“It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.”
Tom Brokaw, American TV journalist and author
In today’s publishing world, Tom Brokaw’s quote could be reversed. Writers often find it hard to make a buck. However, they may find it easy to make a difference.
I’ve seen this with my blog, “My Son Can Dance.” I began this blog as a way to promote myself as a dance writer because I planned (and still plan) to write and publish a book about mentoring boys who want to become professional dancers. Although I have not yet written the book, I have developed a decent readership for the blog and touched many people’s lives with my writing there. I’ve received many a thank you note, and I know a variety of people go to the blog to seek out information about boys and dance. While the blog does not make me any money, it has created a platform for me as a writer in the dance world. I’ve gotten several writing gigs for dance magazines because of “My Son Can Dance.” Plus, I think I have made a difference with my blog, and that feels good.
I started my other blog, “As the Spirit Moves Me,” to promote myself as a Jewish, spiritual, human potential, and personal growth writer; I plan to publish books in these niches as well. I have gotten comments from grateful readers for my posts, which, in some cases, have been helpful to them. I have more unique visitors (readers) on that blog than I might have for a published book.
It would be nice to make money from these blogs. I could place ads in the copy, and I do have Google ads. Yet, my traffic is not high enough to make me any real money; you make about $1 per every 1,000 page views (not visitors). It is possible, however, to build the kind of traffic that makes money with ads.
You can also make a huge difference by answering questions in LinkedIn group discussions. A large amount of information is offered there that helps people and meets their needs. When you provide sound advice and knowledge, group members will express their gratitude and possible even seek out yoru services.
Everyone needs to make money–even writers. It’s also nice to make a difference, and most writers do want to touch lives, create change, help others, etc. with their writing. So, whether you are making money or not, consider focusing your writing on making a difference. You might actually be surprised to find that you gain more readers that way and ultimately make more money.
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i use a combo of shea butter and aloe vera moisturizer. Works great. I use shea butter on my lips, around my eyes and nose (dry areas), My father swears by vasoline.
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
I’m a songwriter. Generally I write about what interests me or touches me, but now and then I write to order. The songs I wrote for “I’m All Ears,” a CD to help prepare little kids to learn to read (phonemic awareness) do good but also became my money-maker. You never know.
Mary Pipher (who wrote Reviving Ophelia, about adolescent girls) has a whole book on this topic. From her website: “Writing to Change the World is intended to help people who have a message they’re passionate about to convey it clearly through writing.” She gives great hints about writing everything from a letter to the editor to a book.
You make a great point, Nina.
I don’t have a blog; I have an e-zine called Writer Advice, http://www.writeradvice.com. We’ve been around in one form or another since 1997 and the purpose has always been to help writers. So I’m not changing the whole world, but I am offering tools and ideas to others. I guess that makes me a stepping stone. Responses from readers assure me that that Writer Advice makes a difference.
Lynn
http://www.writeradvice.com
Author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers
That’s great! I’ll have to have a look at your e-zine. If you ever need articles, let me know…and if you ever want to do a guest post for me at Write Nonfiction Now!, feel free to propose something.