want to. You might not be paid for it, BUT at least you celebrating your individuality out in the interweb gives others permission to express their own individuality. A win in my book.

Myth 5- Writer's Block Doesn’t Exist

Pretending it doesn't happen does not mean it's untrue. Just because it doesn't happen for you, does not mean it can't happen to another person.

Hell, famous writers like Leo Tolstoy, Neil Gaiman, and (problematic) J.K Rowling have had writer's block.

It's ridiculous to say that creatives don't experience dry seasons. It happens, but what also happens is they develop systems to combat this issue. Beautiful pieces of works have been created after a period of writer’s block. Look at Henry Roth for instance who wrote the 1996 novel, Mercy of a Rude Stream, after his writer's block. Much to critical acclaim at that.

Writer’s block can come from anywhere, lack of inspiration, stretching yourself too thin, personal responsibilities, writing every day with little to no purpose, or procrastination.

It is a natural part of the creative process and is ever-present. At least for me.

Final Thoughts

Writing is a beautiful craft and I am thankful that people recognize it. What would be great though, is if writers are actually paid their due. It isn’t enough for people to recognize that it is a valuable skill, people need to act accordingly and pay writers their worth. And none of that $0.03 bullshit. Let's leave behavior like that in the dumpster that was 2020 and be better.

To recap here are the Writing myths that serve no one;

• Don't write for money
• Write everyday
• Write what you know
• Follow the crowd
• Writer's block does not exist

If you are tempted to believe the crappy advice out there, don’t, instead do yourself a favor and live by the immortal words of the modern philosopher, Rihanna;

Pay me what you owe me