Can You Really Make Money as a Writer?

I get asked this question a lot. And the answer is a resounding, sure. 

You can make money writing. You can make a lot of money writing. Ask Stephen King and JK Rowling. With that out of the way, the question becomes whether it is a reasonable goal to make a living as a writer. 

It is. But in most cases, you have to be willing to branch out and try some new things. You have to be okay with writing some boring stuff and spending time client-hunting. Most of all, you have to be willing to put in the work. 

For many people, writing is a compulsion. That kind of writing tends to be about expressing creativity, putting words into the world that burst with meaning. You don't do that for the money. You do that because you fall into a hole of crazy when you don't - or maybe you fall further than your normal.

For most of us, the kind of writing that brings in money is work. It's boring words on paper, and it usually involves writing compelling web copy about how great some service is that you would never have heard of if a client hadn't hired you. Or it's about making a mundane product sound all jazzy and critical to a happy life. 

That's not to say you can't find joy in a daily-grind type of writing. Make yourself smile by doing something clever with a sentence or by incorporating the perfect word. There's no rule that says you can't have fun with it. In general, though, it's not going to be about what you want to write. It's about what someone is willing to pay you to write. 

Many, many self-supporting writers do that kind of work so they can afford to indulge in the good stuff. I know plenty of writers who labor for the man from 9 to 12 and then allow themselves artistic freedom in the afternoon hours. 

So yeah, you can definitely make some money if you're good at writing. Not everyone is, and you might as well take advantage of the gift if you have it. For most people, though, you've got to put in the work. There's no way around it. 

So go. Write. Bulk up your bank account with veggies and then bring on the chocolate cake.