Patrick Alan

My wife asked me last night, “Do you really like writing or do you just think you can make money at it?”

That surprised me.

I thought it was obvious I liked writing, but I can see how from the outside it might look like I don’t — like I am just a writer wanna-be, hanging around writers online and off, on blogs, forums, twitter, writer groups, conferences and workshops. I certainly seem to spend more time doing those things than actually writing…

I do like writing. I like a lot of things. Do I think I can make money at writing? Yes. Am I only doing it to make money? No.

It has occurred to me, there are many things that I like to do that I could ‘make money’ at.

I like photography. Specifically, photographing people. I have taken photos for a few family members’ weddings. I have taken some really good shots. I didn’t spend the time to put an album together or anything, I just took hundreds of photos and gave them all to the couples. I have also done wedding videos for friends and family, too.

Also, I am building websites for people. This is another thing that I am doing for the love of doing it. I am geeky. I like to design websites – within my skill set. I am more of a functional person instead of a graphic designer.

I could turn either of these into a ‘job’ and try to drum up actual paying business. I could, but at the moment, I don’t want to. This is not to say that I will never attempt to make money doing either of these things, but for the moment, I enjoy doing it enough as favors to friends.

I have spent time considering the business side of both of these hobbies. Why shouldn’t I?

So, I think of writing in a similar vein. I really like doing it. I get a kick out of leaving 500 words ‘flash stories’ on Robin’s blog or any of the various other blogs or email lists I write goofy things on. That’s me writing for friends for free, because I enjoy it. There’s no question that I enjoy it, in my mind.

Now, my desire to turn it into a career is slightly different. I am not sure why. Maybe it isn’t. Maybe if I had more time I would be pursuing all three and maybe a few other hobbies that I think I have enough skill that people would pay for. For now, I have a cushion. I have a day job(which I also enjoy many aspects of) that pays me well. Maybe if I needed the money, I would be out there trying to find work as a wedding photographer or website designer. Who knows.

Out of these three and probably two or three other hobbies I enjoy, writing is the one that I am pursuing to make money at the moment. That’s really the only difference.

I don’t know if that explains anything. I just wanted to say it. Anyone else have hobbies that other people make money doing?

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