How I wish I had a pile of Benjamins like in the above photo. Alas, I do not. I am now the epitome of the cliché of a poor writer. Ha ha. (That was a hollow laugh with a touch of irony and a dash of genuine mirth at the play on words — I’m “poor” as in financially broke and hopefully not “a poor writer” as in a bad one.)
Anyhoo, back to the topic at hand.
Every time I start thinking about money, ABBA’s song “Money Money Money” pops into my head.
I work all night, I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay Ain't it sad? And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me That's too bad In my dreams I have a plan If I got me a wealthy man I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball Money, money, money Must be funny In the rich man's world Money, money, money Always sunny In the rich man's world Aha All the things I could do If I had a little money It's a rich man's world It's a rich man's world
It is indeed “sad,” ABBA, yes, indeed it is. However, I don’t want “a wealthy man” to provide my funds. I want to make my own money, preferably lots of it, but I’d settle for just enough to pay the bills and get me traveling a bit. “All the things I could do if I had a little money.” A little would go a long way.
I knew, when I left teaching behind to focus on writing, that this would be a tough endeavor and that money would be tight or nonexistent, but I had hoped that I’d be rolling in a small pile of it by now. Even a tiny one.
What has happened since I left teaching, though, is noteworthy. I put out three more books and got my column into three more newspapers. I manage to sell a few books each month, and I get paid for the columns — not much, but I do get paid. I also started the two publications on Substack and have acquired a handful of paying subscribers — and I appreciate that greatly. (If you’re not aware of the other one, check it out here: Cognate Cognizance)
I have a few more books in the works and lots of ideas for many more. What I need, though, is money to get by. I absolutely do not want to go back to teaching full time, but I may have to cave and substitute.
If you happen to know of any wealthy person who would like to become a patron to this “starving” writer/artist, let me know, or tell that person about me.
Heck, maybe I should become an “influencer” on social media and get a bunch of money that way? Ha ha. I don’t think I’d get far with my 500 Facebook followers.
Times are extra tight lately, and I’m not alone in my money woes, but why does it have to be “a rich man’s world” where everything is so damn costly?
I recently entered a short story in a contest, and I might enter it into a couple more. Only the winners of the contests receive any compensation, so it’s a long shot but worth a try at least. I’m going to include it behind the paywall for my few paying subscribers to read and comment on because I’d like any feedback about it that you’d care to make prior to me submitting it elsewhere.
If you’d care to upgrade to “paid” for a month or two, I’d appreciate it. It won’t cost you a single Benjamin, just a few Washingtons. Paid gets you access to the full content as well as to the full archive of past entries.
I’ll leave you with a link to the song “Money Money Money” from my favorite musical, “Mamma Mia.” Money Money Money
I wish you luck solving your own money woes.
Tammy Marshall
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