Blogging for money

Several months ago, the Writer's Digest had an article warning that writers shouldn't blog. It was free writing, and writers should be paid, etc.

This misses the point. If you want to pay your bills with your writing, you write for money. You write for paying markets, for book publishers -- for anyone who will give you money for your writing skills.

If you have a blog it doesn't mean that people won't pay you for your other writing - or for blogging. A class of paid bloggers is emerging. A Blog Herald interview with active blogger Trudy Schuett is worth reading for her clear-eyed view of blogging, money, writing, and the Internet:

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As far as the cash question in general, it's like anything else - if you can afford to put in the time, the money, and be a hobbyist, then go for it!

Blogs are only a vehicle, like paper. You can write poetry or use it for your grocery list. You can keep a blog just for a family who is separated in geographic terms to keep in touch. You can be an essayist, a novelist, or report the news. You can use these things for money or not.

Even the finest artists, sculptors, and writers have electric bills and other expenses, and very often they make money pursuing their craft. So there isn't any reason why bloggers should be any different. Having no money associated with a project does not necessarily assign it nobility.
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Here are my two cents on blogging and money: do what you enjoy. If you can get someone to pay you for it--- SCORE! ;-)

If you're a new writer, your blog's biggest benefit is that it opens you to the reality of readers, from the start of your writing career. When you get into the habit of writing on your blog every day, you won't be fazed by editors. An editor is just another reader.