I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. Hell, I think about it all the time… because you know… life and all of that.

What I mean is I have been thinking about money and my writing.

I have known for many years that I will probably never make a living from writing - even though in the back of my head, there’s that little sliver of hope.

Making money from my writing isn’t the reason I write, but it’s nice when I do get paid for a story, and I am grateful to have that money in my Paypal account to pay for my writerly things like my website, a workshop or two, submission fees…maybe even a contest or two…

For a long time, I was against paying submission fees, and I was definitely against paying for contest fees, but I realized that if I want my work in certain venues (especially paying venues), I have to pay… and if I want to win or place in a contest, I have to pay.

I think, ultimately, I am in a place with my writing that I feel confident enough that it’s a possibility that my work will get accepted or possibly place in a contest, and I think that’s a good place to be. Even if I get rejected or don’t win, I do feel that I am at least contributing to the literary community, helping to offset costs for the literary magazines and journals that publish our work.

One day, I would love to be a in a place where I can offer to pay for other writers who can’t afford submission fees or contest fees. I’m not quite there yet but maybe I will be.

As always, sending light and love and creativity!