Write2Ignite

When did you know that your writing had become more than just a hobby? For me, it was when my mother said these words:

“I think you should focus on making money with your writing.”

It was after I had pitched her my idea of an AI-generated graphic novel about a recent seminary graduate in the late 1950s who travels to a small town in Arizona and discovers a Russian communist plot to hide a miniature atomic bomb inside a jukebox titled “Cherry McGwire and the Atomic Jukebox.”

Her idea struck me as something of a challenge. The only cash I ever made with my writing came as prize money for best short story at a local community college. Up until this point, my writing had been purely self-expressive. Sure, there were dreams of being published, but I didn’t have the right mindset. I rarely finished the first draft of a story before I went on to something “better and stronger.” So, what happens when your hobby, becomes a side hustle?

Hobby vs. Side Hustle

First of all, what is the difference between side hustle and a hobby? For me, a hobby is something that I would do for free. In fact, I would pay someone to let me do my hobby. But would you do Uber Eats or DoorDash for free? I don’t think so. I hope you have more interesting hobbies than that. You see, I’ve been writing for almost fifteen years now, and for me, writing feels like my reward for the day. I finished my school, so I can write. I finished my chores, so I can write. I filed my taxes, so I can write. But now, I’m trying to change this mindset.

My writing started as homeschool assignments. Learning basic skills like typing, grammar, and spelling. This grew into a hobby, which then became a label I assigned to myself. I wrote stories. Therefore, I was a writer. But after so many years of not getting a project finished enough to pursue publication, I knew I had not achieved the title every writer wants: author. But had my skill set finally matured enough to make money?

Turning the Page

Thanks to this group, I now know about the Christian Writer’s Market Guide. There, for only $15 a year, I get access to almost every Christian publication in America. I have begun sending in stuff. Book proposals, article queries, etc. I try to send one off each week, trying to take away the stress of putting my name (and work) out there. I can’t quite put into words how different this feels. Writing, with someone else in mind. For years, no one read my stories. They were mine. Sure, I would tell my parents, siblings, and friends about the plots, but most of these stories have only been read by me. Like a diary filled with fake memories.

Now, I am writing for the particular purpose of getting paid and published. My priorities are different. While this is what I wanted all along, there is still a disconnect between what I am writing now, versus what I used to write. No longer am I taking old story ideas and using AI to turn them into cheap dime-store adventure novels. No longer am I writing sketches for my cousins to act out on Thanksgiving break. No longer am I writing a globe-trotting thriller series about adventurer Jesse Brink (whose name I used for many titles such as On the Brink of Extinction, On the Brink of Death, On the Brink of Discovery, etc.) which was heavily influenced by the Dirk Pitt novels of Clive Cussler.

Why We Write

To the untrained eye, this seems like a logical step in my writing journey. But as any artist will tell you, putting your work out into the world is a scary step. Perhaps this is why I decided to talk about it in the month of October! While it is just you and the computer, the possibilities are endless. You can write whatever story you want to. It is intimate and personal. But this is as beneficial as a hermit working for a door-to-door sales company.

If we are to impact the world and share the good news of Jesus Christ through our writing, then our writing better not stay on our hard drives. We have to get the message out! Whether that is through magazine articles, picture books, devotionals, chapter books, and YA novels. Romans 10:14 says that,

“14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news (BSB).”

Now let me be clear: most of the stories I have on my hard drive you wouldn’t want to read anyway. They are unpolished, unfinished works that at best show a diamond in the rough, and at worst, show a homeschooler who can’t even spell correctly. There is nothing wrong with keeping your stories to yourself as you work on your craft. But there comes a time when you have to start asking yourself: am I ready to make my writing a side hustle?

Author Bio

Just like his two older brothers, Kyle Morgan was homeschooled from Kindergarten through High School. When he is not busy writing, the next classic children’s book, Kyle loves spending time with his family, all things baseball, and watching black and white movies. He is a monthly contributor to Write2Ignite where he blogs about writing for children. His work has appeared in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, The Caldwell Perspective and StarLight Magazine. You can check out his Facebook page or follow him on Instagram.