Write Not for Money While Writing for Money

How to get people attracted to your writing without making them know you are doing it for money

I have never had the urge to add my voice to writers advising new writers and already established ones about why they shouldn’t make money the focal point of their works.

It should be because what informed me to go into this space wasn’t money-related. As much as I wish to make a living from writing to have the freedom to put in my all, I don’t put my mind on the money whenever I sit to write.

The reason, I’ve never added my voice to that issue. However, while I was going through the list of articles sent to me by Medium as they do for every paid subscriber via email recently, I chanced on a piece written by Jack Krier.

In the article, Jack talked about the topics people don’t want to read anymore. I read it, commented on it, and made it known about why writers won’t have to think about those topics if their reason for writing isn’t to make money.

I clarified I don’t think about those topics because my intention for being part of the art wasn’t money but to educate, inspire, and transform.

I feel the hour has arrived with Jack’s response to say something about this topic. And I give you reasons it’s not the best of practice if money is your motivation for writing. Let’s go into it;

Writing is a calling, not a money-making venture

The idea of writing never occurred to me when I completed a two-year diploma study in journalism to pursue radio broadcasting. However, after graduation, I had offers from newspaper publication to work for them.

But I declined it. I wanted to do only radio. I had discovered that I had a passion for radio and broadcast journalism.

Therefore, nothing could take off the idea, and I did that too for two years before taking advantage of an opportunity to move to Spain.

But, the radio opportunity was gone upon getting to my unfamiliar country. Not because of the language barrier, but the new environment and culture I wasn’t familiar with. I tried my best to get a radio station to work with but wasn’t successful. And being away from home, where they didn’t speak my first language —English, life became boring. So, I had to do something about it.

That was the moment writing came to mind. It didn’t happen because I thought about it. It happened because I had committed to personal development by reading books.

Coupled with my discoveries about life and the urge to let people know, I started writing. Although I didn’t know how to go about it, I knew it was the best thing to bring my lost happiness — radio, back and educate and inspire.

Could you tell I didn’t choose to write because I had no option but to let others know what I had discovered about life from the brief story I’ve shared with you? I bet you could! Why? Because I didn’t have it in mind earlier to do it.

It came as a calling to fulfill a purpose. How about you? Are you writing because it’s your calling? Or it’s because you want to make money?

The answer you give would tell who you’re in this space.

Look at how some people complain and whine if money isn’t showing up in their accounts. You can tell they’re writing for money and not for the love of it.

I haven’t even made the money I’ve invested into learning to become a better writer yet. But I don’t complain or whine. It’s not because I’m not interested in money. On the contrary, I want it but my purpose first before any other thing.

“I write because I must. It’s not a choice or a pastime, it’s an unyielding calling and my passion.” — Elizabeth Reyes

Real writers don’t write to make money

I’ve never come across any successful writer, both dead and alive, that has said they write to make money since I started pursuing this calling. Instead, whenever I have chanced on their interviews, all these prominent writers say they write because they love it and it’s their purpose.

The idea of making money has never come into the picture for them. Although they make money from it, they don’t write intending to make money.

But because they bring value to people, money gets into their hands.

It’s how every great writer out there becomes significant and prosperous financially, not through the idea of making money.

If money becomes your motivation, you will never make it as a writer

How many writers do you know who have made it financially ever spoke of money being their motivation for doing it? None. And how many of them have you seen or heard made it financially, with money being their motivation? Also, none, correct?

Money must never become your motivation. It’s not only in writing but in every other area. If you do, you’ll fail.

Think of all the major companies in the world and every person making it, financially? All these people and organizations aren’t successful because they’re making money. They’re because they’re solving problems for the people. They’re getting paid by the value they bring to the people’s lives,

That’s how you must treat your writing. If you’re writing because you want to make money, I better be clear to you’ll never make it.

Most people who started with the money idea are lost. Their intentions have failed. They’ve fallen. Whiles their colleagues, who are in the game, not for money, are the ones making money. These people are writing to inspire, educate, and solve problems.

I have made little since I started writing. But I’m not stopping. I know people will see my work, and I’ll get paid. And even if I don’t get paid, I’ll still write. I love it. It’s my calling. So, with or without money, I’ll still write.

What you are sharing through your writing, educating, or inspiring the world is your contribution to it

Since every one of us is in the world to fulfill a particular function, you should know those books, articles, etc., you’re writing isn’t just because you’re passionate about them. Instead, you should know they’re your contribution to the world.

Here’s how to know it, as I’ve put them in questions; Are the things I talk about affecting the people? Is it helping them solve problems they’re facing in their life? Do people talk about what I present to them, making a difference in their lives? Has anyone spoken about something I wrote, changing their life? Has anybody said or commented on something I wrote that it’s what they needed to read or hear because of something they were dealing with?

If you’ve heard or read someone say your words did any of the above for them, you’ve made a difference, and that’s a contribution to the world.

“Without words, without writing, and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity.” — Hermann Hesse

Now, how do you let people not feel you’re writing for their money?

• Avoid clickbait headlines — Money-conscious writers use these types of headline styles. Just look at the headline of this article you’re reading. It’s not clickbait, and you can’t say it’s one. I didn’t feel the need to make it clickbait because I haven’t written it intending to make money. So that, I’ve to deceive people into clicking on it. So I’ve put it in such a way that, if you feel the need to read it, you will, not because I want you to click on it to give me views and money.

Also, look at the subtitle. Look at how it’s nicely put together with the headline. It’s just like a book title and subtitle. That’s how impressive titles and subtitles look.

If I had to turn the idea into a book, I could do it quickly.

• Never make false promises in your writing — I’ve heard and read stories about people reading things some writers have written that didn’t reflect what they promised. Some writers make promises in their write-ups that people will discover solutions to their problems when they’re false.

An example of such pieces is; Do these seven things, and you’ll have a lot of money. Do that, and you’ll get what, what? Etc.

As much as some are true, most are false promises.

Recently, I bought a book from an author based on an interview he did that I watched. “He was like — this book is written for those who have dreams and can’t seem to find the resources to actualize them.”

But, after I read the book, the content didn’t match what he said, which got me interested in buying it. I became disappointed, but I had to move on.

The same is with some of these writers. They’re interested in money than service. They make promises that the works aren’t capable of fulfilling. You must never be one of them. It’ll never bring you any reward.

• Be honest as much as you can with the audience — Being authentic and letting your truth out will make readers connect with you well. I often know as writers, we’re afraid to let our truth and vulnerabilities show in our works because we feel the world will be on our shoulders.

But readers are humans, too. They always want to relate to writers that make it easy to feel vulnerable. So while you share yours, you permit them to do the same.

Trent Shelton put it best; “Your transparency will lead to other people’s transformation.”

I recall how people responded and talked about “the writer’s honesty” when I wrote about it. Readers love writers that stay true to themselves.

• Write intending to help solve problems — Everything your words should be about is problem-solving. Your words should bring some freedom to the reader, even if it’s non-fiction and entertainment.

Nothing is boring like a reader spending their precious time on your work and won’t find value in it. It isn’t very comfortable to your image as the writer.

• Don’t write by following trends — This is typical of some writers. If they do not know why they are writing, they will jump on what’s trending and write about it. If today, this is what’s trending, they write about it. If it’s that tomorrow, they do the same.

So, the moment nothing is going on, they can’t find anything to write. That’s how these money-minded writers are. I have no interest in going about my writing journey like this. I don’t think you do either.

The best way is to be yourself and write about your passion. That’s it—nothing more, nothing less.

In conclusion

Writing and expecting your work reaps a reward isn’t a bad idea. You spend time, energy, and resources on it to make it happen, to get it out to the audience. And it’s through the reward; you can have the economic stability to write more to help others with solutions to their problem.

But, money should not be the main reason we engage in the art.

That’s dangerous. Because if money becomes the primary focus, the reason for our call — which is to provide solutions, becomes unimportant.

It’s the one thing I hope you understand. So, write if you claim to be a writer, not for the money but love for it.

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