Chapter 1: The Writer's Dilemma

As I’ve previously mentioned in several of my articles on Medium, my initial motivation for writing was to explore monetization after dedicating five years to my personal blog. To this end, I’ve immersed myself in countless resources discussing how bloggers can effectively earn income through their craft.

One of the most prevalent pieces of advice is to:

1. Identify a specific niche.
2. Produce content that caters to your audience’s interests.

With these strategies in mind, I endeavored to create material that my readers would find compelling. The results speak volumes; my articles on Medium have yielded some financial return (approximately $7), while my opinion pieces have not garnered as much attention or revenue.

So where do I go from here?

This lingering question has been a constant in my thoughts. I'm grappling with the underlying motivation behind my desire to write. On one side, I yearn to create content that is beneficial to others—be it travel tips, life hacks, or any intriguing discoveries I make.

Conversely, there’s an innate desire to simply express myself. I want to share my thoughts, but the quandary remains: where and why? It's perplexing to have the urge to write and share with anyone willing to read, yet I find solace in the idea of writing for its own sake, even if no one ever sees it.

Sometimes, I wonder if it's the allure of claiming ownership of a blog, the not-so-secret wish to go viral, or the aspiration to inspire others with my journey: “If she can do it, so can I!”

When I write, my goal is to produce something beneficial for at least one reader. If my posts encourage reflection or impart new knowledge, I consider that a success.

As I compose these thoughts, clarity is beginning to emerge.

How does one refine their craft?

The common refrain is to write—keep at it, and you will improve.

Publishing your work publicly places you under scrutiny, holding you accountable for your content. This responsibility also fosters a commitment to continuous writing and skill enhancement.

Perhaps this is my driving force for maintaining a blog? I’ll continue to explore my motivations, but in the meantime, I’ll keep writing, sharing, and hoping that at least one person finds value in my words.

Hello! My aim is to craft content that provokes thought, encourages learning, or inspires action. I also enjoy narrating stories, so if you appreciate my work, consider following my journey.

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Photo by Hannah Olinger on Unsplash

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