A Genuine Approach to Earning Through Authentic Writing
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Chapter 1: The Beginning of My Journey
Sharing my written work online has always been part of my routine. At times, I’ve done it with intention, and at others, it was more spontaneous. Regardless, honesty and authenticity have always guided me.
A few months ago, I devised a plan to monetize my writing, which I dubbed project ⛵️1K@70. You can find more details about it in the article linked below. Initially, I thought this would be a straightforward endeavor, especially since many others have successfully made it work. I believed my writing skills and technical know-how would suffice.
What Went Wrong?
However, I soon encountered obstacles. Every course I enrolled in, every PDF I skimmed, and every YouTube tutorial I consumed urged me to:
- Write enticing 'copy'
- Master 'hooks'
- Develop a sales funnel
- Dispatch frequent newsletters
- Follow the strategies of successful content creators
Yet, the thought of doing any of these activities was off-putting to me. I needed to understand why.
Clearly, this established formula is effective, which explains its popularity among many creators. But that wasn’t the core issue. After some reflection, I realized the problem lay with me.
I simply don’t enjoy reading promotional 'copy'. Articles that could easily be generated by AI don’t engage me, and I harbor a significant distrust towards those who seem overly eager to sell something. How could I aspire to create content that I personally despised? The conclusion was inevitable: I couldn’t.
A New Perspective?
Despite this, I found myself questioning whether others shared my sentiments. I wondered if there could be an alternative route. After several weeks of contemplation, I believe I may have discovered one.
While the outcome is uncertain, I’m ready to pursue this new direction.
Chapter 2: Defining Authenticity
Let’s start by clarifying a couple of key concepts:
- Authentic: Genuine, true, real
- Ethos: Standards, principles, moral compass, being true to oneself with intention
These terms are crucial to me and serve as the foundation for my project. To embody these values, I purchased the domain AuthenticEthos.com. My existing blog, VoyagesinWriting.com, will be retired, and all content will be migrated to the new site by August 31, 2024.
My primary objective is to increase my income through authentic writing, while my secondary aim is to assist others in achieving the same.
The Path Ahead
I plan to refocus the content on Medium and AuthenticEthos.com to showcase how I strategize, manage, and progress my three key projects:
- ⛵️1K@70 (Boosting my online income)
- Writing and releasing a fiction novel
- Blogging about my passion for the sea on my enthusiast blog, TheThalassaFiles.com
Each of these endeavors has the potential to generate income, but the spotlight will clearly be on ⛵️1K@70. Access to the new site will be subscription-based, offering two options:
- Free — access to regular posts (which will also appear on Medium behind a paywall).
- Paid ($5/month) — an 'all-access' pass that provides additional insights, personal reflections, guidance, statistics, and progress updates.
Final Thoughts & Important Note
And there it is—the outline of my plans. Will this approach succeed? I can’t say for certain. Will anyone choose to follow or subscribe? That remains to be seen. However, I remain optimistic.
Lastly, I want to clarify that I do not believe those who engage in writing 'copy' are being dishonest or insincere. My aversion to that style of writing is purely a personal preference.
The first video, "What is Ethos?" delves into the concept of ethos and its importance in communication and writing.
The second video, "Ethos and Speaker Credibility: 5 Examples of Ethos Appeals," illustrates how ethos can enhance credibility in persuasive writing.