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7:15 a.m. PT: Writing is something I’ve felt compelled (in a good way) to do most of my life. I never thought I’d be able to support myself with it. But I am. Well, I blog for a living. I blog for businesses. Blogging is writing, but it’s a different kind of writing. The ultimate goal is to make a living writing books and articles, not updating blogs.
Writing has always been a part of who I am, but it was still a hobby for many years. A few years ago, I managed to turn it into a profession. The thing about writing is that you never know when and how it will pay off. Feeling like you have no choice but to write certainly helps keep you motivated, payoff or not.
If you surfed here from Google looking for political news, I have none for you. But maybe you can get something out of this visit by answering two questions. Regular readers, I’d like to hear from you, too.
Perhaps you’re a musician struggling to make a living, but one who is compelled to make music whether or not it pays the bills. Or maybe you have a hobby that makes the 9-5 grind easier to take. Your job isn’t challenging enough, or it’s too stressful, or downright boring. Engaging in a hobby can keep you sane.
1) Is there something you feel you must do (teach, preach, write, draw, make music, etc.)?
2) If you could, would you try to make a career (part time or full time) doing it?
Update (5/9): Here’s what stinks about being a writer: pitching an idea to an editor, not hearing from the editor, reading a story based on your idea sometime later, and knowing the editor got the article idea from you. That’s the way it goes sometimes. Still stinks. 
But I’ll have a good weekend, anyway 
And I hope you do, too.
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I must write. There are other things I’m compelled to do too, which is why I’ve always found it hard to figure out what I wanted to be when I (or the kids) grew up.
The problem with writing books and articles is that it’s hard for me. My natural writing style is essays, which don’t sell well. But when blogging came along, I discovered that I’ve always been a blogger waiting for technology to catch up with me.
As far as making money with blogging, no. I’ve already decided not to put the google ads on my blog, because I don’t want to give them control over what shows up. And blogging for somebody else seems as though it would take some of the fun out of it.
Well, for me I’ve always had a passion for music even though I don’t play a note, I would love to work in that industry particularly in the Christian Music industry. We’ll see where God leads.
My wife also feels compelled to write, she currently has a homeschool blog that she maintains,you can click on my name to check it out
but she would like to do more, like articles or books.
1. There are three things that I am driven to do. I must write, teach and I must tell the truth in love, pointing people to Jesus.
2. I am just beginning to think about how to turn my writing into a career. I am learning how to make queries, submit articles, fillers and whatnot for publication. I trust that the Lord will lead me each step of the way. But the whole process is a bit intimidating!
Good for you, Yvonne! Querying and submitting are necessary.
Thanks Chuck and Skye!
While I enjoy both reading words and listening to music, I have no skills at creating either.
I am driven to try to tease truth from vast arrays of numbers.
If I had my druthers, I’d spend all of my time writing. I always hankered to be a writer of fiction. I always thought that was my future because I am such an avid reader of fiction (and non-fiction and, in extremis, the cereal box). Blogging has led me to at least start writing on a daily basis. The destination from there is unknown. But at age 65, I suspect I’d best hustle my bustle!
I just now tripped over to your blog for the first time from some other blog (Scrappleface, I think) and was surprised to have an emotion evoked upon reading your 7:15 a.m. entry…
I have always loved to write (esp. poetry, and college research/term papers) but it was not encouraged in my family for males to pursue “artistic” endeavor (one of my sisters is a professional artist, and both play the piano) as a profession. By the time my family and friends discovered I could write (and I am sought after in family gatherings for my storytelling) it was about a quarter century too late…
…I graduated from college, finally, at the age of 32 (in ‘95) to teach secondary edu. but discovered that “teaching” is not encouraged so much these days (so much as indoctrination-baby sitting) and I needed to pay for college and could not with only the part-time start-ups (the baby- boomers hadn’t started their exodus yet)so I was compelled to leave (not unwillingly) what I had been trained to do.
I have semi-successfully put away the poetry (too cripplingly introspective), and as long as I remain unmarried, the idea of teaching as well. After serious back injuries, surgeries, and most specifically, God’s miraculous healing, He provided me with the discovery I have some talent for investing, so I day-trade…but the poetry still vibrates in mental cords just below the surface all day, everyday…
Incidentally, John Hawkins gave Rachel Lucas C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” for her birthday and her feedback on it was, well, startling. Very worth the trip over there to her “religion” section to read it and the subsequent comment thread…
Thank you for running this blog, La Shawn, it was nice to meet ya! Keep it going…
Music. I play constantly. If I could make a living at it, without compromising my principles, I would. Unfortunately, the industry is stacked against any such thing.
Maybe some day.
1) Writing extremely obscure and strange things that nobody should want to read, much less comprehend.
2) Yes. If I can just compel enough avid readers to buy extremely obscure and strange things that nobody should want to read…
La Shawn
There is nothing that I feel I must do, but I do feel that I should be doing a bunch of stuff. This is both for my own personal development (using my talents, so to speak) as well as to demonstrate to my kids that you don’t go into a shell as an adult. My activities have included acting (community stuff), refereeing basketball, coaching baseball, becoming a Stephen Minister, marching drum corps, wanting to learn how to fly, and converting from Agnostic to LDS then finally to Catholicism. It’s been a ride and I can’t wait to find out where it goes from here.
I would love to make a career out of any/all of them but am realistic about it. The one thing I’ve looked into was Christian Counseling, but the financial burden on the family is a bit much to justify and so Stephen Ministry is working just fine to scratch that itch for now.
I am a writer and musician (singer/songwriter) and would love to make a living from both. Of the two, writing feels more of a calling. But since I write songs, then I guess that calling filters over to that realm as well.
Currently I write documentation and train on applications for a living, but I have always strongly desired to make writing books, articles and screenplays my main career. My book is almost finished, and my agent is positive about it being saleable, so hopefully that dream can be fulfilled sooner, rather than later.
1. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve discovered that I lack an obsessive gene. There are a myriad of things that I love doing, specifically cooking and singing, but I never wanted either to become a career because I didn’t want them to become a chore. I love entertaining and cooking for friends and family, and am compelled to do that, but for some reason, not as something I HAVE to do for a living.
While in graduate school, however, the thing that God kept putting on my heart was international business, and I’m happy to say that he brought that to fruition. I love my job now because it allows me to engage the opportunity to travel and engage in international business. I think that that is what I’m most compelled to do.
2. I have thought about starting a gourmet food based company as a viable option down the road.
I too feel very strongly compelled to write. I am in a season of trying to figure that out. I want to blog, write essays, articles and books!
… and teach, speak and ….and … and
My big thing is “communicate.” Trying to figure out what the priorities are is something I am praying through right now so this post is timely.
I always dreamed of writing “someday” but stayed too busy running a business. Then I had a severe stroke and realized I might not have “someday.” After months of therapy, I could finally type again and started my first novel. Since then I’ve published two novels and a nonfiction book, and I’ve discovered my true love is editing. I am blessed to be able to help self-publishing authors bring their dreams to reality. I do my own wriitng on my blog where I get to share my faith as well as talk about writing, editing, and publishing.
Writing. And teaching. Apparently I may have some spiritual gift in exhortation/teaching. I know I certainly enjoy explaining stuff to people. And my Maths teacher had me preparing a lesson plan for the day once.
Writing is hard work, though, so I do not do as much of it as I would like to – outside of work, that is.
I always love your blog and myspace page, though I don’t often go to my “space.” I greatly enjoy reading, mostly nonfiction.
I enjoy painting, from landscapes to imaginary…
It would be awesome to consider myself an artist and have the monetary reward too. I enjoy interior decorating and have provided the art work to go along with the room.
I’m in love (LOVE) with being in supportive positions of various kinds. From a sort of personal assistant perspective. Also, providing creative suggestions or tweaking, seems like an area I’m gifted. Others are busy doing the actual big picture and I come along to support and input on little things that might have been missed. Gosh, some people actually do get paid for this! If any of you have a deficit of time and an excess in cash… I’m your gal! I do “windows” too
Be truly blest, one and all.
Oh, and while these comments are open La Shawn, you look marvelous in the photo with the radiant Rissi. You look radiant also!
XXO
I MUST sing. I sing in church and another group outside of that. We may be able to make money in the future, but even if we don’t, I’ll still be singing. If the opportunity comes to make a living doing it, I’d go after it.
I also like to write, but I am not proactive enough about MAKING time to do it. Being the single mom of an 8 year old doesn’t help that! I’ve had a blog for about 8 years, in some way or another…but right now, it’s being woefully neglected.
Hi La Shawn,
Looking foward to buying and reading your book….I have always enjoyed reading your blog, although I must admit I really miss your political commentary. Good Luck and Best Wishes!
Sparky
The only thing I feel I absolutely must do and if I couldn’t do I would just need to curl up and die is share the Gospel of Christ. I have some hobbies about which I am passionate, but all but one of those actually just serve as vehicles for sharing the Gospel. (My music production, writing, voice over work and so on.)
I do love fishing and fly tying though, and it’s hard to imagine not doing them.
I HAVE to grow things, that is a passion for me. I also have a passion for bluegrass music and am learning to play the mandolin. I’ll never make a living at either of them. I’m a student and teacher of theology and worked in ministry for several decades and it was the BEST thing to be earning my living at something I loved. Alas, now I toil away for the State of Missouri, but I do like my job. It’s just NOT a passion.
I am good with languages. I enjoy Biblical Greek, so I would like to learn more biblical languages and share it with others. Not sure how to go about it though:)
I’m a regular reader, so I’ll share: There are a few things that I feel like I “must” do: 1) write, which is why I have a couple blogs and do fiction writing (still developing my craft). I do some business writing and write some stuff for a radio show I work for. Which brings me to the second thing I “must” do: radio! Even though it’s a very tough business with lots of jerks and heartbreaks, I feel like I “have” to be involved with it somehow. I almost left it, but managed to stay in it part time (though it’s daily). 3) language: I love language, so I’ve found a way to be paid to “study” it via translating. Teaching is something else I also do part time, which is like a “calling” that I can’t seem to totally give up, but it doesn’t have my heart like radio
So the bottom line is everything I do is what I’m interested in, and are ways to use my gifts, though I don’t make much money at it.
I forgot to mention that thinking, analyzing, learning, and “intellectualizing” are definitely things I MUST do, and I sort of have that outlet in the work I do, but I’d love to live in the world of ideas and communication a lot more (I am not an introvert). I love discussing ideas and sharing information with people.
I have to fix things. My wife is constantly reminding me I do not need to fix everything (especially her…;-). It makes it hard because when I am engaged with people I want to fix whatever is broken…
I also have to tell stories, whether fiction, true, or even the story of an idea or situation. I guess you could say I like poking around things and describing what I see and what insights I get. I have found the best way to do this is to write. I used to preach and teach and mentor, but that carries very heavy demands, especially emotionally. Writing is a bit easier because you are one level less vulnerable.
I finally finished my first work of fiction (I have five technical books published). It only took 16 years… Hear is prayin’ and hopin’ the second one gestates a little faster, say 8 months or so…
Grace and peace.
LaShawn, perhaps you should become your own editor.
Purchase the book “Aiming at Amazon” and get busy self publishing.
Buck
1. There has never been anything I felt that I “must” do. There are things that pique my interest more than others, but also– I tend to float from one thing to the next, and no one thing stands out.
2. I don’t always believe that work should be fun. Maybe moments of amusement here and there, but 24-hour fun, …. is the next Planet, in the hereinafter.
1.) Music. I’ve felt that way for a long time and for many years there was something lacking in my life for not being in a band. Not that I’m back making music, I see how much I missed it.
2.) Yes, I would like to make a career out of it. Since I’m getting paid, albeit not very much, to play music I guess you could say I’m already part time, but it would be great if I could make my sole living from playing music.
I’ve had, and have, many other interests, including writing, but nothing that reached the level of passion that I feel for music.
I’ve always wanted to write, and enjoy it once I am doing it, but also procrastinate till I am right there with pen (fingers) to page (keyboard).
I don’t think I am good at much else.
I started out rewriting a book of nursery rhymes to make them sound more exciting; i love writing letters, poems, lyrics, short stores, but tend to do it in spurts or for my my friends’ reading pleasure; I have yet to actually seriously ‘write’. It frustrates my partner that i don’t send things off to publishers–no matter how great or small the publishing company is–in fact he calls me being AFRAID OF SUCCESS…hmmm now i know there’s a story in there somewhere. Redtopp in DC
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