It’s always been my dream to write for life.
Of course, I didn’t always believe in this dream. There was a time when I thought trying for it wasn’t a productive way to spend my time.
It was just this distant, shimmering something far out of my reach, something I would love to do but never actually thought I could. It was like skydiving or mountain climbing–an experience I knew would define me, but one that was far beyond my limits.
In fact, I only started reconsidering all these doubts when a friend of mine expressed a similar goal. She wanted to write and get paid for it.
My life goals changed that day. Because someone else shared my dream and went so far as to discuss how to make it happen, I suddenly believed in myself.
(Which is sad).
Anyway. This summer, I’ve been getting paid to write these SEO (search engine optimization) articles for an “Internet Marketer” in Atlanta. Essentially, Lee, the IM, sends me a list of keywords someone might use to search for more information on a given topic and I write articles using these keywords. For instance, Lee sent me a list that looked something like this:
1. GPS navigation system
2. GPS navigation unit
3. car GPS navigation system
4. compare GPS navigation systems
What I do is write a master article, using one of the above keyword phrases a specific number of times. I then re-write the article with all the same information and substitute the original keyword phrase for the next one on the list. These articles are published on websites that desire more visitors to boost their business’s popularity. Using common and word-specific phrases within the articles posted on these sites makes it more likely that a search engine like Google will choose to present the website link to a person searching for, say, GPS navigation units. Or hair dryers. Or vegetable peelers.
It’s as ridiculously repetitive as it sounds.
I only took the job to have a little extra cash around and so I could feel professional about my writing.
The catch? It really just makes me feel like a sellout.
I know that to dream big, you’ve got to be willing to start small. And I am willing to do that.
But is this the same thing as starting small?
Or am I just a sellout for exchanging the joy of my art for an insignificant paycheck?
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I think you should look at it in your natural reaction. How do you feel about it rather than how you should feel. Also giving it time could help. If you feel as though you have sold out at first and that feeling stays for some time, move on! I would suggest not feeling bad about making money at the end of the day. Perhaps a larger paycheck would help too, haha.
-Sincerely Sellout
Comment by Shaun July 17, 2008 @ 8:22 pmI think you have to look at it in a a sense of are you actually selling out or doing it to get by until you are able to accomplish your dream. There is a difference in starting small but still working towards your dream and starting small and not working towards your dream..ya know? When the sellout job starts to force you into not writing for what you actually want to write is when you need to take a step back and look at what you are really working towards. I hope that makes sense..
Comment by missashleyis July 18, 2008 @ 4:22 pmSo I say at least you’re writing! Also, it’s not like you’ve graduated and are doing this for a living, so do what you can to make some money. Also…..Mexico in 6 days!!!!
Comment by whiteoprah23 July 20, 2008 @ 11:47 pm