How to Stay Motivated...til the Money Comes

  

One of the biggest tests of a writer's commitment to his craft is the area of finances.

Let's face it: it's hard to stay the course when yo' money is funny.

And the stress over unpaid bills and uncollected invoices is bound to cause your muse to go M.I.A.

 Am I right here? 

 Money is indeed a motivator.



Which accounts for why many of us get down in the dumps and disappointed when our in-come doesn't match our out-put.
We find that this line of work is very different than being in the corporate arena, where we are paid an hourly wage to compensate us for our daily efforts. This can be challenging.
As a best-selling book title once reminded us: "do what you love and the money will come later."

In this spirit, (and as a veteran who has struggled with these issues over the years), I offer the following tips to keep you moving forward, and to help you stay grounded.

Tips to inspire and encourage...

1. Progress can be just as validating as pay sometimes. Take inventory. Did you recently break into a new market? Work on a project you're proud of? Write your first query? Sign up for a new class to enhance your skills? Enter a contest? Celebrate! There is honor in honest effort.
2. Remember, you never know who is reading your work. Even when we're not making money, we can make an impact. We can be influencers. We can champion important causes. Here's a case in point. Last week my stats were down. And my spirits were a little low too. Then I got a random email from a publisher who found my blog, through a guest post I had done many moons ago. To make a long story short, she praised me for my great work here at Pen and Prosper, and asked to feature me at her site. It made my day. Sometimes "influence" is just as important as "affluence."
3. Think like a gardener. There's a reaping season and a sowing season. Just like with writing. What you "plant" today could very well manifest into a bountiful harvest---next week, next month, or next year. But you won't know if you quit too soon. Keep growing.
4. Hone your craft to increase your cash. One reason that writers sometimes "plateau" is that they fail to learn new things or experiment with different genres of writing. Don't be one of them. Read. Study. Apply. Invest in yourself. Find a mentor. Be a life-long learner.
5. Pray. When all else fails.

Hopefully these tips will inspire you to have a terrific, progressive Tuesday. Carpe diem!

Thoughts? Agree or disagree?
Which tip resonates with you?

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