I have written non fan-fiction stuff. I grabbed a quarter finalist place in an L Ron Hubbard Writer’s of the Future competition back when I was a teenager (not bad, considering what I recall my writing being like back then!) with a short story I wrote.

I also  wrote a YA book a few of years ago. It got some preliminary interest from agents (which is to say several of them asked to see all of it after reading the first three chapters,) but it wasn’t quite what they were looking for in the end. (I chucked it up free online at gracebertram.com Don’t expect miracles! It was my first completed attempt at an original novel XD)

I have to admit, the experience was a bit off-putting, not because it didn’t get published, which I was utterly prepared for, tbh, but because it showed how un-enjoyable monetising my hobby could be. The writing part was brilliant, but there wasn’t the same feeling of contribution — or relevance and significance — that I get from fanfiction.

Whatever fandom I’ve been in, right from the start back when I was an ickle teen, the reward has been apparent in other people’s appreciation, and it’s that which makes writing so enjoyable to me. Not acclaim, exactly, but finding like-minded people who are honestly grateful for the effort and appreciative of the results.

Would a paycheck be nice? Yeah, but if I have to choose between earning some money and growing to despise what was once a passion, or doing it for free and loving it forever? Well, for me, that’s a no-brainer. I’m not trashing a major part of my life in the name of a (probably paltry) paycheck!

I won’t say “I’m never writing for money” because life will probably fling that back in my face one day, but right now, it’s not a personal priority, and I admit, I’ll fight to make sure that remains the case :D

Thank you for the question <3 And the inherent praise. You lovely thing, you!