Several people recently asked me if bloggers get paid. A better question is: Does blogging pay off?
Few bloggers get paid. Some bloggers for media companies get paid, though often they are on staff to write or report for them already. For instance, a sports writer for a newspaper or a TV producer may blog on their company’s site, perhaps for extra pay, but not likely.
Celebrities may get paid to blog about someone or something, but that’s more like advertising.
Speaking of advertising, some bloggers make money from getting advertising sold on their blog.
Bloggers also make money from affiliate sales (selling other people’s stuff), as well as by using their venue to hawk their own books, products or services.
But most bloggers are not directly compensated for blogging, yet millions blog daily. Why? Because it’s a quick, easy way to share a view or give advice or to vent and get as therapy. Some blog because they feel it helps build their brand and media resume. Others do it out of some type of obligation or expectation. Many just want their voice heard.
I’ve thought about placing ads on my blog, though I’m not sure if it’s worth the effort. Is the pay-off big enough to warrant it? Will the ads clutter the content? Will they sell something that offends my readers or me? Will I just be another sell-out who then starts self-censoring himself, as not to offend potential or current advertisers?
Blogging should be done because it feels right to you. If it’s not something that comes naturally or easily to you, the payoff in terms of money will need to be there and the truth is, it’s not easy to turn a blog into
bucks. But if you foresee a reasonable way to make money as a blogger, I’d love to hear about it.
bucks. But if you foresee a reasonable way to make money as a blogger, I’d love to hear about it.
Interview With Author DelSheree Gladden
1. What type of books do you write? I mainly write YA urban fantasy. I love stories that take the real world and twist it into something new and exciting. YA provides so many opportunities to incorporate action and adventure, romance, and something out of the ordinary. I love how versatile it is. YA is my first love when it comes to fiction, but I also have a few dramatic romances in the works that are currently in the editing stages.
2. What is your newest book about? My newest series is called “The Destroyer Trilogy.” It tells the story of Libby Sparks, a young woman who was born to destroy the world. Libby wants nothing to do with her destiny, but no one believes that. The whole world it pitted against her, except for one grungy teen named Milo. He becomes her only friend, and when his life if in danger she must make the choice between exposing her true power and condemning herself to death or saving Milo’s life.
3. What inspired you to write it? As a child, I spent a lot of time reading. Immersing myself in books was my favorite pastime when I was young. I was extremely shy, so I preferred imagined worlds to actually having to talk to real people. The more I read, the more I wanted to write. I started off with terrible stories that mimicked what I read, like many authors do. Now, I love creating unique worlds and characters that my readers can relate to and care about.
4. What is the writing process like for you? I am not an outliner. In fact, outlining is a last resort for me when I get stuck. Typically, I start with a vague idea, usually inspired by a word or a line in a book or a movie, or even song I heard. I often have a hard time getting to sleep, so I plan out scenes in my books as I try to fall asleep at night. One aspect of my writing that is very organized is sequencing. I cannot stand to write scenes out of order. I never skip ahead even if I have a scene from later on in the novel that I really want to write. I use it to spur myself to write all the chapters ahead of it. Then the scene I really want to write is like a reward.
5. What did you do before you became an author? Starting when I was about 14 years old, I started coaching gymnastics. I was a gymnast myself when I was younger, and I have continued to enjoy fitness activities. I have taught a variety of fitness classes over the years. I decided to make a career change a few years ago when teaching sometimes up to 20 classes a week became a bit of an overload. Now, I am about to graduate as a dental hygienist, but I still continue to write and teach yoga!
6. How does it feel to be a published author? I think the best part is hearing from fans. It makes me very happy to know that something I wrote brought enjoyment to a reader. I am not very musical, but I love listening to music because of the strong emotions it can evoke. I want to be able to do the same thing with my writing. Hearing that I have been able to do that from readers is so exciting for me.
7. Any advice for struggling writers? Read, read, read. The more you read, the better handle you will have on the basic rules of your genre, but also on what readers want to read about. You can learn so much from other writers, too. Join a writers group, either in person if you’re lucky enough to have one in your area, or join one online. Feedback is so important and other writers can often see what you can’t.
8. Where do you see book publishing heading? From my own books, I have seen the majority of my sales coming from ebooks. I know that paperbacks are still very much alive, but as readers become even busier and more on the go, it is just more convenient to have a pocket sized reader than a big paperback. I also expect more self-publishing avenues to crop up. I love reading indie authors and finding books I might never have found if traditional publishing was the only option. Because of complaints about quality when it comes to self-published books, I expect that self-publishing venues will eventually have more strict requirements, such as vetting processes for editing and artwork at some point.
For more information, please consult: https://sites.google.com/site/delshereegladden/
RANDOM BOOK EXCERPTS
“The horrific
fact that our lives and those of the people we love are impermanent and
exquisitely fragile, that any of us can cease to exist without warning, that
loving anyone, anywhere at any time, leaves you infinitely vulnerable at every
single moment.”
--Psychopath
“How can we make
the most of this precious life that we have? Let’s not wait for a time when we
retire, relocate, and perhaps find disappointment. Each day has to be a new beginning. Each day that we awake has to have its
meaning. Each day is a canvas upon which
we paint the picture of our lives. So
the question poses itself, ‘What are we going to do with the time we have to
make the most of this magnificent and sometimes terrible world in which we
live?”’
--Why Me?
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer, the nation’s largest book promoter. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This blog is copyrighted material by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2013
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