To Write Or Not To Write

Writing for Passion vs Writing for Compensation

A conversation with a friend the other day made me question: what truly legitimizes me as a writer?

She shared how she earned her master's degree to overcome her imposter syndrome.

I asked her, "Did it work?"

She replied that even with all of her credentials, she still sometimes feels like an imposter. And she's accomplished some great things.

It's a struggle because, in today’s world, feeling valid often seems tied to getting paid for your work. When someone reads what you've written and says, "Wow, that’s so good; I’m willing to pay for it," that affirmation is powerful.

But here lies my conundrum: I don’t want to write solely motivated by money, yet I also want to be compensated for my writing.

Why does that desire make me uncomfortable?🤦🏾‍♀️ (that's a question for my therapist but I digress)

There will be times that my writing suffers when I have thoughts like, "What am I doing?" because my left side of my brain is harassing my right side saying, "You’re not a real writer if you’re not making a living from it." “Why are you wasting your time?!”

I suppose this is the struggle for a lot of us who want to create something meaningful?

Do I write because I genuinely love it, and that should be enough, or do I seek validation in the world, therefore I write? And does validation mean compensation?

I guess it’s an ongoing internal tug-of-war.

Recognizing it is half the battle.

At the end of the day, I realize that legitimacy isn't something that can be defined by external validation or a payday alone. It's the passion for writing that drives me, and that, in itself, holds value.

I’ll keep writing, whether it’s compensated or not, because the act of creating is what truly validates me.

The struggle will always be there, but I choose to embrace it, imposter syndrome and all. And maybe that’s the real victory…continuing to create despite the doubts.

So for now, I’ll just keep writing, keeping my left brain voice in check and if something I write is received well enough for compensation, I’ll smile all the way to the bank!

How do you balance passion and the desire for external validation in your own work?

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I am Sherry Taveras and I am grateful for the joy and release I find in writing. I write about what inspires me, hoping to inspire and connect with others, genuinely desiring to see them succeed in what they love.