I Don’t Need You to Buy Me a Coffee; I’m a Self-Respecting Writer With No Excuses Who Pays His Bills.
The title may be (intentionally) arrogant but the point is valid. If you choose not to do the work, you may as well pack it in.
Real talk. I don’t want to hear your coffee pleas.
Writing is a business.
I’ve written a bunch about that business, as a cursory view of my Medium work over the years will attest.
My writing life is no hobby. It’s the air I breathe, and not confined to the craft of writing itself.
Make no excuses and you won’t be compelled to ask strangers for a drink.
Real change will follow.
Prior to Covid I was a regular guest at writing and film conferences around the country. Sometimes I was paid (nicely) for those appearances, sometimes not. I long ago earned the freedom to make decisions about them as my agenda was to help others more than to add a few dollars to my bank account.
However, like most who do what I do for a living will tell you: “If you love what you do it’s not work.”
I did what I loved. I continue to do so, and the money follows.
