Divepen1:
When I first came here, I met many great writers, many of whom I've made friends with. So, you will understand how I always wanted their success because I'm gingered too.
Many of those guys are no longer writing or tired of writing or not as freaked about it as before.
Many posted free books here because they wanted acceptance. And Nairaland gave that.

But soon they realise that the views, comments, and likes don't convert to money. The confidence just keeps crashing down.

Many of these guys give up. Even the new crop of writers did.

I decided to build Writertain Publishers because of this. But it's not easy. Finances and all. Writing is hard especially when you need money and fame to survive.
But we mustn't give up. I know friends that haven't touched a story to write in a long time because of the trouble at ever turn.

So, I'm asking you.


How are you, mentally?
Let's talk before this desire eats you up.

peacefuldude:

Don't you write articles for clients,I know some NL guys cashing out big in article writing.even on upwork.

Divepen1:


Writing for clients is like serving as a surrogate mother. You can't claim the ownership of the child.
Getting the money for articles can never beat getting money for your novels.

Godmother:


Why would you want to claim ownership yo the articles or books? It's a business service you'd be providing.

The idea is to offer your services and in turn, get paid (well) for it.

I know guys making 200k monthly from their writing and they think nothing of the ownership.

However, if you want the ownership that badly, you might want to look into publishing books on Amazon KDP.

This way you retain the rights to your books and still earn passively from their sales.

Divepen1:


Writing for clients is like serving as a surrogate mother. You can't claim the ownership of the child.
Getting the money for articles can never beat getting money for your novels.

Salahdin:


I don't think you understand what divepen1 is driving at. You see as a writer, all you ever wish is to someday be under the spotlight with one of your books. And the denial of this in the real world is what makes writers turn to freelancing.

Tell you what, ghostwriting to me is an advanced form of slavery. Imagine writing a bestseller for a client and earning peanuts. [/b]Consider what that would do to the supposed writer

Godmother:


Why would you want to claim ownership yo the articles or books? It's a business service you'd be providing.

The idea is to offer your services and in turn, get paid (well) for it.

I know guys making 200k monthly from their writing and they think nothing of the ownership.

However, if you want the ownership that badly, you might want to look into publishing books on Amazon KDP.

This way you retain the rights to your books and still earn passively from their sales.

itsyoms:
This piece really touched me, I'm a spoken word poet. I will like to turn your piece into a spoken word poetry. Do I have your permission?

kayo80:
"But soon they realise that the views, comments, and likes don't convert to money. The confidence just keeps crashing down.... Writing is hard especially when you need money and fame to survive... I know friends that haven't touched a story to write in a long time because of the trouble at ever turn."

Divepen1, it's like you took these words out of my mouth. I feel like every true creative writer in Nigeria feels this way. It is not easy to make money solely from your stories/novels in Naija, and it can be frustrating. Because every true creative writer's dream is to become successful with his/her novel, and not freelance for other people.

My mental state? It was horrible towards the end of last year... I found myself lashing out at fans. I have decided to take a hiatus for some months. The thing is, the next words I say might be controversial, but the thing is... as a creative person, your life is always in shambles when you're creating/writing (unless what you're writing is no good). Great art comes from great pain. But what makes it worse as a Nigerian fiction writer is, you don't even make any money from your pain. So, is it really worth it?

I still get continuous streams of thoughts about story plots every day, but I shut down the thoughts for my own sanity.

Divepen1:


Oh... I think you're missing my point. I don't mean I want to claim ownership of ghostwritten books.
I'm saying once the book is gone, you don't have anything to do with it.

So, the big joy is to write for yourself and get the fame or whatever satisfaction worth deriving.
That's why I didn't talk about the money because I agree there are people making cool cash from freelancing.

Salahdin:



This here explains everything. I will like to add that this is not only happening to writers but all talented persons, who found themselves in the creative sphere.

kayo80:


Exactly. All creative people... Singers, song writers, actors, painters, writers, etc.

Salahdin:


And it's killing.

kayo80:


Yeah

Godmother:


You don't earn peanuts, that's if you know your worth. It's possible to earn $1,500 on a book of 15k words at $0.10 per word.

$1,5000 in today's currency rate is almost a million.

Besides, who says you can't freelance and still write your own books.

I think trudging on; writing books after books that don't see the light of stardom is the true form of slavery.

Money pays the bills, bring some level of comfort, and also serves as an effective tool for promoting and marketing your books.

You've got to know what you are doing to really make it as a writer.

I freelanced for a while and on some of those days I earned up to 8k in a single day. Now though, I self-publish on Amazon KDP and earn between 40k to 120k in passive income. It doesn't get better than this.

I'm contented with where I am for now, but looking to improve in the near future.

I guess the struggle here comes from the fact you are obsessed with and focused on becoming a celebrated author and it's killing you that this isn't happening.

Divepen1:
When I first came here, I met many great writers, many of whom I've made friends with. So, you will understand how I always wanted their success because I'm gingered too.
Many of those guys are no longer writing or tired of writing or not as freaked about it as before.
Many posted free books here because they wanted acceptance. And Nairaland gave that.

But soon they realise that the views, comments, and likes don't convert to money. The confidence just keeps crashing down.

Many of these guys give up. Even the new crop of writers did.

I decided to build Writertain Publishers because of this. But it's not easy. Finances and all. Writing is hard especially when you need money and fame to survive.
But we mustn't give up. I know friends that haven't touched a story to write in a long time because of the trouble at ever turn.

So, I'm asking you.


How are you, mentally?
Let's talk before this desire eats you up.

Divepen1:
When I first came here, I met many great writers, many of whom I've made friends with. So, you will understand how I always wanted their success because I'm gingered too.
Many of those guys are no longer writing or tired of writing or not as freaked about it as before.
Many posted free books here because they wanted acceptance. And Nairaland gave that.

But soon they realise that the views, comments, and likes don't convert to money. The confidence just keeps crashing down.

Many of these guys give up. Even the new crop of writers did.

I decided to build Writertain Publishers because of this. But it's not easy. Finances and all. Writing is hard especially when you need money and fame to survive.
But we mustn't give up. I know friends that haven't touched a story to write in a long time because of the trouble at ever turn.

So, I'm asking you.


How are you, mentally?
Let's talk before this desire eats you up.

internetpo:


I totally feel what you are saying bro. Its not easy as a creative. Especially if you don't have other income sources. I am just lucky I have other income sources and thus mentally I am Ok. I just keep churning out the stories, praying and planning for the future.

The belief that one day you will blow and then people will discover that you have a long list of body of works and come consume them like ravaging fans also pushes one on.

Was enjoying your Writertain blog turned forum sometime ago. What happened to it?

Divepen1:
I couldn't retain the domain.... But it's now Writertain Publishers.com and wiki.writertainpublishers.com

Godmother:


You don't earn peanuts, that's if you know your worth. It's possible to earn $1,500 on a book of 15k words at $0.10 per word.

$1,5000 in today's currency rate is almost a million.

Besides, who says you can't freelance and still write your own books.

I think trudging on; writing books after books that don't see the light of stardom is the true form of slavery.

Money pays the bills, bring some level of comfort, and also serves as an effective tool for promoting and marketing your books.

You've got to know what you are doing to really make it as a writer.

I freelanced for a while and on some of those days I earned up to 8k in a single day. Now though, I self-publish on Amazon KDP and earn between 40k to 120k in passive income. It doesn't get better than this.

I'm contented with where I am for now, but looking to improve in the near future.

I guess the struggle here comes from the fact you are obsessed with and focused on becoming a celebrated author and it's killing you that this isn't happening.

Godmother:


You don't earn peanuts, that's if you know your worth. It's possible to earn $1,500 on a book of 15k words at $0.10 per word.

$1,5000 in today's currency rate is almost a million.

Besides, who says you can't freelance and still write your own books.

I think trudging on; writing books after books that don't see the light of stardom is the true form of slavery.

Money pays the bills, bring some level of comfort, and also serves as an effective tool for promoting and marketing your books.

You've got to know what you are doing to really make it as a writer.

I freelanced for a while and on some of those days I earned up to 8k in a single day. Now though, I self-publish on Amazon KDP and earn between 40k to 120k in passive income. It doesn't get better than this.

I'm contented with where I am for now, but looking to improve in the near future.

I guess the struggle here comes from the fact you are obsessed with and focused on becoming a celebrated author and it's killing you that this isn't happening.

Heloct:
Maintaining one's mental health as a writer is not something easy.

Divepen1:
When I first came here, I met many great writers, many of whom I've made friends with. So, you will understand how I always wanted their success because I'm gingered too.
Many of those guys are no longer writing or tired of writing or not as freaked about it as before.
Many posted free books here because they wanted acceptance. And Nairaland gave that.

But soon they realise that the views, comments, and likes don't convert to money. The confidence just keeps crashing down.

Many of these guys give up. Even the new crop of writers did.

I decided to build Writertain Publishers because of this. But it's not easy. Finances and all. Writing is hard especially when you need money and fame to survive.
But we mustn't give up. I know friends that haven't touched a story to write in a long time because of the trouble at ever turn.

So, I'm asking you.


How are you, mentally?
Let's talk before this desire eats you up.