how to make money from writing
TRANSCRIPT
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HOW TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING
adam smiley poswolsky AUTHOR, THE QUARTER-LIFE BREAKTHROUGH
SMILEYPOSWOLSKY.COM
@whatsupsmiley
Copyright 2016 by Adam S. Poswolsky. All rights reserved.
agenda• story: how (and why) i started writing at the age of 27
• things I wish I knew when i started writing
• tips for writers to turn their words into income
• Q&A with StartingBloc Writers Community
• wrap-UP: writing rituals and resources
PART I. story: how (and why)
i started writing at the age of 27
MY writing JOURNEY
ignore people who tell you not to pursue your dreams
fuck passion find persistence
you are a “reaL” writer today.
PART II. things I wish i knew when i
started writing
rejection is part of the journey
SMILEY: you’re ass ain’t
seth godin
BE PATIENT
SPEND 3* YEARS WRITING
*or 5, or 10, or 20 :))))
KNOW YOUR WHY WHY must YOU WRITE?
WHAT DO YOU WRITE ABOUT? WHY DO YOU CARE?
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
write what you love * !
*if what you love is kinda unique *if what you love resonates with others
*IF what you love has a relevant, passionate audience *if what you love matters
don’t write what you know * !
*write something people need to read.
PART III. tIPS FOR WRITERS TO TURN THEIR WORDS INTO INCOME
START BUILDING YOUR PLATFORM todaySimple Website
Email Newsletter Blog or Medium (both!)
SOCIAL MEDIA avoid the noise
focus on 2-3 platforms you care about
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START YOUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER YESTERDAY
WRITING DOESN’T PAY (AT LEAST NOT AT FIRST)
WRITING DOESN’T PAY (AT LEAST NOT AT FIRST)
SPEAKING PAYS CONSULTING PAYS
TEACHING PAYS (errr… sometimes) FREELANCING PAYS
BEING AN “ADVISOR” PAYS GETTING A JOB PAYS
but…..
use your writing as leverage to
seek alternative income sources
WANT TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING?
BECOME AN EXPERT
CULTIVATE A NICHE
WANT TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING?
give yourself press
WANT TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING?
stop pitching to the new york times
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY: FOCUS ON WRITING1 HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH LEVERAGE
PIECE PER QUARTER
submit content to small, yet popular
niche blogs & publications(Medium publications, LifeHacker, TechCrunch, FastCo, Mind Body Green, Elephant Journal, TechLadyMafia, I Hate Gluten, Paleos R Us, etc. etc.)
cross post: medium, linkedin !
and other sites where you retain rights for your work
EVEN BETTER, submit guest posts to popular niche SINGLE-AUTHOR websites
START A PATREON campaign
WANT TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING?
PUT UP A PAYWALL OR PAYPAL BUTTON
WANT TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING?
launch a crowdfunding campaign
WANT TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING?
SELF-PUBLISH YOUR BOOK
WANT TO MAKE MONEY FROM WRITING?
• launch (or guest ON) a podcast • launch a visual storytelling platform (techies.com) • WRITE A YOUTUBE OR VIMEO SERIES • USE NEW MEDIA PLATFORMS: SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, ETC. • anticipate the next trend (hint: it’s not “10 ways to do x…”)
TRADITIONAL blogs ARE DEAD (UNLESS YOU ARE SETH GODIN —
BUT REMEMBER: YOU’RE ASS AIN’T SETH GODIN!)
write content for company blogs & social media
when you’re starting out, you will write for free
BUT: an article i wrote for FAST COMPANY for free, led to a $10,000 speaking GIG*
*Two years later :)
so, is getting paid $100 an article you want to do?
OR, IS MAKING A LOT OF INCOME FROM WORK RELATED TO YOUR WRITING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?
WHY MY FRIEND RYAN REFEREED DODGEBALL
WHILE HE WAS FREELANCING FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES
PART Iv. writing rituals & resources
• write first thing in the morning, before email • write at the same time and place every day (ritual) • no email/ phone/ Facebook while writing • always carry a small moleskine journal • always be reading 1 fiction & 1 non-fiction book
a few writing habits I have
• deadlines = books = $ • writing = extended focused attention • know where and when you write best • saying no to others = saying yes to your craft • break up your writing into small assignments • friends don’t make good editors
a few writing tips
• self-control • medium • squarespace, strikingly, wordpress • scrivener, 750 words • recommended AUTHOR websites: Jeff goins, tim grahl • recommended books on writing: the war of art, bird by bird, the
artist’s way, the crossroads of should and must, tiny beautiful things.
• book marketing: your first 1000 copies, ape: artist- publisher - entrepreneur, the
unconventional guide to publishing
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a few writing tools
PART v. Q&A
