#215: Writing for the Right Reasons
‘Don’t write for fame or money’ is a common piece of advice that writers who’ve made it give to the aspirants. Sure, but what’s wrong with fame and money?
Clearly, it is possible to make money from writing as millions of writers around the world do. A lot fewer are famous, but it also isn’t impossible to be known for what you write. Doesn’t everyone want to succeed in what they do?
As an adult, you have to eat and live somewhere — preferably not your mum’s house or the street. Who wouldn’t want to earn a living from writing?
I’m also pretty sure that the vast majority of successful authors didn’t just stumble into success while writing casually for kicks. They were determined and worked insanely hard. So what’s up with this 'don’t write for fame or money’ thing?
Honestly, it made me a bit nervous when I kept reading this early on. I would like to earn a living through my writing eventually. Does it mean that I’m in it for the wrong reasons?
A few years in, I realised that the advice is, in fact, genuine and well-intentioned. It’s just difficult to see the nuance behind it.
It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t want fame and money. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to succeed. The problem is only wanting those things.
Lots of people like the idea of being a writer more than actually writing. That in itself isn’t a problem — you can do whatever you want, and it isn’t anyone’s business whether you’re writing to change the world or to get laid.
The problem is that if your only motivation is that shallow, writing is a complete waste of time. You’ll have to grind way harder and sacrifice a lot more than you think to reach fame and wealth through being an author. The shallow things won’t motivate you to push hard enough and make those sacrifices to stand a chance. You will quit too soon.
The Right Reasons to Write
The good news is: you don’t need a grand vision of how you’re going to change the world with your writing or write for any noble reason whatsoever.
You just have to write about something that you care about. That’s it. Find something that you’re passionate about and write about that. What strong opinions do you have? What do you spend your days doing or thinking about? What makes your blood boil? What makes you happy?
That will lead you to people who care about the same thing. Your readers will be people who you can connect with. Writing will still be difficult, but you will be writing about your passion — that makes all the difference.
If you don’t have an obsession or something you feel strongly about, that’s fine. Try some things out. Figure out what gets you excited. Passion isn’t something you just have, you can develop it.
Writing is just a means to an end — a form of communication. You’re sharing ideas, emotions and stories with your readers.
Instead of being passionate about writing, write about your passions. The rest will take care of itself.
Hi, I’m Radek 👋. I’m a writer, software engineer and the founder of Writing Analytics — an editor and writing tracker designed to help you beat writer’s block and create a sustainable writing routine.
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#214: It Doesn’t Count If You Don’t Finish It, September 2021
#213: How to Be a More Disciplined Writer, September 2021
#212: How to Turn an Idea into a Story, September 2021
#211: Writing Every Day, September 2021
#210: Ed Sheeran on Writing, August 2021
