What’s Your Currency? Why I Write About Money.
- By Kelly Diels
- 31 December, 2009
- 11 Comments
This week I meant to end the year by writing three posts:
- Why I Write About Sex
- Why I Write About Money (this here thing you’re reading right now)
- Why I Write About Meaning
Together they were going to form my trifecta of fabulous, my manifesta, my polemic. My launch into the New Year with a clear heart and clear intentions.
Then…delicious distraction. I had so much fun with the first one that I haven’t made it to the other two. They’re still in my cauldron, a-brewin’, but…hey. The new year is in hours. They’re not all going to be here, by then.
All of these things, plus the end of the year, and the beginning of something special
- and more special than the New Year *which isn’t special at all, really, because the event of New Years Eve is overhyped, overpriced and wildly under-taxi’ed* are all the secret projects I’m imagining and conjuring and constructing…think Goddesss, think Godiva (the story, not the chocolate), think frenzy, think Truth, mmmm I am and it is gonna be goooood –
coalesced into a question:
What’s your currency?
Currency. Coin. Let’s talk about money.
I write about money because I like shiny things, but more and more, I’m realizing that money is not my currency. Maybe – ‘though I kvetch and complain that I’m not making much – because I have enough. More doesn’t do much more for me except magnetically attract more possessions to my house which requires more maintenance and care from me and I don’t have time for that. I have enough money and stuff. I don’t have enough time.
I write about money because I want to have another baby.
(Money might not be the only missing ingredient. I’ve heard a rumour that man-parts are necessary for this project, too.)
I write about money because it is fun.
I write about money because money is a measure of success, and I do want success. Money is just a way to articulate and document success. Money is a way to say – mostly to myself – see people DO like me and my writing and I’m on to something and this isn’t just a cute hobby. This thing I do – it is about truth. And talent. And coin.
I write about money because, online, that’s credibility. If you’re blogging and you’re making money, then you’re For Real. There are millions of people blogging and about 15 (I jest, but not really) making serious coin.
I write about money because I’m about creativity, and art, and money is the foundation from which those flow. I cannot create when I’m worried. Bills paid, regularly and in full, form my bedrock.
So I write about money because I want to make a living from my writing. My creative writing. I’m feeling my way to freelance, to publishing, to hot online content that I can sell. I’m figuring it out. Mostly right in front of your eyes.
And all of this figuring-money-out led me to figure something out:
Money is not my currency.
Adulation is my currency. Love feeds my wolf. I just wanna be a famous writer.
___________________
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PPPS – What’s YOUR currency?
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Of late, I have come to view successful blogging in a different light. I now see influence and community, as rewards for my efforts, and have also had a little success bartering my attentions in exchange for products. Not only is blogging as vastly different, as each individual blogger, but the way we are “paid”, seems to have a nearly endless array of variations.
[Reply]
Amanda
replied:
on December 31st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
@Robin G, I totally agree. I may not get paid to do a lot of what I do online but I get to express myself creatively and connect with people in ways that would never have been possible outside of the blogosphere and social networking.
[Reply]
I agree that not having money to pay the bills creates terrible stress which can do a dastardly job of blocking the creative flow. However, I reject the idea that money is the foundation from which art and creativity flow. In fact, in my experience, it is the opposite. The more closely I tie my creativity to money, the less truly creative I become. And, for me, creativity also can’t come from a need for adulation. My deepest creativity comes from a bursting need simply to EXPRESS. I’m not saying that adulation and money should be avoided, not at all. I just posit that creative process is best served when the primary intention is to obtain either. I have a sneaking suspicion the same holds true for you. Am I wrong?
[Reply]
get outta here. the past 2 days i have been asking myself this very question: what is my currency cause i kinda’ thought that might help me conjure-up my plan for 2010. so far i’ve come up with books and words and money, and i’m thinking there’s a pattern forming, but honestly, i’ve had a skoch too much wine right now to untangle this. wait: is “currency” plural or singular?
[Reply]
TeeHee. Kelly, I had a real giggle when I read, “Love feeds my wolf.” Do you think he actually reads your blog? Wouldn’t it be cool if he did? Too funny!
I’m feeding the right wolf. Of that, I’m certain.
Money will come to you; I’m working on a plan that could help all of us “club” women. Let’s talk again soon.
[Reply]
I’m so far from making money with the blog, it’s not even on the radar screen. So I have to content myself with other forms of currency: Attention. Notoriety. A burning (and misplaced and usually fruitless) desire to be hip. Connection. Love of words and language and ideas. And, on good days, a desire to be useful.
I love money, too. But to make enough money to support my blogging habit, I’m gonna have to look elsewhere – for now.
[Reply]
My currency? Must I choose only one?
Attention, adulation, support – all mediums of exchange, things I need and things I give – these are definitely currency.
But while I need some amount of money (who doesn’t?), I know I could do fine on less. I like shiny things, too – and sparkly things, and older things that have history and presence (which are sometimes even pricier than the new and shiny.) But liking them and needing them are different, and I have been trying to simplify.
The currencies I can’t get enough of, the currencies with the most value (to me)?
Health. Energy. Time.
Of those, there is never enough, and I can’t imagine there would ever be too much.
Good New Year’s, and Happy National Bloody Mary Day.
[Reply]
In my book, you already are a famous writer, my friend.
My currency is relationships. Our most important cultural currency – lasting, meaningful connections are what sustains me. Discovering new relationships are treasures.
But I like adulation too
[Reply]
[...] I love code. I live, breathe, eat, and sleep design. I love people. The combination of the three is why violetminded got started in the first place. Love, baby. Sure, somewhere along the line, I’ve gotta market and self-promote. I may even try to make a bit o’ scratch. But money isn’t not what drives me. It’s not my currency. [...]
[...] I’ve written about it before: money isn’t really my currency. [...]