Every blogger needs to read Big Magic! Especially now when so many bloggers are making 6 figures a month from their blogs! It’s easy to feel like that’s the path that we all should be taking. I felt that way. Why should I blog if I’m not making money from it? If that’s what everyone else is doing, then shouldn’t I be doing that too?
But then I read Big Magic. And Elizabeth Gilbert’s line – “I’ve always felt like this was so cruel to your work – to demand a regular paycheck from it.”
I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of me! There’s nothing wrong with making money from your blog. And there’s also nothing wrong with not making money from your blog. It’s not a waste of time after all! It was like “Yay! I have permission to just be creative with my blog! For fun!”
Another line I loved on the same topic, – “I was always willing to work hard so that my creativity could play lightly.” Love it!
The whole chapter is basically Elizabeth telling everyone that it’s ok if you need to have a job while pursuing your creative dreams. Which I think is a reminder we all need. Especially when we see people with blogs and businesses that take off very quickly and it seems like ours is never going to.
It reminded me that this is for fun! This is for my own creativity and growth!
“You might earn a living with your pursuits or you might not, but you can recognize that this is not really the point. And at the end of your days, you can thank creativity for having blessed you with a charmed, interesting, passionate existence.”
“Your life is short and rare and amazing and miraculous, and you want to do really interesting things and make really interesting things while you’re still here. I know that’s what you want for yourself, because that’s what I want for myself, too.
It’s what we all want.”
Another important lesson I learned from Big Magic was this –“You don’t need anybody’s permission to live a creative life.” Wanting to be creative is just part of being human! And for me, and many of you, that means blogging.
There are so many people who make fun of bloggers or claim that bloggers aren’t real writers. But so what?! We don’t need their permission to do something that we love! Besides according to Elizabeth Gilbert, we’re entitled to it!
“Creative entitlement simply means believing that you are allowed to be here, and that – merely by being here – you are allowed to have a voice and vision of your own.”
Can you see why I believe that all bloggers should read this book?!
If you want to turn your blog into a business, or you don’t, pick up Big Magic. It will give you the encouragement that you need to chase your dreams! And reaffirm the path that you’re taking towards your dreams.
It’s truly an uplifting read! And there are so many great lessons to be learned from reading Big Magic. These were the most important ones for me.
What about you? Have you read Big Magic? What lesson did you take away from it? Any favorite quotes? Tell me all about it in the comments!
2 Responses
I haven’t read the book, I have been blogging since 2003 I think and I’ll tell you what, I went through years of not being really interested in making money from it.
We all have our own paths, I love blogging because I love it. I’m making money now but I wouldn’t change a thing! I learned so much over the years and I’ve enjoyed every minute if it.
Money can come from anywhere. ❤️
This is so true! We all have our own paths! 🙂