"The Talk"
Writingis a deeply personal act. Everything else on this website, and in thepodcast, will talk to you about craftsmanship, about your character’stransformations and your own as an author. About pulling your readerin and not letting them eat or sleep until they’ve finished thebook you’ve written.
You’llhear us sign off with it almost every episode: write selfishly.
Butwith that mandate, we ask so much courage from you. To expose thedeepest parts of your heart. Expose the things you even keep secretfrom yourself. The best stories even teach their authors aboutthemselves. It’s a journey of growth for all parties involved.
As an author, there comes a moment when you must choose if you want to monetize your art. Monetize a part of your soul. You’re putting yourself on display with your writing. It’s a fact of life: if you monetize it (whatever “it” is) then people will criticize it. You will be criticized for it.
Theother option is to keep it secret; keep it safe. Never let it out ofthe box. If no one knows, then no one will think worse of you for it,right? Most writers actually fall into this category. They write fortheir own entertainment, and that’s enough. They may have a blog,or never even type up what they write. That’s okay.
I’llsay it again: that’s okay.
Thereis no shame in writing solely for yourself. I say to those of youthat have chosen this path: write selfishly. Write freely. Keepwriting, and don’t ever stop.
“Butwhat! Isn’t the whole point of writing to make money?”
Ifthat’s your question, I’d in turn ask you to examine why you’rewriting at all. If you’re looking for a paycheck, there are plentyof other – easier and less painful – ways to make a living.
Writingis a calling. Many people know from a young age that they’re boundto be a storyteller. Others discover it later in life. Whatever yourjourney is, it’s up to you to take it.
Writersare a special breed. We don’t just experience the world, we see itfor the truth behind the facade. There’s something chewing away atour hearts, and it only relaxes when we let it free with a pen orkeyboard.
Onceyou hand your work to others, you’re vulnerable. It’s inevitablypainful. There will be heartbreak. Agony. A raw exposure of your soulthat makes you question why you didn’t just become an accountant.
Butthere’s a joy in sharing your work with others. In knowing thatthey giggled at your joke, or wept at the same part of the story thatbrought you to tears when you wrote it. A true, contented warmth inknowing your offerings helped someone escape a terribly mundanereality.
Assomeone interested in monetizing their art, you need to have thatconversation with yourself. Do you really want to put yourself outthere? For sale, in that way, for the sake of your story?
Ifthe answer’s yes, you need to sign that contract in your soulbefore publishing.
Thechoice is yours.