QAR
June 2008 
Why buy the cow.........
backyarder1
I've always wanted to be a writer, not so much because I thought it would make me rich, but because I always knew I had something important I wanted to say.
But once I got into the business, I realized that I often wasn't writing for the reasons that I set out to. Although I've made it a practice to never take writing assignments that went against any of my personal beliefs, I have often struggled with the money and the copyright aspects. Is it more important to be able to write the positive, meaningful things that I want to write? Or is it more important to make money? If I have a positive thought or idea or suggestion that might help other people through life, is it more important to horde it to myself until I find someone willing to buy those thoughts, or is it more important just to share them?
I often compared my works to the old adage "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free." I assumed that giving away my writing for nothing would devalue it.
But today I realized that the point is Udderly MOOOOoooooooot. I need to write just as much as the cow needs to give her milk. My creative cup runneth over.
So I'm asking you to visit my blog: http://www.betsyfranz.blogspot.com/
And maybe even use the link provided to subscribe to it. Or at least visit it from time to time.
And I'd love it if you are an editor or you know an editor that wants to buy some of my work. But even if you don't buy anything from this old cow, I hope that some of my words can help to quench your thirst.
Access: Public
Erykah Badu's song “on and on” has a line in it that reminds of what you said about
“ My creative cup runneth over.” – the line is “My cipher keeps movin' like a rollin' stone”
I may be comparing apples to oranges here but you can hear the song on my page if you have time. // don't ya love life's little syncronicities
In response to the question “positive, meaningful things that I want to write? Or is it more important to make money?”
I would say generally the former - that is write for meaning and purpose. Money is the not the purpose of life. However, there is a few circumstances where the latter case (write for money) makes sense.
If you need money for food, shelter, and survival, and/or to feed your kids, then you should write for money. Afterall, if you can not live, how can you write. But if you have an internet connection, most likely you have enough food.
If the money is for gourmet coffee at Starbucks or a new version of the iPhone, then you really don't need to write for money anymore. You have passed the point where money is required for survival. Congratulations, that is already better than most people in other parts of the world. (Half the world's population lives on less than two US dollars a day). Hence write for purpose and good.