Patience is a Virtue: We Will Get Paid, Eventully

Photo courtesy of RoweBrownWedding

"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,and a gentil tongue can break a bone."
-Proverbs 25:15

We live in an instant everything world. If we don't get what we want immediately we cry, whine and stomp our feet. O.K. maybe I'm exaggerating a little here. Or am I? I believe we have evolved into an immediate gratification society . Or, maybe we always were and now I'm just more aware of it. After all, there is an abundance of free Internet information out there on the subject.

In Jaron Lanier's article, Pay Me for My Content , he states that, "Information is free on the Internet because we created the system to be that way". That may be true, however that doesn't mean I don't ever want to get paid for my work on my Montreal Theatre blog . Although that would be nice, it doesn't have to happen right now in order for me to continue writing about the theatre scene .

In a response to the same article Bryan Milonja points out in, "Blogging for Money: Think it Over" , "It's true that some people do make a ton of money blogging, but the truth of the matter is that most people don't." I certainly agree. I have discovered that blogging is really a fun and creative activity to do. So if I were to ever make money from this awesome adventure, it would be an added bonus.

Although, I will have to wait. Maybe even wait a long time. Eventually, if I stick with it and write about what I am passionate about it will show, and yes, maybe payoff. Consistency in writing, blogging or anything for that matter builds character and confidence in ones self, as well as your audience. It is also about self discipline , focus , passion and a desire to be heard.

Getting Organized

- Have a special, uninterrupted time set aside to write and then go to it.
- Turn off the phone if you are unable to resist answering it.
- Take time each day to prepare and get organized before you begin to write.
- Once prepared just start writing.
- Don't worry to much about spelling right away. Just get those ideas flowing.
- Stick with it and always save your work.

In our Concordia citizen journalism course this past winter, teacher and Illustrator Matthew Forsythe had mentioned that, he can tell who's passionate about what they are writing about on their niche blogs . I think we all feel it on some level when an article or other written piece lacks energy and zing.

I can also tell for myself when I am writing something that is free flowing, exciting, and driving me to succeed. I am happy, willing and want to work at expressing some point better or stronger . Not settling until it is expressed perfectly. I find it really gratifying to explore our language and find the ideal word or words to express what it is I want to say. So, blogging is right for me.

The fabulous guest lectures Matt brought in, Kate McDonnell of Montreal City Weblog , Journalist Craig Silverman, of Regret the Error , and Sean Michaels, of Said the Gramophone , all share success that comes from hard work and dedication. Work that is sometimes rewarded financially and sometimes not. Yet always rewarding.