I’ve been going over a few apps to review, and a lot of what I’ve come across are those that help you decide what to write next. I prefer writing the story I want to tell. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make money, but I write for different reasons.
Would I love to make enough money from my books to retire as a freelancer? Absolutely. I’d love not to stress about a monitor going out on me because I don’t have the money to buy a new one.
But, I’m not going to sacrifice who I am for the sake of potentially making a few bucks.
Now, I’m not saying that jumping on trending bandwagons is a bad thing. If done properly, you can make quite a bit of money while still creating things you love.
I’ve just never been good at following trends. I’d rather create the things I want to see in the world. And in most cases, that’s not what “experts” would call…efficient.
Why I Write Blogs and Books
Everyone has a reason as to why they want to write. A lot of folks I met during the live interviews seem centered more on telling a good story rather than making bank on Amazon.
But then I’ve seen quite a few YouTubers who push trends and how anyone can make money publishing books. I’ve also seen quite a few push the generative AI narrative to make money. Everyone has their cup of tea, I suppose.
So, why do I write the things I do?
I Have Stories to Tell
I have an overabundance of stories I’d love to share. If I could do nothing but write books all day, that’s what I would do. From Dark Fantasy novels like Kingmaker to horror books on Wattpad, I have no shortage of things to write.
On the upside, I’m never bored. There’s always something more I can write whether it’s in a book or as a blog post.
Take my next book, Shadows of Atlantic City, for example. The only one who asked for a dark western was my brother-in-law. As such, I have no idea if it’s going to sell a lot of copies. But it was a story I really wanted to tell and had a great time telling it.
I often write things just to see if I can write them.
I Thrive On Helping Others Any Way I Can
The reason I do about 90% of what I do every day is to help others. Over the years, I’ve helped people start writing careers, build blogs, and publish books. And it’s the “thank you” messages that drive me to do what I do.
Sure, I get excited when the blog and YouTube channel have $5 days at the same time on AdSense. However, I kept the YouTube channel going for six years before it was monetized simply because I wanted to help others.
It’s also the reason why I don’t have as many sponsorships or affiliate links as other creators. I don’t just take the money and run, and your product has to appeal to my audience. If it has issues, I’m going to let my readers and viewers know about them.
I Love to Learn and Grow
Writing is a great way to learn and grow in a variety of ways. For instance, when I write about certain health and fitness topics for my other blog, I get to learn a few things that will help me along the way.
When I write a review about a writing app, it gives me a chance to see if there is something that might help in my career as well as helping someone who may be curious about the same app.
Every book I write gets me one step closer to being a pretty good author. And if I find a new marketing method that helps me sell more books, I let everyone know in either a blog post or a video.
It’s all about learning and growing as I continue to write.
I’m Immensely Proud of What I’ve Accomplished
I am quite proud of the things I’ve accomplished thus far. Not only have I built up a great freelancing career, but I’ve kept the books, blogs, and videos going to help others.
Sure, some of my past stories on Wattpad make me cringe a bit. But they also demonstrate just how far I’ve come since 2016. And given everything that has been thrown at me over the past decade, I’m handling it all quite well.
The bottom line is that I am proud of every word I write regardless if people read it or not. Because in the grand scheme of things, more people give up than see their dreams through to the end. And I never give up.
Writing, In Any Form, Is Fun for Me
I’ve always been a writer since I was nine years old. I’m kicking myself in the ass because it took so long for me to realize my potential. But at least I am doing what I was meant to do from the start.
I enjoy writing in any form. Blog posts, books, video scripts, instruction manuals…I am happiest hammering out something on my keyboard. Even if a blog post gets 0 views, I still enjoy the process.
Like they say, “If you do something you love, you’ll never work another day of your life.” And that’s how I feel…I don’t “work” in the traditional sense as writing is always something I want to do.
It Doesn’t Matter What Others Think
The Internet is full of trolls who go out of their way to try to make you feel bad about yourself. Yes, there are a lot of people out there who make far more money than I do following trends to write books on Amazon. But that’s not what drives me.
It really doesn’t matter what anyone else might think or if someone is pulling in $10,000 per month as a self-published author. All that really matters is that you’re getting what you want out of the experience.
Well, that is unless you’re using AI to write your book. In that case, I have zero respect for you as an author. But even then, does what I think of you really matter? At the end of the day, I’d say, “No.”
As long as you’re proud of the person looking back at you in the mirror, then who’s to say you’re doing it wrong?
So, use tools like KDSpy or Publisher Rocket to see what trends you can follow for selling books. If it’s something that piques your interest, so be it. I’m just saying I’d rather write the story I want to tell and then hope for the best.
That and get better at marketing my books. That would make a big difference, I think.
I’m sure one of these days I’ll jump on a trend just to see what happens. For me, it’d probably give me a few ideas for future content for the blog and YouTube channel. But overall, I will always prefer to write the stories that are in my head whether they are part of a trend or not.
My point to all of this is that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Write the characters and the plots that you want to see in a book. Everyone has an audience, and it just means you’ll have to work a bit to find yours. Either way, at least you’re following your dreams.
Why Do You Want to Be a Writer?
Don’t get me wrong, I would love a $3 million home and a line of best-selling books with a few television shows under my belt. But I can live without those things if it means doing what I love.
Whether you’re in it for the money, fame, or as a hobby, your reasons are your reasons. You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone as long as you’re following the path you want to take.
Just keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their opinions. Your voice will be different from that of others. Follow your path and be the person you want to be.
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