Why?
Because people are benefiting from your writings, your stories, your ideas, your imagination and your writing talent. You’re improving their lives, enriching their lives, contributing to their lives through the stories that you are writing.
So, since this is the case, doesn’t it make sense to receive money for your work in a way that exudes confidence and pride, too?
Why hide this under the carpet? Why not take responsibility for this and treat this subject in an adult way?
Please stop overlooking something that is your responsibility and please stop dishonoring yourself as a person and a writer by pretending you don’t need or don’t want to be paid/receive money for your novels and work.
It’s just not authentic and doesn’t do you any justice.
I made money with my novels, and am still making. And you know why?
Because many years ago, after publishing my first novel in 2009, I gave a copy of my novel to a childhood friend, and obviously, knowing her since childhood, I gave it to her for free; it didn’t even cross my mind to want money for the book.
After some days, I go and visit her, and I see my novel on a shelf in her living room. I asked her if she started reading the novel, to which she said:
“Oh no, I didn’t even open it, I had no time”
I can’t tell you how bad and bitter I felt; how disappointed I felt and sad.
So here I am, giving you a piece from my soul and heart, my soul`s work in this world and you don’t even bother to open it up? For real?
That’s how it really hit me that people almost never value things they receive for free.
So anyway, I put the novel back on the shelf, spent a few more minutes with her and left but as I was leaving I felt in my heart how a strong decision was born – the strongest decision I have ever made:
Never. Never, never again will I give free copies of my books. Never and I don’t care what you think about this or how you will label it. I don’t care because it’s my truth and it’s coming from within, and what`s coming from within ought to be honored.
Because by giving my books for free, I’m dishonoring myself as a writer, I’m dishonoring my work here in this world and ultimately, I’m dishonoring myself as a person, too. And by giving them copies of my novel for free I’m depriving them of receiving the value of my novel – value meant to contribute to them – because since it’s something they don’t pay for it`s likely they’ll just put it on a drawer and never read it, thinking they’ll read it eventually, someday.
So for me, things are very simple and I’ve learned my lesson:
No handing out copies of my novels for free. Hell no, both I and my novel deserve better than this and it’s my duty as a writer and creator of my art to hold my ground, create some clear boundaries and protect my dominion just like a tiger does with its territory.
You must protect what it’s yours, otherwise, you’ll never live how you want, never have the things you want, will never be where you want as a writer and it all starts with knowing what you allow and what you don’t allow linked to you as a writer, your work and your books. This is all.
I hope this sharing of mine managed to produce some breakthroughs and shifts for those of you who are meant to read this post and receive its messages.
Honor yourself as a writer. Honor your work and the fruits of your work – your novels.
Just like a doctor is entitled to expect themselves to be paid for their work of helping & healing people, so too writers are entitled to expect themselves to be paid for the art that they are creating in the world because there’s really no difference between these two: it’s the same work of high value, it’s still value meant to improve people’s lives.
The only difference is that this value is delivered differently, but value – nonetheless.
As such, if you’re a writer and you want to be paid for your life`s work, start thinking and accepting that it’s your birthright and God-given right to be well paid for what you are doing for people and what you are producing in the world. ✍️😍👏💰🤗🌟💞
I hope this brings value in any way to you today, helping you to have the breakthroughs you need so that you feel fully in your power when it comes to asking/receiving money for your novels and work.
I’ll talk to you next time!
Keep writing. It matters more than you know. 💯🙂😍✍️🥰💕
Cristina
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