Writers Are Not Saints

 

Let’s get straight to the point—writing without incentives is like running a marathon with no finish line. It’s exhausting, pointless, and eventually, you collapse. The world loves romanticizing the struggling writer, scribbling away in a dimly lit room, surviving on passion and stale coffee. But let’s be real—passion doesn’t pay bills, and stale coffee doesn’t fuel creativity. As the title says; writers are not saints, they also need incentives because incentives are the oxygen of creativity

Incentives = Survival

Every writer, no matter how much they love the craft, reaches a breaking point where they ask: Why am I even doing this?If the answer is "because I love writing," congratulations, you’ve just lied to yourself. Writers don’t just write for the joy of it—we write to be read, acknowledged, and rewarded.

This reward doesn’t always have to be money (though let’s be honest, money would be great). It could be a free book, a detailed review, or even an editor telling us our story made them miss their lunch break. Something that says, “Hey, your words mattered.”

But when there’s nothing—no feedback, no prize, no engagement—it feels like throwing messages into the void, hoping the universe winks back. And let’s be honest, the universe doesn’t give a damn.

The Brutal Reality of Writing Platforms

Many writing platforms claim to be a community of passionate writers. What they don’t say is: a community of passionate writers who will pour their hearts out, only to be ignored unless they already have a huge following.

There are multiple writing platforms where you post a story. You wait. And wait. Maybe you get three claps from bots or a generic comment like “Nice read!” (Translation: “I didn’t read it, but I want you to check out my story”). You scroll through the winners of a contest and realize the top prize went to someone whose story makes you question the future of literature.

So, tell me, how long before you stop bothering? Not only do some platforms have the audacity to compile these stories into anthologies, but they also pocket the profits while the writers remain unpaid. The very creators who fuel these collections with their words receive neither compensation nor meaningful recognition. In an era where online readership dominates, the prestige of being included in an anthology has dwindled—no longer seen as an individual achievement, but merely a product of collective content aggregation. The harsh truth? Writers give their best, only to watch platforms reap the rewards.

Writers Are Human, Not Masochists

Imagine telling a chef to keep cooking gourmet meals every day, but no one will taste them, review them, or pay for them. “Do it for the love of cooking,” you say. How long before they quit and start microwaving instant noodles?

The same applies to writers. We aren’t saints performing selfless literary service. We need fuel—whether it's money, exposure, or just a damn comment that proves someone actually read what we wrote.

Without incentives, writing becomes an unpaid internship for the soul.

Monetary Incentives: The Ultimate Acknowledgment

Some platforms dangle the “passion over profit” carrot, making writers feel guilty for wanting money. News flash: everything in life runs on incentives. If readers can pay for Netflix, Spotify, and overpriced Starbucks lattes, why should great writing be free?

Paid writing platforms thrive because they understand a simple truth—paying writers means getting better content. When there’s a monetary reward, the quality goes up. When there isn’t? You get half-hearted, recycled stories written in a hurry because, let’s face it, who has time to write masterpieces for nothing?

Reviews: The Cheap Yet Effective Incentive

If money isn’t an option, at least give writers proper feedback. Nothing is worse than spending hours on a piece, submitting it, and getting radio silence. A simple “This was great, but your pacing needs work” can do wonders. It tells us we exist. That someone read our words and had thoughts.

Bad reviews? Even better. At least it means someone took the time to hate our work. Indifference is the real killer.

What Happens When There Are No Incentives?

Writers stop writing. Or worse, they start writing without heart. They churn out low-effort content just to tick a box, rather than bleeding onto the page like they once did. The passion shrinks, and soon, the only ones left are the hobbyists who treat writing like knitting—something to do when they’re bored, not something they live for.

And that? That’s the slow death of creativity.

Final Thought: Incentives Are Not Greed—They Are Motivation

Expecting writers to write without incentives is like expecting an actor to perform without an audience, a chef to cook without diners, or a musician to compose without ever hearing applause. It’s unrealistic, unsustainable, and honestly, insulting.

So to all the writing platforms out there—either reward your writers, or prepare to be filled with uninspired, half-hearted content. Because no matter how much we love writing, no one loves screaming into a void forever.