1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Is it is a sin to try to earn money by writing books?

Discussion in 'Other Discussions' started by Guido, May 20, 2021.

  1. Guido

    Guido Active Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2021
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    36
    Faith:
    Baptist
    My writing, I know, is poor at present, but I’m willing to improve through practice. Should my writing get better to a measure sufficient, would profiting therefrom be sinful? It is not my ambition to become a rich man, but to have a great measure of money, for support of a family, for the help of others, and for having nice things for them and me.
     
  2. 37818

    37818 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2018
    Messages:
    16,097
    Likes Received:
    1,244
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I do not see why merely writing books for profit to earn a living needs to be a sin.
     
  3. Guido

    Guido Active Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2021
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    36
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Thanks for the answer.

    My writing gets better and worse. I don't understand why. It's probably not stable because I haven't solidified it through through sufficient practice. I've practiced enough and know enough about grammar and other things to write certain kinds of ways. But I often my writing sounds awful.

    What I need is much more practice.
     
  4. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2000
    Messages:
    15,371
    Likes Received:
    2,405
    Faith:
    Baptist
    A workman is worthy of his hire.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
  5. JonC

    JonC Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2001
    Messages:
    33,496
    Likes Received:
    3,568
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Gotta read the book first ;)
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  6. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2001
    Messages:
    11,017
    Likes Received:
    2,408
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Well Guido welcome to the BB and if you read some of these OP and posts... They are Books:eek:... There is no sin in writing books but stay away from profane and resque language, now that is a sin... Keep it clean and I see no reason, why you can't be a writer... If it is a sin to write, we would have nothing to read... Brother Glen:)

    My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. ... Actually, the psalmist says his tongue is the pen of a ready writer. It seems to be he is feeling inspiration with which to write a poem, a song and sing it... and I might add or a story!

    Now take your tongue and put it on paper!
     
    #6 tyndale1946, May 20, 2021
    Last edited: May 20, 2021
  7. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    May 22, 2002
    Messages:
    11,384
    Likes Received:
    944
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I'm currently working on two books. That's my problem. I need to put one down and just focus on the other.

    But I KNOW that breaking into getting published and successful is difficult. If you feel God calling you to write - then write.

    And NO, it is not a sin to write for a living.
     
  8. Guido

    Guido Active Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2021
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    36
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Do you think I should write only about God?
     
  9. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
    Moderator

    Joined:
    May 22, 2002
    Messages:
    11,384
    Likes Received:
    944
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Write about whatever you choose.

    You worry that this is a sin. Why is it any different than selling shoes for a living or painting houses for a living?
     
  10. Guido

    Guido Active Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2021
    Messages:
    489
    Likes Received:
    36
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I shouldn't say that my writing gets better and worse. What I mean is: Sometimes, for me, it is difficult to phrase things in a manner flowing and clear.
     
  11. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2011
    Messages:
    27,003
    Likes Received:
    1,023
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You cannot serve two masters...
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
  12. RighteousnessTemperance&

    RighteousnessTemperance& Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2017
    Messages:
    7,359
    Likes Received:
    1,464
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Yes, get a good writing coach and ignore everyone else. :Thumbsup
     
  13. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    52,624
    Likes Received:
    2,742
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Having wealth itself is not a sin, but how we use it would determine if it is, and if we are focused on making more to fill our greed, or to see it as means to bless God and His Kingdom work!
     
  14. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2002
    Messages:
    9,405
    Likes Received:
    353
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I've never sold my book, a collection of short stories about a fictional singles' group in a fictional church in a fictional Texas town. But I have enjoyed writing the stories and sharing them with s few interested readers. At least they were that before they read them. But if you really enjoy writing what you want to write about, and there is a market for it, there's no reason I know of not to go for it.
     
  15. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2003
    Messages:
    38,982
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Faith:
    Baptist
    is there someone that could co-write with you?
     
  16. kathleenmariekg

    kathleenmariekg Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2020
    Messages:
    875
    Likes Received:
    185
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Most of the writers I know barely make enough money to keep their children's bellies full of rice. They often write content that they are hired to write, but makes their souls sick to write. They work long hours and are treated with incredible disrespect by their employers. Most writers do not write "books" even though the definition of book is wide and is becoming wider.

    That said, some of my writer friends and I have learned a few tricks from the Youtube channel of a Christian writer that is devoted to self-publishing a book using free and open source software.
    https://youtube.com/c/WritingDoneRight
     
  17. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    10,729
    Likes Received:
    787
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Don’t expect to earn a living as a writer. I know half a dozen writers who have been published, have good reviews, and one that had one of her books made into a movie.

    None of the, earn enough money to support themselves by writing. The most successful one (in terms of financial gain, awards, and recognition) is primarily supported through her husband’s job. Anything she makes goes toward savings and their future.

    Write if you enjoy creating, but it is one of the hardest ways to earn money. Prepare to earn a living another way to support your writing habit. Perhaps one day you will be one of the rare ones who does extraordinarily well.
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Useful Useful x 1
  18. TurtleSox

    TurtleSox Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2021
    Messages:
    63
    Likes Received:
    6
    Faith:
    Baptist
    No, it's not a sin when your writing is for the glory of God.
    The more money we have the more good we can do for people in need. :)

    May God bless your pursuit.
     
Loading...