| Hundreds of thousands of writers have had one | | | | works. |
| united thought - "I wish I could make a living | | | | Most articles don't sell the first time out, so let's |
| writing". | | | | pretend you submit an article to a magazine three |
| Is this your dream? Why do you think you can't | | | | times before it is accepted. Since each submission |
| have writing as a vocation? Is it the way you | | | | takes about three months response time, you |
| were raised? False humility? Feelings of insecurity | | | | have nine months tied up in that one article. The |
| and self-esteem? Lack of education? Perhaps all | | | | publisher will usually pay you upon publication, |
| of the above, since it seems few writers have | | | | which will be another three to six months of |
| the courage to believe they can actually succeed. | | | | waiting. That's a 12-15 month wait for one article. |
| Have you ever heard a factory worker say, "I | | | | That's why magazines cannot be a full-time |
| can't reach my quota"? Or a pilot say, "I can't fly | | | | writer's primary source of livelihood. |
| this plane"? Have you ever heard a teacher say, | | | | The secret lies in selling articles to newspapers for |
| "I can't teach"? Writers must think they are the | | | | $15 to $20 a shot, plus $5 extra for each picture. |
| only ones to have the corner on "I can't". | | | | The articles will be shorter and quicker for you to |
| When I was a child, I told Mom, "I can't" all the | | | | write. Newspapers won't be so picky as to |
| time, to which she would promptly reply, "Don't | | | | whether you have sold the article before. Further, |
| tell me you can't do something. Can't died in the | | | | there is an inexhaustible supply of newspapers to |
| poorhouse with his toes on upside down." Now | | | | sell to. They buy faster, print daily to weekly, and |
| please don't ask me what that means as I'm still | | | | pay immediately. You keep the articles rolling |
| puzzling over it, but eventually I got the idea that | | | | constantly, and RESELL the ones that have sold |
| the word "can't" doesn't mean I am not ABLE to | | | | already. Over a period of time, you'll get to know |
| do something. It means I CHOOSE NOT to do it. | | | | the editors and you'll know what they're looking |
| Is that what writers really mean when they say | | | | for. That's when almost every article will sell on |
| they can't make a living writing? | | | | first submission. And, while you're making your |
| Here's a NEWS FLASH for you: Even mediocre | | | | living that way, you can submit to magazines in |
| writers can make a living writing! So why do they | | | | your spare time. |
| oft times fail? Usually because they don't try hard | | | | I can almost hear someone say, "Yes, I've heard |
| enough, because they don't take enough classes, | | | | of making a living that way", yet there they sit, |
| and/or because they never had a mentor. | | | | still wishing, and not doing what they know to do. |
| However, there is one more good reason why | | | | Why is that? Maybe it's because writing for a |
| writers often fail these days, and that's because | | | | living isn't as romantic as it sounds. Maybe it's |
| they are drowning in credit card debt. | | | | because it's very hard work. Maybe it's because |
| For the sake of argument, let's say you are not | | | | most of us wouldn't be so satisfied barely eeking |
| encumbered with such debt, and that you would | | | | out a living. |
| be satisfied with making a moderate living at | | | | Or maybe it's because we are still saying, "I can't |
| writing. The question then becomes, how do you | | | | do that," when what we really mean is - "I |
| do it? Believe it or not, the answer is relatively | | | | choose not to put myself on the line. |
| simple once you understand how the system | | | | |