As writers, most of us have heard:

How are you planning to make a living writing?

Writers can’t make money unless they publish a book

Shouldn’t you have a backup...you know, just in case?

Even if yours were a little different, you’ve heard something along those lines, right?

We’ve all felt the disbelieving stares when we mention we’re writers, too. There have probably even been times we’ve omitted mentioning we’re writers just to avoid the inevitable negative or doubtful comments and questions.

There’s this annoying and persistent stigma - the “starving artist” concept - that’s been attached to writers for too long. It’s time to set the record straight.

What’s the Stigma?

The stigma surrounding authors and writers is that they struggle to make money, or can’t make money at all unless formally published. Sometimes both in conjunction.

Even when writers do get books published, people often believe writers are still “starving artists” unless they become mega bestsellers. Let’s break the stigma down a little more, though, because there’s much more than money behind these assumptions.

What the Heck is a “Starving Artist”?

A starving artist is someone who forgoes material items and a steady income in order to do what they love, or what they are passionate about. It’s most commonly associated with artists, actors, and musicians, but really extends to any artform, such as writing. After all, creating worlds with words is an art.

Creating worlds with words is an art.

We’re not the only ones who think the starving artist stigma needs to go either. If you’re interested, you can check out well-known author Jeff Goins’ take - this piece is a powerful statement about why we don’t need to starve as artists. He even wrote a book about it!

When You do Anything Creative, People Assume You’re Going to Fail

Most people conclude that trying to make a living through creative means, like writing, is a long shot, or even impossible. When we try to be bold with our writing, people often ask how we plan to make money that way, or maybe just give us the side eye, saying “as if.”

Sometimes it’s hard to push past the doubt and see our path clearly, but there are numerous ways to be successful as a writer. It’s even harder when the people who question us are those who are otherwise supportive. They don’t necessarily doubt us, just this “unstable” career path.

People Don’t Understand How Writers Makes Money

The only way people really know that writers can make money is either by publishing a book or being a journalist for a magazine or newspaper.

Although this used to be the case, many people don’t realize there are many new and emerging routes for writers that are actually way more profitable than publishing a book or being a journalist. (Spoiler alert: most writers who have a published book don’t make a lot of money from it. There are other ways to make money from a book, though.)

In the digital age we live in, the opportunities to write for a good profit are bountiful and diverse - after all, who do you think writes all that website copy you read every day? Or those sales emails you get every waking second? Writers.

Why is Writing Stigmatized?

All Movies & TV...Like Ever

When we see writers on screen, they are journalists or have a backstory about a “classic” or bestselling author. In every scenario, the main character starts with major struggles to make ends meet. They just need this one big break and they will be set for life!

Unfortunately, that’s not the case for most of us who are practicing writers. We may start out a little worse for the wear, but a lot of us aren’t depending on that one big project to make or break our entire lives. Most writers have found other ways to support themselves and are doing just fine.

People Assume that if We’re Writing, We’re Writing Books

We don’t need to be writing books to be writers. Not all writers write books, and that’s okay! There are many other ways to be a professional writer. Copywriting, content writing, email writing, blog writing, song writing, and technical writing are all profitable forms of writing. The concept of writing itself has evolved a lot because of the constant growth in technology in the modern world.

We don’t need to be writing books to be writers.

Even if you are simply writing for yourself, you can still call yourself a writer! There’s no reason we shouldn’t consider someone a writer just because they haven’t published, or publicly shared their writing with others.

People Assume We have to Publish a Book to be Successful

Publishing a book can certainly be helpful, but it’s not necessary. Writers can find success in many different fields. If you’re writing stories, you can use websites like Patreon, Wattpad, and Medium to post content and earn money. You can also make your content free if you want - money does not always equal success.

Blogging and social media are great ways for us to share our writing with others if we don’t want to publish a book, but still want to find success. There are great opportunities to collaborate with others, or to create your own website, if you’re willing to do a little research.

What’s Wrong with the “Starving Artist” Picture?

First of all, it’s untrue.

There are so many ways to make money and be successful as a writer. If you want to write, do it. Don’t let the fear or stigma of writers not being able to make money hold you back. Find the right niche and make a plan to follow your dreams. There’s nothing wrong with not making money from your writing, but there’s also nothing wrong with making a good living from it!

People do it every day. You’re not alone - none of us who call ourselves writers are. We are not alone as writers! There are writing communities to back you up no matter which branch of writing you decide to try. Connect with fellow writers, ask questions, and remember, you CAN be a successful writer!

Second, it’s time to write a new narrative about writers.

We can forge new paths for ourselves and find success down any avenue we choose.

When someone tries to tell you writers don’t make money, or aren’t successful unless they’re published - don’t take it sitting down. Remind them that the starving artist is a thing of the past, or an idea for the movies. We can forge new paths for ourselves and find success down any avenue we choose.

Shake off the fears and doubts of others. Anyone who’s not a writer doesn’t really know how fulfilling and inspiring writing can be. We need to allow ourselves to find success doing what we love and remember to surround ourselves with people who lift us up and cheer us on!

I challenge you to try out a new writing medium this week - a poem, a short story, a blog, a new kind of email, or even a new type of social media post! Pick something that intrigues you and go for it.

What type of writing do you do? Have you faced doubt from others? How did you deal with the naysayers? I’d love to hear about your experiences and recommendations! Find me on social media or drop a comment below.

Let’s chat because you, my friend, are on your way to great writing.

Why the Starving Artist Stigma is Wrong