The idea of monetization is quite crazy nowadays. The world has become so askew that one can hardly get to like something, get good at something they genuinely enjoy and not be pressured to exploit this action they like into an income producing channel for themselves.
Speaking personally, from the country I'm in, we need as many sources of income as we can get. It's why I sell anime merchandise, I write and sing and even now I'm looking for a 9-5 that'll surely pay. Writing, what is meant to be a hobby has so suddenly become what is bringing the bulk of my money... And I'm still not earning enough.
When you look at the world now, you realize just how costlier everything is now. To the point that no one can actually afford a hobby, instead we get side gigs. You love keeping a garden for the peace it brings, and then it's just common sense to start selling flowers... Baking cookies when you need to keep busy or think and then suddenly it turns into a confectionery shop... Painting and art... Well, by now you get the drift.
The fact that you are reading this on this site now shows you're in the same boat as me. Where the writers and readers are doing it for a little bit of inflow. Before writing could be monetized, this blog would be called just "journaling", but now here I am hoping for a tip, a vote, a like and some engagements. Trying my best to mix in humor, philosophy, crude jokes and just being my normal self. Polishing my writing, my grammar, tones and everything else to make the piece more alluring.
I guess that's one good thing about the hobby to Sidegig switch, it moves you to try and get better, simply because mediocrity doesn't sell. No one would read my work if there were numerous grammatical errors. Same way no one would want to buy flowers if they came off stunted or if the cookies tasted like Akara or something 😂
This is turning into more of a ramble now but I'll end it with this. Honestly, I want to make money. For safety, for the calm mind that I can take care of myself and my partner(s) as the case may be. So I'll work, and I'll write, and I'll make you all laugh and think, so I can earn a little more. That way, my hobbies can turn back to being just for me. My short stories become something I can read to my kids and my love stories for my wife on her lunch break. The side gigs can turn back to just being hobbies that are fun and genuine.
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