What Stephen King Said About Writing and Making Money?

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief, Southern Writers Magazine

It should not amaze me when I hear people ask me this question. But it always does. Why? Well, to be truthful, they probably know the answer; they’re just hoping I can give them one that is better and a faster way. Oh, I don’t fault them for wanting to know if there is such a thing. Let’s face it, we all wish there was one.

So what is the question? The one I hear the most is, “How can I make money with my writing?” Now, that is a legitimate question. However, there is more than one answer. It can go in many different directions for a writer.

Stephen King said, “Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”

As so many successful authors have said down through the ages, if you are getting into writing to make a lot of money, you are choosing the wrong career. Yes, there are writers who make a great deal of money.  However, I don’t think we realize that when they started writing they weren’t making big bucks. They weren’t overnight successes pulling in the dough.

They spent their time learning and writing. The more they learned the more they wrote, the better they became. Along with that however, when their writing got better they started trying to get their name out so people would come to know who they were.

Today, I think we have it easier to a degree. In Hemingway’s day, they didn’t have blogs, blog tours and such. We have them at our fingertips. These blogs help get our name recognized much faster. Guest posting on other peoples blogs is a quick way, especially when we tell our friends to drop by and say hello. We can drop by any blog and just leave a comment. We can plaster our name everywhere. And it doesn’t cost us a dime…just a little time in blogging and posting.

We preach a lot about how writing is a business. Some writers don’t like to hear that. Nevertheless, it is true. It’s not a hobby. As with any business, it takes time to grow the business and to become known. We have to be persistent in doing the necessary things, every day: this includes, writing, research, social media, marketing and promoting all the while learning our craft.

We have to invest our time and money. But if it is important to us, we will do exactly that. It’s nice to have friends who will help you along the way, but in the end, we are the ones to have to pay the dues to become successful.  

We never know that exact moment the door is going to open to success. But we do have to make the effort to prepare the way for it to open.

So what is the question we should be asking? Where are the blogs I should be posting on to get my name out?