I have often envied those who earn income for writing. I have gone so far as to research freelance writing opportunities, but to no avail. I know, though, that writing as an occupation is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing to earn income for doing something that you enjoy, but doing so can potentially stifle the freedom and creativity that makes writing enjoyable.
My "payment" [please leave comments] for writing usually comes [please leave comments] in the form of feedback or comments [please leave comments] from readers. Have I mentioned that I enjoy reader's comments?
Seriously, though, I have never earned a dime for writing... until now.
My employer uses an automotive sales format in conjunction with Motor Trend and Easy Care. Our Motor Trend/Easy Care representative often asks for written "success stories" to extol the virtues of our sales process. Thinking it cheesy to write my success stories, for weeks I, along with the rest of our sales staff, have been giving him the standard "I'll have to think of one" answer.
Needing some success stories to fulfill his job requirements, he tried a more motivating tactic... cash. Until further notice, if our store produces a minimum of five written success stories per week, the best story each week earns $50.
Hmmm. I still think it's cheesy, but that's easy money! I have a lot of down time when I have no customers, and I can easily write a paragraph, or two, for a shot at a fifty dollar bill.
My story was picked last week! $50 easy money! And, now I can no longer say that I have never been paid to write. I just wish my first writing income could have been for something less cheesy and more free and creative... but, alas, therein lies the dilemma of writing for cash!
Love it! (From someone who still only gets paid in comments.)
ReplyDeleteBe careful what you ask for!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who always wanted a writing gig that paid.
Well, she finally got one. Only, it's not what she expected.
She is paid to write website content copy. She has to come up with a thousand word essays on topics provided to her. Topics she may know nothing about. Then, she is given a list of "keywords" that are required to be used in the essay in one form or another.
Sometimes the topics are interesting, but most of the time they are not. And sometimes, the topics go against her moral and ethical beliefs - such as writing about the virtues of "Escort Services", or praising the pornography industry. (She has had to write several on those topics)
Thankfully, it sounds like your opportunities provide you a little more "creative license" - and that may make all the difference in the world.
Good luck with next week's contest!!