Jan 11 2009
How a Stranger Turned Me into a Web Writer
Strangers, for me, are always a source of ideas and inspiration for writing.
A guy knocked on my apartment door and said he was taking a survey. Usually, I don’t entertain such cold calls but something about him made me listen. He asked about the electrical appliances I’m using. Half-way through, he asked me what I did for a living. When I told him I’m a freelance writer, he immediately lost interest in the survey and start telling me how I can make money as a writer on the Internet. He even wrote down all the important areas I should explore - Adsense, Aweber, Blogs…etc.
He admitted that he very much wanted to make money over the Internet but did not have the writing skills to blog, write ebooks or run a website. So, he’s passing me the nuggets of information he had painstakingly learnt from the ebooks he had invested in. Then he admitted that he’s planning to run Internet marketing seminars and is using me to test his presentation skills. He wanted me to get started immediately.
I didn’t mind. Frankly speaking, I didn’t know money-making opportunities existed for writers. I was busy with my freelance assignments for the print media.
The guy managed to whet my appetite and I went on a two-year learning streak. I taught myself web design, set up my own website, unsuccessfully experimented with Adsense and just last month started making money from my online writing.
The stranger taught me to value whatever writing skills I have. He taught me not underestimate my ability or be contemptuous of it. Whenever I feel discouraged or uninspired, I think of the stranger who knocked on my door and the many out there who would give anything to be able to write even a few sentences.
Immediately I feel grateful for what I have and get back to writing at once.
