Asked by Marijo Phelps ^(2,847)
Marijo Phelps 16 days 11 hours ago. (More question by this person)

How long have you been writing? Have you ever gotten a check for any of your work?

Answer from Nenita Wells ^(2,071)
Nenita Wells 16 days 10 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
I am a newcomer and have not earned a penny from writing, but the enjoyment of doing it is worthwhile and priceless.

Answer from Zaibatt Zaki ⁽⁰⁾ 16 days 3 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
I check only that one, Which is appreciated most.

Answer from Fran Larson ^(23,243)
Fran Larson 16 days 2 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
I have been writing about 3 years. About 1 year ago I got my first paying job. I was so surprised and happy, I thought if I died right now, it would be OK. No, it is not a lot of money but just the thought that someone thought it was good enough to be paid for. (I made myself some cards with my name, then FreeLance Writer followed. I had posted my work on my own website).

Answer from Gregory Lewis ^(1,502)
Gregory Lewis 16 days 1 hour ago. More questions answered by this person)
   Selected as Best Answer!   
I wrote for a small newspaper, so I was paid (ir)regularly. To tell you the truth, getting paid was nice, but having my columns read was more important to me. I got paid better as my writing and journalism improved. Takes practice.

My pride was an A&E column I wrote called "On the Marquee." I got to see all kinds of shows for free, concerts, plays, invitations to private showings. The interviews were great. I got to interview all kinds of local and national, and even international stars.

I once interviewed Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean. My last name is Lewis, and he was fond of the Isle of Lewis. He is also a neighbor to Thistle & Shamrock hostess Fiona Ritchie. I sent Dougie a copy of the paper that featured my review of his show. Just before Christmas, he sent me a Christmas card.

I interviewed the Wailin' Jennys, Bruce Cockburn, blues man Chris Smither, Tuvan throat singers from Huun Huur-Tu and Alash, rock & roller Erin McKeown, and a great group of young people called The Mammals, whose bassist Tao Rodriguez is folk legend Pete Seeger's grandson, among others.


- G

Answer from Andy Carloff ⁽¹¹¹⁾
Andy Carloff 15 days 18 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
I wrote my first book when I was 13, over a decade ago. Around 12 to 13 years total, so half my life -- though I experimented with fiction, poetry, and essays earlier. I've never received a paycheck for my work, but when I submit to a paper magazine, and they publish it for free -- they usually like to edit out a lot of the passion, meaning, and purpose. And if I got paid for writing, well... They'd totally butcher my work. Good writers tend to make their writings free, to cherish their wisdom so much that it is the primary momentum of their art. Good writers like Leo Tolstoy...

Comment from Gregory Lewis ^(1,502) 15 days 16 hours ago.
I would also prefer to write like Tolstoy. Any writer for a book, newspaper or magazine has suffered the indignities of the editorial process. However, there are things you can do to minimize the pain. One thing the editing process really makes you good at is to condense lots of meaning into few words.

My first submissions were horribly long, at about 1,500 words. Since then, I have learned to say everything I need to say in 500 to 700 words, and 700 is MAXIMUM.

I learned this from my editor, who was also my friend, and also from Pulitzer Prize winner Ellen Goodman, who condensed her entire research into 500 words.

As writer, I also studied the essay form from a number of sources. My primary model was John Updike's anthology of reviews and essays, "More Matter".

- G

Answer from Mark Parsec ^(16,695)
Mark Parsec 15 days 7 hours ago. More questions answered by this person)
Sheeesh... let me get my calculator out. Ummm... 10, 20, 30... Let's just say I've been writing for over 30 years. Have I ever gotten a check? Yes, but now that I put it into perspective, if I was being paid by the hour it would be fractions of the cent by the hour.